{"id":21572,"date":"2025-08-24T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/?p=21572"},"modified":"2025-08-24T09:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T14:27:29","slug":"growing-our-community-17-new-faculty-join-xavier-university-of-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/growing-our-community-17-new-faculty-join-xavier-university-of-louisiana\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Our Community: 17 New Faculty Join Xavier University of Louisiana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Every August, I get to experience one of the highlights of my role as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development: welcoming our newest faculty members to Xavier. There's something energizing about our New Faculty Orientation (NFO), bringing together scholars from different disciplines, watching them discover what makes this university special, and seeing the connections start to form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two weeks ago, over two intensive days, our CAT+FD team, along with dedicated Xavier community members, had the privilege of watching 17 exceptional new colleagues begin their journey at our institution. These two days are about transformation, connection, and laying the groundwork for the innovative teaching and scholarship that will shape our students' futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From seasoned scholars embarking on new chapters to freshly minted Ph.Ds., each new faculty member brought their own spark of curiosity and expertise. Watching them connect with our existing community, ask thoughtful questions, and share their visions for their work here reminded me exactly why I love what we do at the Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But enough about the process. Let me introduce you to the 17 remarkable individuals who are now a part of the Xavier family:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d5d4a4bea52&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d5d4a4bea52\" class=\"alignright size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" data-attachment-id=\"21575\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/growing-our-community-17-new-faculty-join-xavier-university-of-louisiana\/collage_600x600-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?fit=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"collage_600x600\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?fit=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?resize=600%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21575\" style=\"width:350px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/collage_600x600-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier's newest full-time faculty members.<br>Photo credit: Bart Everson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dr. Mamta Dalal, Department of Mathematics<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Emily Highstreet, Physician Assistant Program<br><\/strong>D. Pharm. from Xavier University of Louisiana<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mr. Jonathan Slaughter, Department of Languages<br><\/strong>M.A. in French from Middlebury Language Schools and Universit\u00e9 Sorbonne Nouvelle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Alana Peck, Department of Sociology<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Sociology from Louisiana State University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Katherine Causey, Division of Business<br><\/strong>DBA in Management from Argosy University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Steven Battin, Department of Theology<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Cindy Chava, Physician Assistant Program&nbsp;<br><\/strong>MHS from Duke University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Dodie Arnold, Department of Public Health&nbsp;Sciences<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Washington<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Dominique Townsend, Department of English&nbsp;<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Rochester<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ms. Courtney Rookard, Archives &amp; Special Collections<br><\/strong>MLS from Indiana University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Brian Balog, Department of Biology &nbsp;<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Integrated Bioscience from the University of Akron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Lisa Cole, Division of Business<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration&nbsp;from St. Louis University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Leelannee Malin, Department of Mass Communication<br><\/strong>Ph.D.&nbsp; in Mass Communication Media from Howard University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Ellen Walker, Department of Psychology &nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at El Paso<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Kenneth Rocker, Department of Mass Communication&nbsp;<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Communication from Massey University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Ezra Spira-Cohen, Department of Political Science&nbsp;<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Political Science from Tulane University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Hannah Baron, Department of Political Science<br><\/strong>Ph.D. in Political Science, Comparative Politics and Political Methodology from Brown University<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every August, I get to experience one of the highlights of my role as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development: welcoming our newest faculty members to Xavier. There's something energizing about our New Faculty Orientation (NFO), bringing together scholars from different disciplines, watching them discover what makes this university <a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/growing-our-community-17-new-faculty-join-xavier-university-of-louisiana\/\" class=\"more-link\">...continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \"Growing Our Community: 17 New Faculty Join Xavier University of Louisiana\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[510,5],"tags":[529,528,527,530],"class_list":{"0":"post-21572","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-directors-corner","7":"category-faculty-development","8":"tag-faculty-orientation","9":"tag-new-faculty","10":"tag-nfo","11":"tag-teaching-excellence","12":"h-entry","13":"hentry","14":"h-as-article"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p82MQk-5BW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3877,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/cat-news-september-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":0},"title":"CAT News: September 2014","author":"Bart Everson","date":"September 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This fall, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) is marking its 20th anniversary. Since its inception in 1994, CAT has existed to fulfill its mission \u201cto advance the art and science of teaching and learning\u201d and has enjoyed broad faculty participation in its services and activities. In celebration\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Newsletter&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Newsletter","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/newsletter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21824,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/november-opportunities-at-catfd\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":1},"title":"November Opportunities at CAT+FD","author":"Jason S. Todd","date":"November 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"As November arrives, I want to acknowledge both the richness and the intensity of this time in our academic lives. As faculty, we are juggling advising appointments, planning final projects, responding to crises both small and large, and somehow still finding ways to support our students through their own unique\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Director's Corner&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Director's Corner","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/directors-corner\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21639,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/september-opportunities-at-catfd\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":2},"title":"September Opportunities at CAT+FD","author":"Jason S. Todd","date":"September 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Now that the chaos of August is past, September is a great time to invest in your professional growth. The energy of beginnings \u2014 new students, new courses, new colleagues \u2014 offers everyone an opportunity for exploring innovative teaching strategies, connecting with colleagues, and strengthening the practices that make your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Director's Corner&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Director's Corner","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/directors-corner\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19481,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/new-members-of-the-catfd-team\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":3},"title":"New Members of the CAT+FD Team","author":"Bart Everson","date":"June 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We are delighted to announce our new Faculty-in-Residence. Faculty-in-Residence for New Faculty Support Raven Jackson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy. She has served the university for 7 years as a faculty member within the College, a member and leader on several committees, and a strong\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General Housekeeping&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General Housekeeping","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/housekeeping\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Raven-Jackson.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21603,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/spotlight-on-part-time-faculty-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":4},"title":"Spotlight on Part-time Faculty","author":"Jeremy Tuman","date":"August 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Spring part-time faculty are often smaller in number than in fall semesters, and departments often rely on returning teachers to teach course offerings. Spring 2025 at Xavier was no different. This group included several returning teachers with tremendous experience in a range of disciplines. Dr. Alla Rosca of the Political\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Higher Education\"","block_context":{"text":"Higher Education","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/tag\/higher-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21266,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/march-opportunities-at-catfd\/","url_meta":{"origin":21572,"position":5},"title":"March Opportunities at CAT+FD","author":"Jason S. Todd","date":"March 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This year, the liturgical season of Lent overlaps with the sacred month of Ramadan. In the Christian and Muslim traditions, this is a time of contemplation. Coincidentally this year, they also overlap Xavier's Midterms, which as we know, is a time of deep introspection for many of our students.\u00a0 During\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Director's Corner&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Director's Corner","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/directors-corner\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full_Eclipse_of_the_Moon.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full_Eclipse_of_the_Moon.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full_Eclipse_of_the_Moon.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full_Eclipse_of_the_Moon.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full_Eclipse_of_the_Moon.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21572"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21601,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21572\/revisions\/21601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}