Dear Faculty Colleagues,

As we move toward Thanksgiving Break, I know many of you are carrying the familiar mix of fatigue, pride, and determination that comes with this point in the semester. Fall is always a demanding stretch, and it’s natural to feel the weight of grading, student needs, and unfinished projects all stacking up at once. At the same time, there’s a real sense of accomplishment in seeing your students grow and your work make a tangible impact. I hope this brief pause ahead offers you the chance to rest, recharge, and reconnect with the people and traditions that sustain you so you can return to the last few instruction days of the Fall 2025 semester with steadiness and renewed energy.

First-Year Faculty Cohort

November 10: Dr. Adrienne Wilk, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, and Prof. Jessie Wiser, Instructor of Social Work, delivered their outstanding presentation to our FYF cohort entitled, “Interprofessional Education Made Practical: Tools for Faculty.” Thanks to the generous support of the Bill Wyatt Faculty Grant, the session included delicious catering from Chick-fil-A, creating an inviting space for discussion and collaboration. Faculty left energized and inspired, already imagining creative ways to build cross-curricular opportunities and simulations that will give our students a distinctive edge as they graduate.

November 17: Mike Olson and Alexandra Rotzer, all-star Instructional Designers in Distance Education, led the session “RSI Roadmap: Charting Your Course to Compliance.”  The cohort explored examples of instructor-initiated interactions (RSI) that promote student engagement in online courses, learned how to accurately document regular and substantive interactions in online and hybrid courses, and gained practical strategies for implementing effective, compliance-aligned instructor interactions. I’m thrilled that our FYF received this valuable guidance this early in their academic careers, equipping them to thoughtfully incorporate these practices into their course offerings.

From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice — January 14, 2026

CAFE is pleased to announce a professional development day focused on Accessibility, featuring keynote speaker Mike Hess, founder and executive director of the Blind Institute of Technology, that we are calling, "From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice”.

The event will take place on Wednesday, January 14, in the week before Spring semester classes begin (following our mandatory report date). Please mark your calendars and see an outline of the day below.  We’ll also hear from our own campus accessibility specialists — Anna Carrie Webb, Yen Hoyt, and Jayme Dunn — who will share insights and practical strategies from their areas of expertise.

I’m thrilled to coordinate this event for our faculty and to provide this special opportunity to engage deeply with such an important and timely topic.

Upcoming Events
Here’s a quick look at upcoming opportunities for and by faculty:

• CoAL Faculty Research Spotlight - Nov 24
• A Night of Korean, Taiwanese, and Welsh Art Songs - Dec 2
• IER Office Hours Session - Dec 3 
• TechBytes Session - Dec 4  
• Full Spectrum Learning Info Session - Dec 4 
• Peay Composed Symposium on Academic Writing - Dec 4

CAFE Calendar 
I'll continue to update our CAFE Calendar as more events and sessions become finalized.  Be sure to bookmark it and add any events directly to your Outlook calendar. 

As always, I welcome your ideas on how CAFE can better serve you.  Please don't hesitate to reach out at williamsjj@apsu.edu or 931-221-7648.

In this Thanksgiving season, please accept my gratitude for all you do, and my warmest wishes for a restorative break and a steady, successful finish to the semester.

Yours always,
Jeff 

A place develoted to celebrating the achievements of our APSU faculty colleagues!

Crenshaw featured in Govs on the Go Podcast

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon talks with Dr. Linda Crenshaw, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay. A scholar of Southern literature, Dr. Crenshaw shares how her academic journey — from the University of Arkansas to Vanderbilt University — shaped her love for authors like Faulkner, O’Connor, and Welty. She reflects on her decades of teaching, her time as director of the APSU Honors Program, and her ongoing passion for connecting students to the rich literary traditions of the South.

Kim leads VR experiental learning in the classroom

Dr. David Kim, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, uses Ovation, a VR program, to help students simulate interrogations in his Criminal Investigations class.

“Part of my teaching philosophy is experiential learning, so I want to have them actually try and use the interrogation techniques they’ve learned in the textbook,” said Dr. Kim. “Without VR, it would be very difficult for them to get that experience of going into the interrogation room and talking to a suspect.”

The simulations were made possible through the Woodward Library’s Makerspace, which provided the department with five Ovation software licenses. The program allows users to interact with AI-powered avatars in various speaking situations and includes suspects with different personality types across multiple crime scenarios.

