MACON — Three Mercer University faculty members were recently selected for the prestigious Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program.
College of Professional Advancement Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Tugba Ertan-Bolelli and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of Physics Dr. Chamaree de Silva were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year program, and College of Professional Advancement Assistant Professor of Writing and Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Stefanie Sevcik was accepted into the May symposium.
“We are thrilled that all three of our nominees were selected for the competitive GTF program,” said Vice Provost Dr. Kelly Reffitt. “Not only will they benefit from participating in the program, but through the program, they will enhance the education of our students and share their experiences with faculty colleagues.”
The Fellows are selected based on:
- Commitment to undergraduate teaching – Applicants demonstrate how they have improved their teaching practices and how they would like to enhance their teaching and professional development.
- The Ripple Effect – Applicants outline a plan to share the fruits of their fellowship experience with faculty at their home institutions.
For the academic year program, fellows will attend six unique three-day seminars while engaging in a course design/redesign or other instructional improvement project. The highly interactive seminars, which are held on the University of Georgia campus, focus on teaching practices, faculty development, and course design.
For the May symposium, fellows attend an intense one-week seminar on the University of Georgia campus. that includes a combination of structured faculty development, classroom activities and independent study on the part of each participant. The May 2025 symposium will focus on “Artificial Intelligence in the Holistic Classroom.”
About The Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program
The Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program was established by Zell Miller, the Governor of Georgia, 1991-1999, to provide Georgia’s higher education faculty with expanded opportunities for developing important teaching skills and innovative pedagogies. The program is offered through the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.
