Faculty Fellows bridge student-faculty engagement beyond the classroom

This past week, a group of undergraduate students met with a professor in the Commons dining room at the Brodhead Center. On the menu? Burrata, Dijon-crusted salmon, and discussions on how to bridge the gap between faculty and students. 
 

This dinner was the first of many to be hosted by the Faculty Fellows program this year. Established by the Office of Undergraduate Education’s Student-Faculty Engagement Office, the Faculty Fellows program aims to “serve as a catalyst for intellectual engagement” by providing opportunities for students to connect with a faculty member unique to each West Campus quad. The 2024-2025 Faculty Fellows are: 
 

• Craven Quad: Michael Gustafson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering 
• Crowell Quad: Adriane Fresh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science 
• Edens Quad: Didem Havlioglu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies 
• Few Quad: Shep Moyle, M.B.A, Lecturing Fellow in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative 
• Keohane Quad: Lee Baker, Ph.D., Professor of Cultural Anthropology and African and African American Studies 
• Kilgo Quad: Sarah Komisarow, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Economics
   

 

Despite the diversity in their academic specialties and backgrounds, all six Faculty Fellows share the common interest of bringing faculty and students together. Each month, Faculty Fellows are expected to host at least two events, one being a dinner and one event of their design. For example, Professor Gustafson discussed leaning away from traditional events such as lectures or serious conversations at his dinner. 

“I want to meet individual Craven students,” noted Gustafson, “I’m not looking to host serious lectures, and I’m not hoping to do so.” His Faculty Fellow event ideas included a personal succulent planting event and an ice cream sundae mixer. 

The Faculty Fellows program is, at its core, an expansion of the popular Faculty-in-Residence program that first-year Duke undergraduates experience on East Campus. The program aims to provide the perfect environment for the facilitation of small, meaningful conversations, deepening both students’ and professors’ connections to the Duke and each other.  

At a recent dinner, Professor Moyle noted, “I get a great joy out of engaging with students, so however I can help you either network or connect, or make your dreams come true or bring resources to build on--that’s what I’m here for.” 

Opportunities and events associated with the Faculty Fellow programs will be available via Duke Groups, Quad Emails, and through social media. For more information, visit https://undergrad.duke.edu/intellectual-community/student-faculty-engagement-office/faculty-fellows/.