Pictured (L-R): Lori Brown, Emily McWorthy, Heather Strempke-Durgin, Carlos Ortega-Amparan, Finn Kolsrud, and Nathan Bellinger.
Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows are a dedicated group of Kirkwood full-time faculty representing a diverse range of academic departments in Academic Affairs, including both Arts & Sciences and CTE programs. Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows provide support to individual faculty, departments, and programs in their efforts to ensure all students have a sense of belonging and inclusion in our Kirkwood community.
The mission of the Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows is to advance quality instruction through inclusive practices and collaborative faculty engagement. Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows work closely with Kirkwood's Department of Academic Innovation, Strategy, and Design.
IQ Fellows Programming
The IQ Fellows offer a range of professional development opportunities designed to support Kirkwood faculty and enhance student success.
Teaching Workshops
Interactive sessions focused on evidence-based teaching strategies you can apply in your classroom right away.
Communities of Practice
Join a group of colleagues with shared interests to exchange ideas, collaborate, and tackle teaching challenges together over time.
Cookies and Conversation
Casual, facilitated discussions on timely teaching topics—an opportunity to connect with peers in a relaxed, supportive setting. Reading Circles / Book Clubs Explore teaching and learning through shared readings. Reflect, discuss, and apply new ideas alongside fellow educators.
Get Involved
Access IQ Fellows workshops and programming through the link below: IQ Fellows PD Sessions
The IQ Fellows Podcast offers quick, practical conversations about teaching and learning at Kirkwood. Hear faculty share ideas, strategies, and real classroom examples on topics such as AI integration, inclusive design, assessment, and innovative teaching practices.
In this episode, get to know the faculty behind the Instructional Quality (IQ) Fellows as we share the personal passions and pedagogical beliefs that inspire our work. We dive into how we are partnering with AISD to support our fellow faculty and discuss our mission to enhance the student experience at Kirkwood. Join us for a candid conversation about the work we love and the community we are building together.
Carlos is an associate professor of English Language Acquisition in Global Learning. He holds a B.A. in Political Science (International Politics) and Economics, as well as an M.A. in Spanish and Portuguese Literature & Linguistics from the University of Iowa.
Emily earned her BA and MA in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University before joining Kirkwood as an adjunct faculty member and Instructional Designer. She became a full-time faculty member in 2019, teaching communication courses while also supporting faculty and promoting instructional quality across the college. Emily has presented at several conferences and facilitates trainings on topics such as open educational resources (OERs), effective online and hybrid teaching, course design, building connections with students, and inclusive teaching strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and cats, as well as running, reading, and working on puzzles.
Finn Kolsrud teaches Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, and Marriage and the Family. He exemplifies the transformative power of sociology in action. Through his workshop on Deliberative and Collaborative Dialogue techniques, Finn helps colleagues transform difficult topics into opportunities for productive discussion and deeper understanding. As the Chair of the Civic and Community Engagement Committee and Advisor for the Civic Academy, Finn bridges academic learning with civic engagement, ensuring these dialogue skills extend beyond the classroom into community spaces.
Heather is an associate professor of English in the CEM department. She holds a B.A. in American and British Literature from Boise State University, as well as an M.A. in Literature and Culture from Oregon State University. Her interest in feminism, anti-racism, and equity inspire her teaching and research. She runs the Kirkwood Anti-Racist Book Club and hopes to continue serving Kirkwood students and faculty through her work as an Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows.
