Governor's Teaching Fellows Celebrates 30th Anniversary

The Governor’s Teaching Fellows (GTF) program celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special reunion at Meigs Hall on April 11, 2025. The event gathered more than 50 fellows, past and current, to celebrate the impact of the GTF program over its three decades of existence. Established in 1995 by Governor Zell Miller, the program provides Georgia’s higher education faculty with expanded opportunities for developing and improving classroom instruction. Over 30 years, GTF has graduated more than 750 fellows from more than 100 public and private colleges in Georgia, impacting over 39,000 students.  

The reunion began with a welcome from Dr. Erik Ness, McBee Institute director, who highlighted the institute’s commitment to public service and outreach, including the Governor’s Teaching Fellows program. Dr. Cynthia Alby, a former GTF fellow and current GTF instructor, introduced Professor Margerite Koepke, who served as GTF director from 2000 to 2019. Koepke reflected on the program’s impact and urged fellows to stay connected with each other.  “Directing the Governor's Teaching Fellow Program for nearly 20 years was a highlight of my 31-year career in higher education. The opportunity to work with such dedicated individuals in fostering excellence in teaching was immensely rewarding and remains one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career.” she said. “I always urge fellows to stay connected to the program and to each other, as the relationships built and the shared commitment to advancing education continue to be a source of strength and inspiration.” 

Dr. Cynthia Alby commented on her nearly 24 years as an instructor of the GTF program. Alby, who started as a GTF fellow in the 2001-2002 cohort, described her subsequent opportunity to teach in the program as the “the opportunity of a lifetime.” She said, “This has absolutely been the greatest joy of my professional career, bar none. Part of that is because of the wonderful directors who take care of all the things behind the scenes, which allows me to focus on instruction. I love that I can go anywhere in the state and feel like I’m near friends, which is extraordinary.”  

Noel Welchel, a member of the current GTF cohort who graduated just a few hours before the reunion, reflected on his experience in the program. “Being a Governor’s Teaching Fellow has been transformative for me, providing new perspectives and the opportunity to make new friends,” he said. “I’m more motivated, and I believe we are all more motivated to take on the challenges we will face as we equip our students to be professionals and empower them to be agents of change in our society.” 

Dr. Denise Domizi, director of the Office of Teaching and Learning Excellence in the University System of Georgia, reflected on her interactions with the GTF program over the years. She asked fellows to call out words that encapsulated the program’s impact, which she listed on the whiteboard. Words like “transformation,” “joy,” “community,” and “change” were highlighted.  

Dr. Naomi Norman, the current GTF director, then invited Dr. Libby V. Morris, University Professor Emerita and Zell Miller Distinguished Professor Emerita, to speak. “I am so impressed by GTF. I think it is one of the best things that we do because of all of you [GTF fellows], and how you go out to your institutions, and you act as role models and mentors to others.” Morris said. She also shared a poem from the perspective of students, highlighting the positive impact that teachers can have.  

In closing, Dr. Norman shared her reflections on the positive experiences she has had as the director of the GTF program and the joy that teaching and learning have brought to her life. She closed the program by saying “At the end of every semester, I always thank my students for taking my course, for their hard work throughout the semester, for their energy and interest, and for teaching me more than I taught them. I ask them to stay in touch and share their news with me. I feel the same way about the fellows. Please stay in touch and share your experiences as both teacher and learner so I can continue to learn from you.”