March 19, 2024
The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education is pleased to announce it has selected 15 faculty from around the state to be honored as Montana University System Teaching Scholars, including University of Montana Western Professor of Business, Dr. Christian Gilde.
Now in its fourth year, the MUS Teaching Scholars program was created to promote excellent teaching and learning outcomes and to continuously make the profound impact of high-quality teaching more accessible to all students. The program does so by recognizing faculty members who have made exemplary contributions at their institutions and by supporting these faculty in leading their peers to further advance excellence in teaching.
Each year, the MUS Teaching Scholars program focuses on a selected theme that highlights innovative approaches to teaching and that aligns with MUS priorities. This year, the MUS Teaching Scholars program is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom. In higher education, AI has and will continue to change how students learn, how faculty teach, and the workforce graduates will enter.
At the heart of the MUS Teaching Scholars program is the way it builds cumulative impact through faculty learning communities. During the fall semester, each Teaching Scholar will lead faculty on their home campus in developing innovative and effective teaching strategies.
Selected MUS Teaching Scholars are from all types of institutions within the Montana University System – doctoral flagship, regional four-year, two-year and community college. Scholars were chosen from a competitive pool of faculty from across the system and all faculty tracks and ranks.
A team of interdisciplinary researchers including Dr. Christian Gilde shared their findings last year focused on the creative capabilities of AI and potential applications in various industries. This research, combined with Dr. Gilde’s expertise in business and technology, contributed to his selection as a 2024 MUS Teaching Scholar.
Additional information about the program, this year’s theme, and past cohorts can be found at https://mus.edu/che/arsa/mus-teaching-scholars/.
2024-2025 MUS Teaching Scholars
Christian Gilde, Business & Technology, University of Montana Western
Blaine Berrington, Chemistry, Montana Technological University
Kyndra Campbell, Writing & Developmental Humanities, Gallatin College
Jason Clark, Research Analytics, Optimization, & Data Services, MSU
Anna Conley, Law School, University of Montana
Kari Dahle-Huff, Educational Theory & Practice, MSU Billings
Charles Denny, English, Miles Community College
Samuel Downs, General Studies, Great Falls College
Gwen Hart, English, MSU Northern
Karen Henderson, General Education, Helena College
Taylor Moorman, Instructional Technology Librarian, MSU
John Pannell, Computer Systems Technology, City College
Amy Ratto Parks, Center for Writing & Public Speaking, University of Montana
Jana Parsons, General Education, Great Falls College
Rebecca Tyler, Mathematics, Great Falls College
