Fellows about to begin class at UGA’s Institute of Higher Education.
History
Our History
The Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program was established in 1995 by Governor Zell Miller (1991-1999) to provide Georgia’s higher education faculty with expanded opportunities for developing important teaching skills. Governor Miller envisioned that this program would address faculty members’ need to use emerging technologies and instructional tools that are becoming increasingly important for teaching and learning in higher education in today’s society. The GTF Program, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, is hosted by the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.
The seeds of the Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program were planted earlier by the Faculty Development in Georgia Program, designed to assist faculty members in Georgia institutions in obtaining terminal degrees through funded residencies at UGA. In addition, a large and comprehensive model for faculty development had been initiated at UGA’s Office of Instructional Support and Development (now named Center for Teaching and Learning). The experience and the success of these initiatives shaped the Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program, which is open not only to faculty in state institutions, but also to those in all accredited private colleges and universities in Georgia.
To improve the quality of instruction in Georgia’s colleges and universities, the program assumes the complex challenge of moving college faculty members to the leading edge of instructional practice by focusing on teaching tools and practices, emerging technologies in teaching, research on teaching and learning, faculty development and leadership, and course design. This effort to enhance instruction in public and private higher education statewide aligns with the University of Georgia’s traditional mission as a land-and sea-grant institution committed to diversified outreach and public service.
To date, more than 75 different disciplines, professions and teaching areas have been represented by our Fellows, and they have come to us from more than 45 institutions statewide: large and small, public and private, everywhere from the northern mountains to the Florida state line and between the Atlantic coast and the Alabama border.
Former Directors
- Ronald Simpson (1995-2000)
- Marguerite Koepke (2000-2019)
- Leslie S. Gordon (2019-2022)
- Naomi J. Norman (2022-present)
Advisory Board Members
Ex officio members
Dr. Emily Chen-Bendle, Associate Director of Distance Learning, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, UGA
Dr. Erik Ness, Professor and Director, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, UGA
Dr. Naomi J. Norman, Emeritus, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor of Classics, Director of GTF Program (2022-present)
Members at large
- Dr. Denise Domizi, Director, Teaching & Learning Excellence, University System of Georgia (term: 2025-2030)
- Dr. Stephen Herschler-Mattern, Professor of Politics, Oglethorpe University, 2024-2025 GTF alumnus (term: 2025-2027)
- Dr. Marguerite Koepke, Former Director of GTF Program (2000-2019), Emeritus Professor, School of Environment & Design, UGA (term: 2025-2027)
- Dr. John Maerz, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor of Vertebrate Ecology, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, UGA (term:2025-2027)
- Dr. Megan Mittelstadt, Assistant Vice President for Instruction and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, UGA (term: 2025-2030)