This Center for Teaching Excellence Saturday workshop was held on January 26, 2019, HSS 114, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., presented by Fai Howard, assistant dean at the University of South Florida.
Howard presented this hands-on faculty professional development workshop to increase knowledge about the academic advising process and the significance of advising in the lives of students during their academic journey to graduation. A focus on external factors of advising, as well as the role of faculty in the advising process, will be discussed. Self-reflection and self-assessment was also explored and applied. Techniques to assist faculty with promoting a shared advising culture, based on recommended practices and models, among colleagues and departments were provided.
Howard received her BA in sociology from Montclair State University. She earned an MS in sociology and a PhD in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Howard joined the University of South Florida as the assistant dean for Upper Level Initiatives in fall 2017. Before joining USF, she held the position of assistant vice president for Academic Success and Student Retention at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Her professional experience over the last 15 years, which also includes employment with Virginia Commonwealth University and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, have provided her with comprehensive understanding and success in the areas of student progression, student-centric structural reorganization, and strategic planning to meet institutional goals and, above all, support students. She is a proud first-generation college graduate who had a positive transformative undergraduate experience, which has influenced her approach to student success. Her speaking engagements and professional development sessions have provided faculty and staff with the tools and insight to tackle large-scale issues by focusing on the role of the individual.
Howard's personal approach to student support is holistic. She purposefully seeks to understand the whole student, especially underrepresented and marginalized populations (both visible and non-visible) in order to guide their academic and personal goals pre and post-graduation. Howard has conducted over 100 presentations, workshops, small group meetings, and speaking engagements discussing how to tackle and/or improve the experiences and timely graduation of students pursing a post-secondary education.