From the Executive Director – July 2022
Ah, summer, that time of year where we step away from our busy schedules, slow down to read and reflect on a good book or two, and prepare for the academic year ahead. Doesn’t that sound lovely? And maybe a little hypothetical? That’s not how my summer is going, certainly. It’s been a time of change, both personally and professionally.
At home, my wife and I welcome a new baby into our family on April 1st. Given the date (April Fool’s Day), not everyone believed our text messages that she was going into labor, but our son really was born that day! He’s three months old now, and doing well. And I’m looking forward to having him in Vanderbilt day care just across the parking lot from my office at the Center for Teaching.
At work, this has been a time of staff transitions at the CFT. As I shared in a previous newsletter, longtime assistant director Rhett McDaniel left this spring for a great new job in the School of Nursing. Next month, longtime associate director Cynthia Brame leaves the CFT for a full-time faculty position in Biological Sciences. Please save the date—Thursday, August 11th, at 3:30pm—for her farewell reception! A search for the CFT’s new associate director is ongoing.
And this month, two newer staff members are leaving the CFT, as well. Digital media specialists Seth Shepherd and Tracye Davis are moving along with the entire Digital Media Lab and One-Button Studio to Vanderbilt’s new Office for Digital Learning, where they will support the development of new online degree programs at the institution. We wish Seth and Tracye the best at their new institutional home, and we’re grateful for all the work they did the past year launching our digital media services.
Derek Bruff
Executive Director
