Teaching teachers how to teach, and instructing students, are specialties of Christine Denecker, Ph.D. Over the years, Denecker has helped countless students and instructors efficiently and comprehensively learn about English, rhetoric, communication and pedagogical methods. Now, with an updated job title and her work with an organization that promotes college-level learning for high school students, she is forging ahead with additional efforts.
Denecker is now the director for UF’s Center for Teaching and Program Excellence. Her expanded duties for the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) will include overseeing global assessment for the University and Academic Progress Rate for its student-athletes. She’ll also assist with non-instructional assessment and continue to develop CTE programming.
“For several years, I served as assessment coordinator for the University, so I have the historical knowledge to coordinate and work with others to refine the assessment process on campus,” Denecker said. “I’ll also be working on part-time faculty professional development opportunities, faculty recognition/awards, and other projects meant to support and celebrate faculty.”
She also plans to begin a mentoring program for new department chairs.
Denecker said this work is something she has wanted to perform, but has not had the time to do so due to her duties as English Department chair.
She’ll begin transitioning into the new role this spring, and will assume full leadership in fall 2018 when her English Department chair responsibilities end. She said she will maintain the same teaching load, and her position will continue as a faculty member rather than as an administrator.
“It’s important for me to remain in the classroom, because that’s where I’m happiest, and it keeps me more connected to the work I do through the CTE,” she said.
Additionally, Denecker has been regularly presenting for the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), which seeks to advance quality college courses for high school students. She will serve as one of the primary trainers at the NACEP’s half-day workshop in April in Phoenix, Arizona, which will facilitate strong partnerships between faculty and instructors.
In May, she plans to represent UF at another NACEP event in Cincinnati.
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