Seven Trinity College of Arts & Sciences faculty members have been awarded funding from the Undergraduate Program Enhancement Fund. Backed by Duke’s Provost’s Office, the fund supports innovative proposals that enhance undergraduate experiential learning.
Owen Astrachan, Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, will design a course called AI, Algorithms, and APIs: Great Ideas of Computer Science (Redux). He envisions the course as an alternative introduction to the major, with the goal of making it the one course faculty believe everyone should take in Computer Science — the concept underlying Trinity’s future Century courses.
James Chappel, Gilhuly Family Associate Professor of History, will lead the second year of History+. This mentored, team-based research program involves student teams collaborating with Durham nonprofits, guided by faculty and graduate student mentors.
Suzanne Crifo, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Mathematics, will develop a course called Intro to Math Modeling, aiming at having students analyze real-world climate challenges through team-based mathematical modeling.
Luciana Fellin, Professor of the Practice of Romance Studies, will create a two-year collaborative initiative to enhance language study within the liberal arts. Activities will include faculty retreats, surveys, classroom research, and the creation of publications and a public-facing site to showcase curricular innovations and student learning outcomes.
Shambhavi Kaul, Associate Professor of the Practice of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, will expand introductory courses, optimize the department’s Capstone course to foster better collaboration opportunities, and enhance technical instruction to support student learning and experimental education by hiring an instructor.
Genna Miller, Lecturing Fellow of Economics, will develop a new course titled Economics with Community-Based Clients, using client-based pedagogy to pair student teams with community partners in tackling real-world economic challenges.
Harris Solomon, Sally Dalton Robinson Professor of Cultural Anthropology, plans to expand and strengthen Duke’s undergraduate programs in global ethnography by integrating resources and collaboration across different Trinity College departments and Duke’s various schools.
