Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows are a dedicated group of Kirkwood full-time faculty representing a diverse range of academic departments in Academic Affairs, including both Arts & Sciences and CTE programs. Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows will provide support to individual faculty, departments, and programs in their efforts to ensure all students have a sense of belonging and inclusion in our Kirkwood community. The mission of the Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows is to promote inclusive excellence and remove barriers to equity in teaching and learning. Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows work closely with Kirkwood's Department of Academic Innovation, Strategy, and Design.
Kirkwood faculty needing support in promoting inclusion in their teaching and learning are encouraged to email inclusivefaculty@kirkwood.edu.
The IQ Fellows Podcast offers quick, practical conversations about teaching and learning at Kirkwood. Hear faculty share ideas, strategies, and real classroom examples on topics such as AI integration, inclusive design, assessment, and innovative teaching practices.
In this episode, get to know the faculty behind the Instructional Quality (IQ) Fellows as we share the personal passions and pedagogical beliefs that inspire our work. We dive into how we are partnering with AISD to support our fellow faculty and discuss our mission to enhance the student experience at Kirkwood. Join us for a candid conversation about the work we love and the community we are building together.
Episode 2: Our "What"
Philosophies of AI: Reflection from Kirkwood IQ Faculty
AI on Campus: IQ Fellows Reflect on Discussions with Kirkwood Students
| Carlos Ortega Amparán | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title: | Professor, English Language Acquisition, Global Learning | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-5899 x5830 | |||||
| Email: | carlos.ortega-amparan@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | Room 3019 Cedar Hall | |||||
| Bio: | Carlos is an associate professor of English Language Acquisition in Global Learning. He holds a B.A. in Political Science (International Politics) and Economics, as well as an M.A. in Spanish and Portuguese Literature & Linguistics from the University of Iowa. | |||||
| Emily McWorthy | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title: | Assistant Professor, Communication | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-4486 | |||||
| Email: | emily.mcworthy@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | Room 1017 Cedar Hall | |||||
| Bio: | Emily earned her BA and MA in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University before joining Kirkwood as an adjunct faculty member and Instructional Designer. She became a full-time faculty member in 2019, teaching communication courses while also supporting faculty and promoting instructional quality across the college. Emily has presented at several conferences and facilitates trainings on topics such as open educational resources (OERs), effective online and hybrid teaching, course design, building connections with students, and inclusive teaching strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and cats, as well as running, reading, and working on puzzles. | |||||
| Finn Kolsrud | ||||||
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| Title: | Associate Professor, Sociology | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-5480 | |||||
| Email: | finn.kolsrud@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | Room 1022 Cedar Hall | |||||
| Bio: | Finn Kolsrud teaches Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, and Marriage and the Family. He exemplifies the transformative power of sociology in action. Through his workshop on Deliberative and Collaborative Dialogue techniques, Finn helps colleagues transform difficult topics into opportunities for productive discussion and deeper understanding. As the Chair of the Civic and Community Engagement Committee and Advisor for the Civic Academy, Finn bridges academic learning with civic engagement, ensuring these dialogue skills extend beyond the classroom into community spaces. | |||||
| Heather Strempke-Durgin | ||||||
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| Title: | Associate Professor, English | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-5899 x1224 | |||||
| Email: | heather.strempke-durgin@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | Room 3017 Cedar Hall | |||||
| Bio: | Heather is an associate professor of English in the CEM department. She holds a B.A. in American and British Literature from Boise State University, as well as an M.A. in Literature and Culture from Oregon State University. Her interest in feminism, anti-racism, and equity inspire her teaching and research. She runs the Kirkwood Anti-Racist Book Club and hopes to continue serving Kirkwood students and faculty through her work as an Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows. | |||||
| Lori Brown | ||||||
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| Title: | Professor, Management | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-7603 | |||||
| Email: | lori.brown@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | Room 129 Nielsen Hall | |||||
| Bio: | ||||||
| Nathan Bellinger | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title: | Asst Prof/Aircraft Main T 201 | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-8191 | |||||
| Email: | nathan.bellinger@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | 102 Aviation Hangar at the Airport | |||||
| Bio: | ||||||