In this episode, we talk with Sara Finesilver, an English as a Second Language (ESL) faculty member at Madison College. Sara shares her passion for helping non-native English speakers succeed, both in and out of the classroom. She discusses her innovative patient health portal project, which helps ESL students build health literacy and digital fluency. Sara also introduces the "Teaching the Skills That Matter" (TSTM) program and how project-based learning transforms her classes. Additionally, we explore her perspective on the rise of AI tools in education.

Sara Finesilver is a collaborative and creative ESL Instructor, with over 20 years of experience. She began her teaching career within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) in 2004 and has been a full-time faculty member at Madison College since 2018. Sara holds a BA in English with a TESOL certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s in Higher Education from Capella University.

Her expertise includes contextualized instruction, authentic assessment, curriculum development, and faculty training. She is particularly passionate about EL-Civics, including areas such as Health Literacy and Job Readiness & Employability, and enjoys finding ways to integrate Digital Literacy into diverse teaching contexts. Sara finds deep fulfillment in working with refugees and immigrant professionals, supporting their career and employment goals, and helping them connect with our community.

Outside the classroom, Sara enjoys writing poetry, kayaking, hiking, being silly playing board games, spending time with loved ones under twinkling lights, and most importantly: finding joy in small things.

Check out the AI song Sara created for me on Suno! Teaching the Skills that Matter

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cherif Correa, an English faculty member at Madison College and the lead for the college’s new African Studies Certificate. Cherif shares his journey from being an international student to becoming a leader in both educational and DEI initiatives at the college. We explore his work on the African Studies Certificate, including the course topics it covers and the opportunities it creates for students. Cherif also discusses his involvement with the Institute of Equity and Transformational Change, as well as the college’s efforts in developing global partnerships and study abroad programs in Africa. Join us as Cherif shares his perspectives on African Studies, his role in fostering global connections, and his vision for enriching the educational experience at Madison College.

Resources:
Madison College African Studies Certificate

Dr. Correa's Publications:

• Islam in Europhone African Literature. The Palgrave Handbook of Islam in Africa. Eds., Toyin Falola, Fallou Ngom, and Mustapha Kurfi. Palgrave, 2020.
• "Islam and the Question of Identity in Ousmane Sembene's Film, Ceddo." Ousmane Sembène and the Politics of Culture. Eds Lifongo Vetinde and Amadou T. Fofana. New York: Lexington Books, 2014.
• Re-Union (A Poem). Postcolonial Text, Vol.2. No.1. Postcolonial.org, 2006 https://www.postcolonial.org/index.php/pct/article/view/434/834

To kick off season three of the podcast, we welcome Lynn Baldwin, faculty in the Business Technology program. Lynn shares her Madison College journey, from teaching in the Business Technology area to using her Instructional Design expertise to co-develop training for the college’s transition to the new LMS, Brightspace. She also offers advice on how faculty can prepare their courses for this migration.

We also explore Lynn’s recent Teach Access Fellowship, which focuses on embedding accessibility into education. Lynn discusses how the fellowship has shaped her teaching approach and how she’s integrating accessibility into her courses. Join us to hear Lynn’s insights on fostering an inclusive, future-ready learning environment at Madison College.

Lynn Baldwin is a Business Technology instructor in the School of Business & Applied Arts. She teaches a variety of computer software, customer service, and business classes and is a certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Facilitator.

In her teaching career, Lynn was awarded the 2021 Provost Award for Faculty Excellence and the 2015 Devi Bhargava Award for her focus on promoting student accessibility. This year, she was selected as a 2024 Teach Access Fellow working to advocate for accessibility and help equip learners to build a more inclusive world. Prior to her employment with Madison College, she held a variety of marketing, management, and administrative positions with Baker Tilly, The Douglas Stewart Company, and U.S. Cellular. Lynn has earned bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Comprehensive Business-Economics, and a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Learning Technologies. In her free time, she enjoys following Wisconsin sports teams, running, travel, and gardening.

Show notes:

Teach Access Fellowship

In this last episode of the season, we speak with Paul Flogel, the program director and a long-time instructor of the Automotive Technology program at Madison College. Paul discusses how he manages the program and prepares students for the evolving automotive industry. He also shares insights into the future of the industry, the importance of hands-on experience, and the success of the program’s job fairs and outreach programs.

Paul Flogel is a faculty member and program director for the Madison College Automotive Technician Program. He has extensive experience in the field and brings this into his work in the classroom and automotive repair lab. He is the program lead for student advising, scheduling, program accreditation, ASE student certification, and coordinates student job fairs each year.

In this episode we chat with Oana Martin, an instructor and program director in the Biotechnology Program at Madison College. Oana delves into the fundamentals of biotechnology, shedding light on its importance and the cutting-edge developments within the field. Listeners will gain insights into the career paths available to graduates, how the program aligns with industry trends, and the skills students acquire to succeed. Oana also discusses her approaches to teaching, focusing on collaborative testing and self-assessment to enhance learning experiences. Whether you're a biotech enthusiast or interested in getting some student assessment ideas, this episode has something for you.

Oana Martin, Ph.D. is a full-time faculty at Madison College and director of the Biotechnology Program. She has worked at the college since 2012. Oana started as a part-time faculty in Biotechnology Program and the Chemistry Department and then became a full-time faculty member in 2015. Before joining Madison College, Oana was a lecturer at UW-Madison in the Department of Chemistry and the School of Pharmacy, where she earned a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Oana is passionate about education and science communication. As part of the Biotechnology Program, she is involved in helping students find rewarding career pathways in the Biotechnology industry. Also, she is actively participating in science outreach in high schools, educating students and teachers about careers in the biotechnology field.

