Department Service - 2013b
Dept. Service: Photographer Lecture series - 2013
At the start of this year, I was asked to develop a "Photography Lecture Series". The photography lectures are designed to introduce students and faculty to contemporary photographers who specialize in different categories such as: photojournalism, multi-media, documentary, wedding, portrait, fashion, food photography, etc. Each photographer speaks about his or her own work, their business plan as well as the ethics behind capturing their images. Our first guest speaker’s video, Thatcher Cook, is positioned to the left. To learn more about this lecture series, please click on the button below:
Dept. Service: Student Mentoring Committee - 2013
I began working with the Student Mentoring Committee, which strives to increase the level of participation of our students both in and out of the classrooms. Our goal is to create an online setting where students can interact freely with each other as well as with faculty. Throughout our past meetings, we developed the Photography Student Professional Network and several blogs: First Years Focus and Fire, The Blog of Professor Phillips, and the Student Ambassador Blog. I am the author of First Years Focus and Fire. My blog is intended for the use of students who are new to the program. I have found my First Years Focus and Fire blog to be very useful in the classroom. Please feel free to use the navigational link above for details.
Dept. Service: Full time & senior full time faculty meetings - 2013
On a regular and timely basis, I have attended a variety of meetings: FTF/SFTF Meetings, Focus Groups, AIPOD Meetings, Committee Meetings, Student Mentor Meetings. During these meetings, I participate in the conversation and offer help when necessary. From time to time, we are also asked to attend meetings that are held by Education Management Corporation (EDMC), the company that owns AIPOD, regarding company policies. I view each of these meetings as a learning experience and an opportunity to learn more about our Photography Department at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division.
Dept. Service: Full Time Faculty search committee - 2013
I was asked to be a part of the "Full Time Faculty Search" Committees this year. Throughout the meetings held with this committee, I was able to help choose two of our newest full time faculty members. I was also given the challenge of hosting the interviews and directing the conversations and questions.
Dept. Service: content alerts - 2013
To better our courses, I have participated in the PH124 Course Review. I have also submitted a number of "Content Alerts" for the courses that I've taught: PH123, PH136, PH309, PH331 and PH350. The changes that I have suggested within these content alerts help to maintain the classes and ensure that our students are receiving clear and up to date information.
Dept. Service: Focus Group Meetings - 2013
In the past, I hosted my own Focus Group meetings where I helped adjunct faculty members learn about our school's policies, ways to improve communication with students, methods of giving feedback, and about any new developments that occurred within our department. I maintained a professional and positive relationship with the members of my Focus Group so that I was able to help them with their specific issues not only during our meetings but also via e-mail and phone calls. I have also found that the adjunct faculty members also feel comfortable enough to me via e-mail or within the Google+ community when needing assistance.
Dept. Service: portfolio reviews - 2013
To ensure that our students are meeting the competencies of each program offered at AiP Online (Bachelors, Associates, Certificates), I have also participated in a number of Portfolio Reviews. The student's portfolio displays their top images which show an understanding of the program's competencies. Reviewing these portfolios is a responsibility that I take very seriously because the result acknowledges the student's "marketability" as a photographer in the real world after graduation.
Dept. Service: Portfolio review - 2014
To ensure that our students are meeting the competencies of each program offered at AiP Online (Bachelors, Associates, Certificates), I have also participated in a number of Portfolio Reviews. The student's portfolio displays their top images which show an understanding of the program's competencies. Reviewing these portfolios is a responsibility that I take very seriously because the result acknowledges the student's "marketability" as a photographer in the real world after graduation.
Dept. Service: faculty titling committee - 2014
During this past year, I attended several Faculty Titling meetings with Karen Antonelli to learn more about how I can advance my title as a professor. Although I am currently not eligible to apply for an "Associate Professor" or "Professor" title, I have learned a lot about the Committee, the Rubric, the Review Panel and overall process of applying for an advanced title. This PPAR will mark my second year of teaching full time at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division and I look forward to the completion of my third year so I may apply for the Associate Professor title and later down the road, to the completion of my fifth year so I may apply for the Professor title.