By Aron Smith
JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State University celebrates the achievements of Pamala Heard, Ph.D.,director of Honors Student Services and Activities, and Shirley Burnett, Ph.D., mathematics instructor, as they join the esteemed ranks of the Faculty Innovation Fellows program at Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.
Their success builds on their roles as Faculty Champions for Jackson State University’s student University Innovation Fellows at Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.
Burnett reflected on their journey: “Initially, we served as faculty champions, collaborating closely with students. However, our involvement in the program has opened opportunities for us to lead independent projects. As we actively implement these initiatives on campus, we aim to instill a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving within the university.”
The duo will collaborate with educators worldwide in a two-year program designed to cultivate innovation and equip students with real-world skills. The program comprises two segments: the Honors Colloquium: Design Thinking Courses and GRIT workshops, tailored to enhance learning experiences.
The Honors Colloquium: Design Thinking Courses focuses on high-achieving students from Du Bois- Harvey Honors College that address their needs with competencies such as civic engagement, critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and global citizenship. Each course integrates real-world challenges, providing students with a comprehensive and enriching learning experience in a capstone project.
“The essence of design thinking transcends various disciplines, allowing us to apply these processes to address the distinct needs at Jackson State. This opportunity illustrates the successful infiltration of these ideas into broader contexts,” emphasized Heard.
In response to the pressing issue of low completion rates in higher education, the groundbreaking GRIT workshop program aims to tackle multifaceted reasons contributing to student dropout rates.
GRIT workshops seek solutions that achieve higher learning while increasing student retention rates and are designed to address noncognitive factors such as poor academic performance, imposter syndrome, socialization challenges, mental health issues, and financial constraints.
The program envisions granting new opportunities for junior faculty and students to engage in international research and scholarship related to teaching and learning (SoLT) and design thinking.
Additionally, faculty members and student fellows will have opportunities to connect with industry leaders internationally through the project, gaining valuable insights and guidance on best practices in their respective fields. Notably, these interactions extend to developing innovative opportunities and internships beyond the spectrum of design thinking.
Faculty Champions Burnett and Heard have received invitations to showcase their project findings and advancements at a program summit at the University of Twente in April 2024.
Heard expressed the significance of the experience, “This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from individuals with firsthand experience, enabling us to contribute to our university. It is a collaborative effort on a global scale, designing solutions for everyone, regardless of background or university affiliation, benefiting people from all walks of life,” she said.