Kennesaw State helps prepare future professors

(October 9, 2000) Ever had a brilliant professor who knew everything about the field of study, but did not know the first thing about teaching? Many former college students have met that professor at some point, but future college students may be a little more fortunate, thanks to a new collaborative program in Georgia that aims to prepare PhD candidates for teaching careers.

Kennesaw State University is one of four academic institutions to open its door to University of Georgia doctoral students who are observing the academic processes of professorship. Launched earlier this year, the Preparing Future Faculties program was established to encourage psychology graduate students to explore the realm of academic teaching as a career.

The Department of Counseling and Human Development at UGA was awarded one of four $20,000 grants by the American Psychological Association last spring. The original $20,000 grant was matched by an additional $20,000 from UGA. Additional funding will be provided by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the PEW Charitable Trust Program for the two-year period of the grant.

Grant coordinator, Rosemary Phelps, associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Georgia envisions that through the program, PFF scholars "will get mentoring experiences with faculty members, teaching experience, exposure to various aspects of academia."

The eight student participants are studying counseling psychology, educational psychology and industrial psychology at UGA. In the course of the program, the students will participate in activities at Kennesaw State Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and North Georgia College and State University. Valerie Whittlesey, chair of the KSU psychology department, hosted an orientation session for the students at Kennesaw State on Oct. 6. The students will return later in the academic year to shadow KSU's psychology professors, present guest lectures and attend relevant department/committee meetings. Also, the PFF scholars will be partnered with mentors at KSU and the other collaborating universities.

While the current grant is for a two-year period, UGA may continue the program in the future.