JBU names Swearingen dean, director of the ‘Teaching and Learning Center’

Dr. Carla Swearingen has been named the dean of faculty development and director of the Teaching and Learning Center at John Brown University in Siloam Springs.

She will assume her new role on July 1. In this newly-created position, Swearingen will oversee faculty learning opportunities and research initiatives and establish and direct the new Teaching and Learning Center.

“As JBU enrollment has nearly tripled in the last 25 years, the increased demands for the recruitment, training and development of faculty has prompted us to consolidate our various faculty development efforts under a single dean,” said Dr. Edward Ericson, vice president for academic affairs. “The search committee unanimously and enthusiastically chose Swearingen to step into this role, and we are very much looking forward to what she can help our institution accomplish in the coming years.”

In addition to her role as associate professor of chemistry, Swearingen served as the director of the SUCCESS grant from the National Science Foundation since 2010. She has also served as the assistant director of faculty development, offering support for JBU faculty through mentoring and peer classroom observation initiatives. Despite the additional responsibilities and roles since coming to JBU in 2005, Swearingen has continued to teach.

“I have always considered teaching to be my primary role,” Swearingen said. “It is important for someone in the field of teaching and learning to stay active in the classroom.”

Swearingen will continue teach one or two classes per year while serving JBU in this new capacity.

“I hope that faculty see this as an investment in them not only as teachers, but as individuals,” she added.