First-Year Faculty Experience

An Athens State University faculty mentor is an experienced and trusted faculty member who works with a first-year faculty member (a.k.a., protégé) participating in the First-Year Faculty Experience.  A faculty mentor serves as an available resource, a supportive and friendly guide, a respectful advocate, and an active listener for the protégé.

Vision

The Athens State University First-Year Faculty Experience will become a culture of mentoring faculty members culminating in the long-term success of all faculty members who have participated in the program.

Mission

The program provides a supportive framework for its new faculty members (protégés) to achieve success by strategically assigning mentors to protégés leading to a professionally trusting relationship.  Moreover, the First-Year Faculty Experience offers opportunities for protégés to interact across academic departments, colleges, and other university units through engaging, collaborative, informational sessions, and workshops.

Program Goals

1. To help new faculty members acclimate to the Athens State academic, administrative, and physical environments.
2. To understand the meaning and the execution of effective teaching at Athens State University
3. To foster a relationship with a faculty mentor that should be free from scrutiny, creating a relationship in which a new faculty member has a sense of discretion when sharing concerns regarding general or specific aspects of the academic appointment
4. To provide a forum through which new faculty members discuss how to promote student success
5. To assist in the retention of good faculty members
6. To establish a sense of camaraderie among the new faculty members across colleges and appreciation for members of the staff and administration
7. To educate new mentors about the mentoring process
8. To establish a desire among faculty to serve as a mentor or serve multiple times as a mentor.

Contact Information

Ronald Merritt

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

• Phone:256-233-6527 Phone:256-233-6527
• Email:Ronald.Merritt@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences
• Office:

  Waters Hall, Room S203A

Members of the 2020-21 FYFE Cohort

Robert Torregrosa

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

• Phone:256-233-6521 Phone:256-233-6521
• Email:Robert.Torregrosa@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences
• Office:

  Waters Hall

Steve Wang

Associate Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Management

• Email:Steve.Wang@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall

John Wells

Assistant Professor of Occupational Health & Safety Management

• Phone:256-216-5358 Phone:256-216-5358
• Email:John.Wells@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall

Mentors

Mentor for Dr. Robert Torregrosa is Dr. Sara Cline.
Mentor for Dr. Steve Wang is Dr. Mike Essary.
Mentor for Dr. John Wells is Dr. Kim Roberts.