Every day, William Peace University faculty share their knowledge across disciplines, preparing students for success beyond campus. To serve students effectively, our faculty are continually learning, innovating, and taking bold steps. Whether presenting at national conferences, experimenting with new teaching approaches, or leading conversations on emerging issues like AI ethics in education, Peace faculty stay on the pulse of new concepts in their fields.
This commitment to excellence and innovation has earned our faculty national recognition and strengthened Peace’s reputation as an institution prioritizing student-centered learning. The following examples showcase faculty members whose leadership exemplifies this dedication.
The AAC&U Career Institute: From Curriculum to Career
This summer, six faculty and staff members attended a four-day curriculum-to-career institute hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Given Peace’s core commitment to career readiness, attending the Institute felt natural.
“When I saw this AAC&U Institute focused on curriculum to career, I immediately knew we had to participate,” Provost Lynda Szymanski said. “It aligned with our mission because we care deeply about preparing students for their future careers, and one key way we do that is through our curriculum. Our faculty are thoughtful about what students need to learn in both general education and major courses to be prepared for those careers.”
The team was led by co-chairs Jalesa Sutton, dean of student success, and Elizabeth Kusko, associate professor of political science & program director of criminal justice, political science, and pre-law.
“The most valuable experience was dedicating four full days to building relationships with our team, collaborating, and sharing course content and ideas to better support students,” Sutton said. “We also connected with other institutions, shared ideas, and received real-time feedback.”
The goal of the institute was to identify ways Peace can enhance career preparation through strategic course competencies — both applicable material and fundamental life skills that are beneficial across disciplines.
“Truly instilling career readiness comes as much from course material as from the skills students gain,” Kusko said. “Knowledge is important, but you’re also gaining critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. Every group project builds skills you’ll use throughout your professional life. So when interviewing for internships or jobs, you can say, ‘I’m a poli sci major, but I also led collaborative projects’ — and that translates to future employers.”
The team developed a wish list of ideas to position career preparation as a central part of the Peace experience. These included expanding the internship commitment to online students and establishing a career design course series. After the institute, Kusko and Sutton helped Szymanski apply for federal grant funding to implement some ideas if awarded.
One focus of the team during the institute was the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career competencies, such as communication, critical thinking, and professionalism. Whether or not the grant is awarded, faculty will be trained in these core competencies and encouraged to incorporate them into their courses.
“The goal this year is to think about our curriculum and how to incorporate those NACE competencies we already expose students to, but make it more explicit,” Sutton said. “We want to clearly show students how class assignments connect to their careers. That way, at the end, students can say, ‘I have these skills. I can put these on my resume. I know what I’m doing, and I’m qualified for this position.’”
Commitment to Student Success: Alternative Grading Styles and AI
In line with a commitment to immersive learning and career preparation, Peace faculty have enacted alternative assessment principles in the classroom. From specifications grading to comprehensive skill assessments, faculty across disciplines are leading the evolution of this framework.
Kristi Rittby, assistant professor of mathematics, is one of the professors actively applying alternative assessment approaches in her courses. She is also a leader in AI education, delivering presentations and co-authoring articles, including a piece for the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), to keep her peers informed on emerging trends.
“I like putting myself in spaces where people are having these hard conversations,” she said. “It’s important to talk about it, even if it’s something that you’re suspicious of. It’s better to know how students are using generative AI and how we can utilize it as a tool.”
Rittby is not alone in her exploration of emerging tech; her colleagues are also finding ways to weave modern challenges into their courses.
Mentorship in Motion: Alumni Distinguished Professor
Last year, Scott McElreath, professor of philosophy and program director of interdisciplinary studies, received the Alumni Distinguished Professor Award at Peace. The recipient of this prestigious award is chosen by the president, provost, and vice president for advancement, who recommend a faculty member to the alumni board. After the alumni board approves, the honoree is officially announced.
McElreath was unanimously chosen for his years of experience and dedication to thoughtfully educating students. As a philosophy professor and ethics bowl mentor, he takes pride in preparing students for their next steps beyond college.
“That’s the kind of person we want to recognize — one who makes such a difference in our students’ lives,” Provost Lynda Szymanski said. “He cares so deeply about his students and is always thinking about what skills they need to be successful in their careers. As a philosopher, he focuses his disciplinary expertise on ethics and critical thinking skills. It doesn’t matter what careers the students want to go into; those are skills that he fosters among our students.”
For McElreath, the award symbolizes the deep connection to students that has defined his Peace experience for the past 25 years.
“I wanted to teach at a small school where I could get to know everyone and support them outside the classroom,” he said. “I like knowing what my students are doing and helping them — not just with courses, but with advising and talking about their athletic teams and extracurriculars. It’s nice to work with students, get to know what they’re doing, and support them.”
Along with the award, McElreath received a professional development stipend. He applied and was accepted to present at the American Association of Philosophy Teachers annual conference this summer. His presentation focused on applying ethical principles to teach students when to use AI tools in school and in their future careers.
“I have them practice using AI as if they’re at work, then reflect on whether it was morally right to use it that way,” he said. “By thinking through their future AI use, they’ll realize when it’s okay or not to use it as students now. Since teaching this, I’ve tracked fewer AI infractions and academic integrity violations, suggesting that discussing it and encouraging critical thinking leads to more ethical use overall.”
Szymanski emphasized McElreath’s commitment and achievements as representative of the caliber of Peace faculty across the board.
“Something that I love about our faculty is they all have their disciplinary expertise, but they’re also experts in teaching and learning,” she said. “Scott’s a really good example of combining his passion and expertise in philosophy with his passion and expertise in teaching and learning. It’s good for our students to have mentors like him.”
