Valdosta State University’s Dr. Ubaraj Katawal has been selected for the 2018-2019 Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program offered through the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.
 
Katawal, an associate professor of English, was one of 18 professors from across the state chosen for the program after a highly competitive application and selection process.
 
Established by former Gov. Zell Miller, the Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program provides higher education faculty members from accredited public and private colleges and universities across Georgia with expanded opportunities for developing important teaching skills. The program’s goal is to move college faculty members to the leading edge of instructional practice by exposing them to emerging technologies and instructional tools.
 
Throughout the academic year, Katawal will attend six three-day symposia that include a combination of structured instructional and faculty development activities as well as self-directed activities designed to meet his individual needs. He will also receive the support necessary to engage in instructional improvement projects at VSU.
 
“It feels great to share pedagogical ideas with faculty across disciplines and universities,” Katawal said. “I was always under the impression that other disciplines do not understand what an English professor has to deal with. That doesn't seem to be the case, as I have learned so far through the program. I hope to learn new ideas from my fellow participants and expand my horizon of knowledge as to how I can better prepare myself to help my students.”
 
Katawal, who teaches both online and traditional courses, was recently awarded VSU’s 2018 Presidential Excellence Award for Online Teaching for demonstrating a strong commitment to quality online teaching and learning; employing innovative online teaching practices; and developing rapport with individual learners in and beyond the virtual classroom.