Director Named to Head University’s New Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Syracuse University’s Office of Academic Affairs has hired a director for the University’s new Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Martha A. Kalnin Diede, who comes to Syracuse from Western Carolina University, has been appointed to the new post effective June 25.

The center, which receives partial funding through the Invest Syracuse initiative, was created this spring to advance the Academic Strategic Plan goal of developing innovative programs to support teaching excellence and the learning experience.

Martha A. Kalnin Diede

“This appointment represents a major step forward in our commitment to fostering teaching and scholarly excellence and building an outstanding academic experience for all students,” says Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs LaVonda N. Reed. “Martha has the experience and skills needed to lead this critical initiative, and I very much look forward to working with her.”

The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will promote the scholarship of evidence-based pedagogy; support the career development of faculty and instructional staff; and enhance student-centered teaching, course design and engaged learning. Among other responsibilities, Diede will oversee the design and execution of teaching support initiatives, including mentoring programs and coaching for faculty; attention to diversity and equity, and inclusion of marginalized populations; and the creation of a faculty professional development plan that enhances and supports teaching excellence.

Diede has served since 2016 as director of Western Carolina University’s Coulter Faculty Commons for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. In that role she oversaw an academic affairs and information technology staff in areas relating to educational development, educational technology, faculty research support, and the Blackboard learning management system. She assured compliance with federal regulations and external accrediting bodies, fostered cross-campus departmental relationships, and conducted faculty teaching and technology assessments and follow-up.

“I am excited and privileged to have the opportunity to lead such an important initiative at Syracuse,” says Diede. “Faculty who excel as teachers and scholars are vital to any university’s capacity to deliver an outstanding student experience. I look forward to collaborating with faculty and administrators on advancing this strategic goal here at Syracuse.”

Prior to her appointment as director of the Coulter Faculty Commons at Western Carolina University, Diede served as interim director and senior educational developer at the center. Before that, she taught for 13 years as part of the English department faculty at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington.

Diede earned a Ph.D. and an M.A. at Baylor University and a B.A. at Seattle Pacific University.