Center for Teaching Excellence, Owen Center to merge

The Owen Academic & Career Support Center and the Center for Teaching Excellence are merging, beginning in the spring semester.

The new structure puts Heidelberg on the cutting edge by creating a resource that brings together the needs of the Heidelberg community and supports the inherent connection between teaching and learning.

Its new name will be The Owen Center for Teaching and Learning. Congrats to Dr. Courtney DeMayo Pugno, who has been appointed to serve as the interim Executive Director.

“The new Owen Center for Teaching and Learning will provide pedagogical support and programming for faculty, academic support for students, undergraduate academic advising for first-year students, and accessibility services for the campus community,” said Provost Dr. Beth Schwartz.

As interim director, Courtney will work with the existing Owen Center and CTE staff to design the new center, with the goal of building strong collaborations between the revamped center, academic departments and the Student Affairs Division, including athletics.

“The redesign includes creating a new organizational structure and staffing requirements,” Beth said. A new administrative assistant has been appointed. Recruiting a director of Academic Advising and a director of Academic Support will be priorities.

The process will begin soon to select and hire a new executive director of the Owen Center for Teaching and Learning, hopefully by May 1.