MICHIGAN FACULTY DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR
May 21-28, 2011

Contributors Biographic Sketches

Jeri Hollister earned her B.A. in History of Art and her M.F.A. from the School of Art at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining CRLT as a Program Assistant in August of 2004, she worked in the Visual Resources Collections in the Department of the History of Art in LSA. Jeri provides support for various CRLT programs, including the five-week Rackham-CRLT Preparing Future Faculty Seminar each May, the Graduate Teacher Certificate program, and CRLT grants. She also maintains the CRLT website, and provides desktop publishing and graphic art support.

Monica Huerta Post-Doctoral Research Associate Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Ph.D., University of Michigan M.A., University of Michigan B.A., University of Texas

Monica Huerta earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in the History of Art Department from the University of Michigan. She has a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Texas at El Paso. While in graduate school, Monica worked with the CRLT as a Graduate Teaching Consultant (GTC) and has taught a number of courses at U-M. As a post doc, Monica’s primary role is to conduct midterm student feedback sessions for faculty and GSIs, and to consult with those seeking innovative ways to improve classroom dynamics and strengthen student-learning objectives. Monica is very much interested in visual literacy, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and faculty development.

Kaarin Mann Program Assistant Center for Research on Learning and Teaching B.A., University of Michigan

Kaarin Mann earned her B.A. in history from the University of Michigan in 2008, after which she joined the CRLT staff. At CRLT, Kaarin provides support for GSI Teaching Orientations, the one-day Preparing Future Faculty conference, the International Faculty Dinner, and the Teaching Innovation Prize. She also assists with the CRLT website. In 2011, Kaarin will be enrolling in the Master’s program at the School of Information at the University of Michigan.

Courtney Myers Managing Director, CRLT Theatre Program Center for Research on Learning and Teaching B.A., Eastern Michigan University

Courtney Myers studied Communications and Theater Arts at Eastern Michigan University and has been a performer in Michigan theater for 20 years. Courtney has performed at The Performance Network, The Purple Rose, The Tipping Point, and is an Associate Artist with The Blackbird Theater. As Managing Director of The CRLT Players she supervises and coordinates the work of actors and support staff, coordinates rehearsal and performance schedules, manages logistics of travel with the company, and collaborates with the Artistic Director on program development.

Carolyn Parker Executive Secretary, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching B.S., University of Michigan

Carolyn Parker is providing the logistical support for 2010 Michigan-China University Leadership Forum.  She earned a B.S. in Kinesiology and Education from the University of Michigan.  Ms. Parker provides administrative secretarial support to CRLT, in addition to planning and coordinating New Faculty Orientation, the Provost’s Seminars on Teaching, and the Rackham-CRLT Seminar on College Teaching.

Summer Radtke Program Assistant Center for Research on Learning and Teaching B.A., University of Michigan

Summer Radtke graduated in 2011 from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Communications, History of Art, and Museum Studies. Ms. Radtke provides administrative support to CRLT staff.

Jessica Von Hertsenberg earned her B.A. in German and linguistics from New York University in 2009. After moving to Ann Arbor, she joined CRLT in 2010. Jessica oversees performance and trip logistics for the CRLT Players and works with the Managing Director on scheduling and communication with theatre program contacts. She also provides support for other CRLT events.

Simultaneous Interpreters

For approximately two decades, Mr. Mei has provided simultaneous interpretation from English to Chinese (and vice versa) for United Nations meetings, including those of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

Dr. Mei grew up in New York and attended Harvard University to get her M.A. and Ph.D. in History and East Asian Languages.  She spent some time teaching at U.C.L.A. and has since become an independent consultant and interpreter for Fortune 500 companies, U.S. government agencies, major museums, foundations, universities, and other non-profit organizations.

Subsequent Translators

Xiaomu Guan Ph.D. Candidate, Chemistry University of Michigan

Xiaomu Guan graduated with a Chemistry B.S. degree from Peking University. She is now working toward her Ph.D. degree in chemical biology in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan, with a focus on the study of protein enzymology. With the goal of contributing to the promotion of community health, she hopes to become a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry after graduation.

Xin Liu Ph.D. Candidate, Chemistry University of Michigan

Xin Liu is a fourth year doctoral candidate in Chemistry. She Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry from Wuhan University.  She is interested in Chinese higher education and plans to return to participate in the research community there.

Gang Su Ph.D. Candidate, Bioinformatics University of Michigan

Gang Su is a fourth year doctoral candidate in Bioinformatics and a master’s candidate in Statistics at the University of Michigan.  Before he came to the United States, he received his M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and B.S. in Biology. His current research interests include compilation, statistical analysis and visualization of large scale and high dimensional biomedical datasets.

Can Wang M.S. Student, School of Information University of Michigan

Can Wang received his Bachelor’s Degree of Management of Information System in Capital University of Economics and Business (Beijing, China). He is now pursuing his Master’s degree of Science in Information with a specialization in Human Computer Interaction.

