Transylvania University’s Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence empowers faculty innovation
by Julie Martinez
Transylvania University’s new Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence is transforming faculty development through collaborative learning and innovative teaching strategies. Launched this year with financial support from the Bingham Fund for Excellence in Teaching, the center focuses on professional growth and student success.
The Bingham Center provides a space for faculty to learn new teaching strategies, reflect on their methods and build a community focused on growth. It offers essential professional development, where faculty can share ideas, explore new techniques and challenge themselves to improve as educators.
Co‑directors psychology faculty member Melissa Fortner and digital content and technology integration specialist Julie Perino have created a dynamic space where faculty can explore innovative teaching strategies, share expertise and ultimately enhance student learning experiences. The center has made a significant impact with almost half of the teaching faculty participating in its programming this year.
“The center is a site where faculty can come together and talk about teaching,” Fortner said. “As much as teaching is a social enterprise, it is also a very isolating enterprise because individual faculty walk into their classrooms alone.”
By doing hands‑on learning in the classroom, students are better prepared for whatever the future may hold.
Julie Perino Co-Director of the Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence & Digital Content and Technology Integration Specialist
The center’s approach emphasizes collaborative learning and student‑centered techniques. Perino noted that active learning helps students apply knowledge more effectively, preparing them for future challenges. “By doing hands‑on learning in the classroom, students are better prepared for whatever the future may hold,” she explained.
Exercise science faculty member JJ Wallace has been deeply involved with the center’s programming, particularly appreciating its interdisciplinary approach. “It’s the first organized effort we have had to bring together faculty development under one umbrella,” Wallace said.
Last semester, Wallace had the opportunity to co‑lead a faculty learning community focused on artificial intelligence at Transylvania University. It was an experience that highlighted the power of collaboration and the value of learning from one another.
Wallace recalls how the group came together with a shared purpose: to explore the rapidly evolving field of AI and how it could impact teaching and learning across disciplines. “What made this experience so unique,” Wallace said, “was the diversity of perspectives we brought to the table. We weren’t just talking to faculty within our own programs; we were engaging with colleagues from all four divisions of the university.”
The learning community was a dynamic blend of brainstorming sessions, thoughtful discussions and collaborative exploration. The group read books, watched videos and listened to expert insights, with each member contributing their knowledge and experience. Through this process, the colleagues not only deepened their understanding of AI but also found new ways to apply it in their teaching.
For Wallace, one of the most rewarding aspects was seeing faculty from different areas —science, humanities, social sciences and the arts — come together and share their insights. “It was incredible to witness how the ideas we were discussing could be applied in such varied ways across the campus. What we were learning wasn’t just theoretical; it was practical, real‑world knowledge that we could immediately bring into our classrooms,” Wallace reflected.
The faculty learning community was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration and cross‑disciplinary exchange. By stepping outside their silos, faculty not only gained new skills and knowledge but also built a stronger, more connected teaching community across the university.
Jack Bandy, a newer computer science faculty member, has found the center transformative for his teaching practice. Participating in faculty learning communities focused on topics like artificial intelligence and social justice, Bandy views teaching excellence as “a pursuit of self‑actualization that you can try to pass on to your students.”
While job hunting, one of Bandy’s top priorities was finding a place where he could build a strong sense of community. Through faculty learning communities, Bandy discovered a space where faculty could come together to explore interests beyond their day‑to‑day work. These gatherings allowed colleagues to discuss new ideas, share challenges and learn from one another — whether about teaching methods, emerging technologies or other topics of curiosity.
“What’s great is that these communities aren’t just about your own program — they help you connect with faculty across campus, from different disciplines,” Bandy explained. “It’s a chance to know what everyone else is working on and create a stronger, more connected community.” This sense of collaboration and shared purpose was exactly what he had been looking for in a workplace.
The center supports faculty through a variety of initiatives, such as integrating technology, exploring alternative assessment methods and providing opportunities for professional development. It helps faculty engage with digital tools — from virtual reality to AI applications — so that students can build critical skills needed in a rapidly changing workplace. When faculty feel energized and inspired with new ideas, that enthusiasm carries over into their teaching. As a result, when faculty are more excited and engaged, students are more likely to feel the same way.
We want our students to connect with each other, to connect with their faculty, with everybody in the Transy community.
Melissa Fortner Co-Director of the Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence & Associate Professor of Psychology
Beyond practical skills, the center reinforces Transylvania’s commitment to liberal arts education — fostering lifelong learning, adaptability and meaningful connections between faculty and students.
“Transy is a place where lifetime connection is one of our pillars,” Fortner said. “We want our students to connect with each other, to connect with their faculty, with everybody in the Transy community. Anything the center can do to help faculty reinvigorate themselves will only enhance what Transylvania already does well.”
Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence Hosts Grand Opening
Transylvania University unveiled the Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence on Thursday, establishing a new resource for faculty development.
Co-directors Melissa Fortner and Julie Perino introduced the center during a dedication ceremony. Dr. John N. Williams, ’74, executive director of the Bingham Fund for Excellence in Teaching, delivered opening remarks and introduced keynote speaker Corbin Campbell, a professor at American University. Campbell’s presentation, “Great College Teaching,” focused on strategies to create engaging and effective learning environments.
The center aims to support faculty growth through learning communities, grants, and workshops. Programs include professional development initiatives like “Teaching in the AI Era” and support for emerging technologies such as virtual reality and Digital Liberal Arts.
