Staff Directory and Bios

Dr. Kerrie Kephart currently serves as the Associate Director for Pedagogical Innovation, Research, and Assessment in the Faculty Development Center, supporting faculty to innovate in their teaching and investigate issues of teaching and learning in their classrooms and disciplines. Her interests in faculty development include the scholarship of teaching and learning, pedagogies of reflection such as journaling and portfolio development, active learning and inquiry-based pedagogies, writing across the curriculum/in the disciplines, and discourses of teaching and learning. She served as Interim Director of the FDC from January 2024 through June 2026, where she spearheaded a self-study that provided a roadmap for the center’s future. She holds a doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a specialization in advanced academic literacy development. Prior to joining the FDC staff, she was Director of the Engineering Communication Program at the University of Washington, Seattle, and prior to that, she was an Assistant Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. In her previous positions, she conducted research studies in innovative teaching methods in the STEM fields and presented a workshop series in writing across the curriculum for faculty across all disciplines. She has also taught a variety of courses in language and literacy development, including academic writing for educators, writing the scientific article, technical communication, English as a second language pedagogy, principles of bilingual education, and discourse analysis.

Sarah Swatski, Programming and Operations Administrator in the Faculty Development Center, manages FDC programming, services, communication, financial processes, and assessment of the Center’s work, serving as the first point of contact for inquiries. She takes a leading role in planning, organizing and supporting over 45 yearly programs, new faculty orientations, the Provost’s Teaching and Learning Symposium, Certificate programs, Faculty Learning Communities, and Teaching Circles. As the FDC webmaster, she creates new web and email content to market FDC services and respond to changing faculty needs. She leads the assessment of FDC programming and services and contributes to research by analyzing data and collaborating on presentations and publications on the FDC’s work. Sarah currently serves as Treasurer of UMBC’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter. She has served on several university-wide committees and co-facilitated a year-long professional development opportunity for faculty and staff. Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, both from UMBC. She transferred to UMBC after completing an Associate’s degree in Mathematics from Harford Community College, where she also worked in the College Life Office.

Dr. Linda C. Hodges served as the Director of the Faculty Development Center from 2010 through 2023. Prior to this role, she was Director of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Teaching and Learning at Princeton University before relocating to Maryland. She holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Kentucky. Before transitioning to the field of faculty development and the learning sciences, she was a tenured faculty member for over 20 years at two different institutions. In 1999 she was one of 28 faculty chosen nationally to study new pedagogical approaches as a Carnegie Scholar of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. During that time she had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Lee Shulman and Pat Hutchings. She has published widely on her work in faculty development, engaged student learning, and effective teaching practices, including her book, Teaching Undergraduate Science: A Guide to Overcoming Obstacles to Student Learning (Stylus, 2015). She remains professionally active in consulting and writing about concerns in teaching and learning.