Yipei Wang Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Environmental Health Sciences University of Michigan

Yipei Wang received her Bachelor’s degree in School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Peking University Health Science Center. She is now a doctoral candidate in Toxicology at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Her career interests are in the pharmaceutical and environmental industries.

Lijing Yang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, University of Michigan. Before she came to Michigan, she studied Chinese language and literature and obtained her M.A. degree from Nanjing Normal University. Her current research focuses on higher education policy and international higher education. Her dissertation employs econometrics to examine how educational finance policies have affected college access across 98 countries.

Fudong Zhang is a first year Ph.D. student in the Department of Economics. Fudong received his Bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics in 2010. His primary research interests are macroeconomics, decision theory and financial economics.

Drivers

Katrina Appell Ph.D. Candidate, Industrial and Operations Engineering University of Michigan

Katrina Appell received a Bachelor's degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master's degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. Katrina is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering, specializing in engineering management. Her research focuses on the implementation of lean principles in product development.

Inger Bergom Ph.D. Student, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education University of Michigan

Inger Bergom graduated from Grinnell College with a Bachelor's degree in music and gender studies. In 2008, she received her Master's degree in higher education from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) at the University of Michigan. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education at CSHPE with a focus in academic affairs and student development. Her research interests include teaching and learning in college, evaluation and assessment, and institutional research.

Chris Gerben Ph.D. Candidate, Joint Program in English and Education University of Michigan

Chris Gerben received his Bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from the University of Michigan, and his Master’s of Fine Arts degree in poetry from Notre Dame University. Chris is a native of metro Detroit. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Joint Program in English and Education. Chris has also taught at Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame, and currently works for CRLT as a graduate teaching consultant.

Nathan Harris Head Driver Ph.D. Candidate, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education University of Michigan

Nathan Harris received his Bachelor’s degree in international relations from Michigan State University and his Master’s degree in higher education from Harvard University.  Nathan is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, specializing in organizational behavior and management.  His research focuses on public university presidents, deans, and trustees.

Ashley Hazel is a final-year Ph.D. candidate in the School of Natural Resources and Environment and the School of Public Health. She conducts research on the ecological underpinnings of sexually transmitted disease risk in a nomadic population in southern Africa. Before coming to Michigan, Ashley completed a Master's degree in Biological Anthropology at University College London and a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Biology at Hunter College, City University of New York.

Drew Murray earned his Bachelor's degrees in sociology and political science from the University of Mary Washington.  Drew is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in higher education in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education and a Master of Public Policy degree in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. His academic concentration is philanthropy, advancement, and development.

Dan Nathan-Roberts Ph.D. student, Industrial and Operations Engineering University of Michigan

Dan Nathan-Roberts received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester and his Master’s degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. Prior to graduate school, Dan taught English at the high school attached to Capital Normal University in China and was a research engineer for a program in ergonomics for the University of California. Dan is pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering, specializing in human factors and ergonomics.  His research focuses on mobile phones and medical device safety and aesthetics. 

Materials Translators

Sarah M. Brooks Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) and M.A. Asian Studies: China University of Michigan

Sarah is finishing a dual Master’s with the Center for Chinese Studies and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Her thesis examines how rural women in Beijing integrate into urban society, but her research interests situate themselves generally at the intersection of gender, migration, and economic development. Upon graduating, she will be a research assistant at the Carter Center’s China Program, before moving on to a career in government.

Jing Liu Ph.D. Pre-Candidate, Chemical Engineering Department University of Michigan

Jing Liu received her Bachelor’s degree from Department of Chemistry and Molecular Science in Wuhan University and her Master’s degree in the Department of Chemistry in University of Illinois at Chicago. She is now a Ph.D. student of Chemical Engineering Department at University of Michigan. Her research interest is on li ion batteries.

Xin Liu Ph.D. Candidate, Chemistry University of Michigan

See her bio in the Subsequent Translators section.

Gang Su Ph.D. Candidate, Bioinformatics University of Michigan

See his bio in the Subsequent Translators section.

Yun Tian M.A., Financial Engineering University of Michigan

Yun received his Master's degree in Financial Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is currently doing research in finance. Before coming to the United States, he received both Bachelor’s and Master's degree in Computer Science at Renmin University of China and worked for two years at the People's Bank of China in Beijing.

Ximeng Tong Ph.D. Student, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education University of Michigan

Ximeng Tong graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor's degree in International Politics and a Master's degree in Higher Education. She worked as a program associate for the Overseas Training Program for University Leaders at the National Academy of Education Administration. She is currently a doctoral student in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education. Her research interests include social equity in higher education, and international and comparative studies of higher education.

Lijing Yang Ph.D. Candidate, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education University of Michigan

See her bio in Subsequent Translators section.

Xueying Yu Ph.D. Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Michigan

Xueying Yu is a Ph.D. student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, with a research interest in China’s reforestation policies. She received her Master’s degree in Finance from Peking University and her Bachelor’s degree in International economics and trade from Beihang University. With an interdisciplinary background in the social sciences, Xueying plans to pursue a career contributing to China’s environmental policy establishment, evaluation, and improvement.