A Legacy Rooted in Teaching and Learning
As I reflect on my nine years at Palo Alto University, one of the most meaningful and enduring efforts I’ve been part of is the development and growth of what is now known as the Center for Educational Excellence (CEE). My passion for evidence-based teaching began long before my presidency—during my time at CUNY, I saw firsthand the deep investment our field makes in evidence-based practice, yet so little of that same rigor was applied to how we prepare the next generation of psychologists and behavioral health professionals to teach. Working with incredible graduate students and colleagues, I helped develop the first formal course on the “teaching of psychology” at CUNY, and after several years of co-teaching the course, my colleagues and I co-authored Teaching Psychology: An Evidence-Based Approach to help bridge that gap.
When I arrived at PAU, I found an early spark of this same vision already alive in our nascent Faculty Learning & Instructional Development department (now CEE). It became clear to me that a strong, sustained commitment to educational excellence—rooted in the science of teaching and learning—would be essential to our mission of transforming lives and communities. Over time, and with the early leadership of VP Jim Breckenridge and its first Director, Dr. Kristel Nazzal, that early effort evolved into the robust Center for Educational Excellence, which now offers faculty development, beginnings of student mentorship, and our annual Evidence-Based Teaching Conference. These initiatives not only support the success of our faculty and students—they position PAU as a leader in inclusive and innovative pedagogy.
As I prepare to step down from the presidency, I can think of no better way to carry this work forward than by ensuring it has the foundation to flourish for years to come. That is why we are launching a campaign to raise a substantial endowment that will support the O’Connor Center for Educational Excellence. As it grows, the endowment will support CEE operations, fund workshops and programming, and expand our ability to train both current and future educators in evidence-based teaching practices.
Together, we can ensure that PAU continues to support our incredible faculty and to lead with purpose, rigor, and care in how we educate the behavioral health leaders of tomorrow. To learn more about our vision for CEE, click here.