Former Graduate Teaching Fellows Vinay Bapu Ramesh (Fellow 2023-2024) and Kitrick Fynaardt (2024-2025) are about to graduate and embark on faculty careers: This fall, Vinay will start as a Teaching Assistant Professor at Georgia College & State University and Kit will start as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Dordt University. Read about how the fellows program prepared them for their new roles and consider applying for the 26-27 cohort today!
How did the fellows program help you on your path to a faculty position?
Vinay: The fellows program oriented me toward course design and helped me think through the many nuances of structuring a course. Although I did not complete a full course during the program, the worksheets and planning activities I developed eventually led me to do so. This significantly strengthened my teaching portfolio and helped me confidently address teaching-related questions during faculty interviews.
Kit: The fellows program created an interdisciplinary space to discuss teaching practice and pedagogy. Many of the topics and issues we discussed as fellows came up in job interviews. The ideas and discussions we had as fellows helped me answer questions and give a unique perspective on teaching.
What did you learn as a fellow that will be useful in your new role?
Vinay: One of the most valuable aspects was gaining diverse perspectives from peers across disciplines. It broadened how I see the role of a faculty member beyond the scope of my own department. This expanded view of teaching and academic responsibilities will be very helpful in my new position.
Kit: One of the most useful things I did as a fellow was practice viewing teaching through different perspectives. Within my department, math, we often discuss teaching, but we could only ever offer suggestions as a group of mathematicians. The interdisciplinary nature of the fellows program helped me see teaching from the perspectives of other departments. As a math professor I plan to apply many things I learned from different departments in my classes.
What advice would you give to students considering participating in the fellows program?
Vinay: If you are interested in pursuing a faculty position after graduation, I strongly recommend the fellows program. It better prepares you for your future role and demonstrates a clear investment in professional development related to teaching. While research is important, maintaining a balance between research and teaching is key to securing a faculty position, and the Fellows program helps you build that balance.
Kit: It’s a hoot! I always looked forward to our meetings every week. The types of people who sign up for this kind of program are interesting and great to talk with about teaching and life. Let this be your sign to apply if you are even slightly considering it!