Nine University of Georgia faculty members have been chosen as 2025 Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows, a program designed to help instructors creating active learning courses that allow students to engage with UGA Libraries’ archival materials.
The new cohort reaches a broad spectrum of academic areas, from African American Studies, history, music, religion, Spanish, to geography, political science, and statistics.
“We are delighted to welcome our 10th cohort into the Special Collections Libraries Faculty Teaching Fellows program,” said university librarian and associate provost Toby Graham. “Since 2015, SCL Fellows have developed about 100 archives-based courses and reached thousands of students with hands-on experiences that embody UGA’s commitment to active learning.”
The 2025 Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows are:
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Maduranga Dassanayake, senior lecturer of statistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Jorge Garcia-Granados, lecturer of Spanish, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Jeffrey Glas, senior lecturer of political science, School of Public and International Affairs
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Tracey Johnson, assistant professor of history and Institute of African American Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Jean Kidula, professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Michael Lynch, associate professor of political science, School of Public and International Affairs
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Maria Mizzi, senior lecturer of Spanish, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Jerry Shannon, associate professor of geography, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Amanda Walls, academic professional of religion, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Through this program, co-sponsored by the University Libraries and the Center for Teaching and Learning, the new fellows will spend Maymester in workshops learning, researching, and developing courses that feature materials from special collections in ways that advance the learning objectives and interests of their respective disciplines. This archives-centered approach draws upon tools and resources of TeachArchives.org, a comprehensive teaching guide developed by the Brooklyn Historical Society. The program will conclude with a three-day institute where fellows will present their course designs and gather feedback from their cohort peers and the fellowship instructional team.
“The Special Collections Fellows program exemplifies the best of faculty development: a collaborative space where instructors are supported in reimagining student learning,” said Megan Mittelstadt, assistant vice president for learning initiatives and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. “Each year, I am inspired by the creativity and dedication of our fellows as they design transformative, evidence-based learning experiences rooted in active inquiry. Their work not only enriches our classrooms but also strengthens our students’ abilities to think critically, make meaning from complex materials, and connect course concepts to real-world contexts.”
The 2025 Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows begin the program on April 29 with hands-on introduction to archives-centered learning, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the three special collections departments—the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies and the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection. The introductory day concludes with a reunion reception that brings together past fellows to meet and welcome the newest members of this growing academic community.
The Special Collections Fellows instructional team includes Steve Armour, Mazie Bowen, Kathleen Carter, Anne DeVine, Mary Miller, and Jill Severn, who serves as program coordinator for UGA Libraries. Jennifer Eimers serves as the program’s liaison and advisor from the Center for Teaching in Learning.
Since 2015, UGA Special Collections Teaching Fellows Program has welcomed 93 faculty participants who have designed or adapted more than 100 courses across 42 disciplines. Their efforts have connected thousands of students with the rich array of materials held in UGA’s three special collections libraries. In 2020, the program was recognized by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council with an award for excellence in the educational use of historical records.