Future simulations include collaboration with the Social Work Department. 

Dr. David Kim demonstrates Ovation, a VR program, in the classroom. Photo by Kaos Armstrong

Tavassoli study published in Health Economics

Dr. Nahid Tavassoli, Assistant Professor of Economics, conducted a study linking the NOₓ Budget Trading Program (NBP) — a U.S. cap-and-trade air quality initiative — to improved infant health outcomes. By analyzing birth records from 1995 to 2008, Tavassoli found that full exposure to the NBP corresponded with a 5.5% reduction in low birth weight, a 13% decline in very preterm births, and an average birth weight increase of about 20 grams. The improvements were most significant among mothers who are Black, have lower educational attainment, or are single—groups more likely to live near pollution sources. Tavassoli’s findings highlight how environmental policy can advance health equity and reduce disparities in birth outcomes, reinforcing the intersection of environmental and public health policy.

Atwood article cited in government policy

Dr. Adam Atwood, Associate Professor of Educational Specialties, had his article, "A Conceptual Analysis of the Semantic Use of Multiple Intelligences Theory and Implications for Teacher Education" (2022), cited by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture in a government policy document titled "The Role of Parents in Preventing Deviant Behavior in Children by Strengthening Character and Optimizing Children's Potential." This citation is indexed by Sage Policy Profiles and demonstrates notable international recognition of Dr. Atwood’s expertise in education.

Thompson nominated for nationally recognized radiology awards

Austin Peay State University's radiologic science program and its director, Dr. Jennifer Thompson, have been nominated for the 2025 Minnies, a national award campaign that has recognized excellence in radiology for 28 years.

“Being nominated and selected as a finalist for the Minnies award is a deeply meaningful honor,” Thompson said. “It affirms that providing a quality education at Austin Peay goes far beyond the classroom—it involves empowering students to advocate for themselves and for the future of their profession. I am truly humbled by this recognition and profoundly grateful to be acknowledged for contributing to the educational journey of our students at APSU, as well as to the broader professional community across the United States.”

This gathering will bring our campus together in remembrance and gratitude. Dr. Darrough touched many — as a gifted educator, a respected colleague and a cherished friend. All are welcome as we share stories, honor her impact, and find comfort in community.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025

Time: Noon - 2 p.m.

Where: MUC 303/305

No tickets required; free and open to the public

Featuring performances by:
Prof. Esther Tien Shield, mezzo-soprano, Visiting Assistant Professor of Voice
Dr. Min Sang Kim, countertenor, Assistant Professor of Voice
Dr. Jeffrey Williams, baritone, Professor of Voice
with Prof. Jan Corrothers, collaborative pianist
and their students

The remaining session will take place in Library 232 from 9:00am-2:00pm.

IER staff will be there to help folks with everything IER related – surveys, outcomes assessment, data requests and analysis, Peay Composed efforts, major field testing, and more! Folks can drop by as their schedule allows.

Please click the button or use this link below to register for the symposium. 

https://forms.office.com/r/9Q7ueZxZsd

For questions or comments, please contact Troy Priest at priestt@apsu.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!  

Did you know that about 30% of APSU students are first-generation? Many of them don’t realize how many faculty and staff share that same experience. Help us change that by completing the First-Gen Faculty and Staff Survey.

Your responses will help highlight the strong first-gen presence at APSU on the G1Govs website and guide future opportunities like mentorship programs, panels, and speaking engagements. Help us make APSU a more supportive place for first-gen students!

Health and Counseling is available to provide presentations on various topics for your class. Presentations cover a range of topics, including stress management, physical and mental well-being, and bystander training.  

To request a presentation, please complete the form at https://www.apsu.edu/wellness/. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Quianda Harris at harrisq@apsu.edu or Jill de Graauw at degraauwj@apsu.edu. 

Have you bookmarked the CAFE Calendar yet?  We’re constantly adding new events!  Stay up to date with all CAFE-affiliated programming happening across campus.  Don’t forget - you can easily add any event directly to your Outlook calendar with a click! 

Do you have an event that you would like promoted in CAFE's bi-monthly newsletter?

Feel free to email us at cafe-fac@apsu.edu with the information. We will review it and inform you if the request is appropriate for the CAFE audience.