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The Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) is delighted to announce that Dr. Warren Sconiers, associate teaching professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been appointed as faculty fellow for teaching & clinical faculty development, effective July 15 this year. Dr. Sconiers succeeds Dr. Lev Szentkirályi of the Leeds School of Business, who concluded a three-year term of dedicated service in the role.Ìý

As faculty fellow, Dr. Sconiers will continue facilitating workshops and community-building opportunities tailored for teaching and clinical faculty. He brings to the position a strong record of supporting faculty in the classroom; Dr. Sconiers recently finished a three-year study on interventions for increasing student engagement and sense of belonging in large classes, funded by CU Boulder's Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL).ÌýÌýÌý

To help the CU Boulder community get to know him better, we sat down with Dr. Sconiers for a short Q&A.Ìý

What motivated you to take on the Faculty Fellow role?Ìý

I have served at both small liberal arts colleges and R1 institutions, and at each step, I have always appreciated resources, mentoring, and advice from faculty that helped me find my footing. I want to give that back to our teaching and clinical faculty at CU Boulder, especially for those who are just starting out and figuring out their path. I was also inspired by Lev, who, together with OFA, provided exactly that kind of guidance, and I hope to continue that service and pay it forward. These experiences have been invaluable in shaping my own career and professional growth.

What are you most looking forward to in this position, and what goals do you hope to accomplish? Ìý

I look forward to meeting and interacting with teaching and clinical faculty while providing resources that can make a real difference in their experience. Just knowing that faculty find these sessions valuable will be incredibly rewarding. My goal is to offer quality programming that inspires faculty to pursue goals and aspirations they might have thought were out of reach, and to help faculty adjust to CU Boulder. I also see this as an opportunity to strengthen my own leadership and mentoring skills, including event planning, workshop development, and program administration for faculty.Ìý

How does your recent study with CTL influence or shape your approach to teaching and clinical faculty development?Ìý

My research has shown me what strategies are most effective for engaging students in the classroom, and now I get to share this work with faculty—helping them skip years of trial and error. As teaching faculty myself, I understand first-hand how much time and energy it takes to implement changes to an existing course. It’s a substantial effort, but often a much needed one to adapt to the times and meet students where they are today. That’s why I want to be a resource for our teaching and clinical faculty, supporting them through this process as they balance the many other demands of their workload.

In your view, what are the most pressing challenges teaching and clinical faculty face today, and how can you and OFA help address them?Ìý

This isn’t unique to just CU Boulder; the teaching profession as a whole is confronted with the challenge of adapting our curriculum, teaching philosophies and approaches to keep pace with technology, AI and evolving student needs and abilities. That’s where OFA comes in—supporting faculty development and career growth by bringing teaching and clinical faculty together to talk about these issues, connect with colleagues, and collaborate. It’s all about building a community where we can share ideas and strengthen our teaching.

On a lighter note, when you’re not focused on teaching and faculty development, how do you like to spend your time?Ìý

In my free time, I enjoy staying active through CrossFit, reading biology books as well as sci-fi and fantasy novels. I’m also working on my own novel (someday it will be finished!). I’m also an avid gamer, anime fan, and lover of all things Marvel!Ìý

Review more information about OFA's offerings for teaching & clinical faculty or email OFAFDS@Colorado.EDU.