South Plains College faculty members Mackinzee Escamilla, assistant professor of English, and Dr. Nimi Finnigan, professor of English, will join the Texas A&M University Affiliate Academy, a community of English 1301 and 1302 instructors in Texas.
Members of the Affiliate Academy will network with one another to tackle pedagogical challenges and learn about new trends in writing education.
“I'm just really excited for the opportunity to work with other institutions and see what they're doing in their classes,” Finnigan said. “What are some great assignments they put together that we could utilize here at SPC? We also get a chance to show them what we have done.”
Escamilla and Finnigan will have the opportunity to use what they learn to introduce the SPC English department to innovative practices in generative AI, equity in composition instruction and other topics.
“I always look forward to meeting new people and seeing what other institutions are doing,” Escamilla said. “I'm also interested in seeing how faculty at two- and fouryear institutions are dealing with some of the big issues we're facing in composition studies.”