She is interested in curriculum development with an emphasis on career training and in equitable assessment.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Jodi Goldbeck, a dedicated instructor and innovator at Madison College. Jodi, who oversees the Small Business Entrepreneurship Program and serves as the Faculty Liaison for the Second Chance Pell Program, shares her inspiring journey into the realm of mindfulness, grit, and well-being. After facing personal challenges, Jodi developed the transformative "Mastering Mindfulness" curriculum, aiming to enrich students' lives with courses on gratitude, resilience, habit building, and more. Throughout our conversation, Jodi delves into the impact of these courses on students, her approach to integrating mindfulness into education, and her role in supporting incarcerated students through education. She offers insights into the challenges and rewards of teaching within the Department of Corrections. Jodi also shares her personal journey towards a minimalistic lifestyle, revealing how it has influenced her happiness and well-being. Join us for a conversation about the power of mindfulness in education and the impactful work Jodi is doing at Madison College.

Jodi Goldbeck has been a full-time instructor at Madison College since 2009. She began studying mindset, grit, and well-being in 2015 after experiencing a series of unexpected challenges in her life. Based on her studies and the unwavering belief that individuals can change the trajectory of their lives, she developed a curriculum called Mastering Mindfulness, which is a series of one-credit courses that focus on topics such as gratitude, resilience, habit building, listening and many other topics related to living a happier life.

Jodi is currently the Program Director for the Small Business Entrepreneurship Program at Madison College, as well as the Faculty Liaison for the Second Chance Pell Program (SCP). The SCP Program focuses on students in the care of Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) state prisons. Jodi teaches several DOC courses, as well as serving as a conduit between DOC Education Directors and faculty that teach for the SCP Program at Madison College.

Jodi has certifications in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and University of North Carolina. She has also completed a certification in the Science of Well-Being from Yale University and The Foundations of Well-Being Program through the University of California-Berkeley.

Jodi has presented on the topics of mindfulness and well-being at numerous conferences, including the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs (NACCE), Online Learning Consortium (OLC), International Forum for Women in E-Learning (IFWE) and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Jodi has been a full-time instructor at Madison College since 2009 and received the Excellence in Full-Time Teaching Award in 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University, embracing her roots as a proud Yooper! Additional Resources:

• Building Blocks of Well-Being Certificate
• Jodi's favorite author on the topic of habits
• Books on the topic of decluttering

In this episode, we talk with Dixie Burns, who teaches physical science and astronomy at Madison College and has been with the college for 25 years. Dixie shares her experience in teaching, especially how she got interested in astronomy and how she uses that interest to teach her students.

We also discuss the changes she's seen at the college over the years and her action research project on neurodiversity and mental health. This project aims to make the college more welcoming for neurodivergent students and those with mental health challenges. Dixie offers tips for faculty on supporting these students and talks about her own experience as someone who is neurodivergent. Dixie Burns has served as a physical sciences instructor at Madison College since 1998. She completed her undergraduate studies in astronomy, physics, and math at UW Madison, followed by a master's degree in astrophysics from Ohio State University. After two years of part-time teaching, she transitioned to a full-time teaching role. Dixie's teaching focus is on astronomy, although she has also instructed courses in physics and earth science. Her classes are primarily held at the Truax campus, employing both online and hybrid teaching formats. Additionally, she is actively engaged in research concerning neurodiversity and mental health inclusion at Madison College.

This episode of the CETL PIE – Peek Into Excellence - Podcast features a conversation with Loise Kirore and Rocky Blanco, faculty from our Certified Nursing Assistant program. Loise discusses her role in the Centro Hispano CNA program and advising the Multicultural Nursing Student Organization, highlighting how these activities addresses the needs of diverse student populations. Rocky shares his experiences working with the CNA program at local high schools, emphasizing the importance of this community outreach to connect students with opportunities in the healthcare field. Together, they explain the unique aspects of our CNA program, its integration with other nursing courses, and chat about their teaching strategies. They also offer advice for aspiring CNAs and nurses and share a bit about their personal hobbies and interests. This episode provides an enlightening glimpse into the heart of nursing education at Madison College.

Loise Kirore (she/her/hers): I am a passionate geriatric nurse at heart. I was a Certified Nursing Assistant for 10 years, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for 1 year, and a Registered Nurse for thirteen. Five of the 13 years I have been teaching at Madison College. I have taught in the LPN Program, but nursing assistant is where my soul is fed, being able to prepare entry level healthcare workers is a responsibility I take very seriously and an honor. Since my first semester at the college, I have been a mentor for the Scholars of Color Mentoring Program (SCMP), active member of the School of Nursing (SoN), Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and Multicultural Student Nurses Organization (MSNO) faculty advisor. Advocating and supporting our students feeds my soul!

Rocky Blanco (He/Him/His) brings over twenty years of expertise in human physiology to his roles as an Exercise Physiologist, Exercise/Molecular Biology Researcher, and Registered Nurse. His dedication to human health is evident, but his true passion lies in educating and training others in these fields.

Rocky began his professional journey at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he earned a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and became a nationally certified Exercise Physiologist with the American Academy of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He gained valuable experience working in cardiac rehabilitation and with private gym clients to enhance their health. Rocky then returned to FAU for his Master's in Exercise Physiology, contributing to research on exercise's effects on health and fitness. His research pursuits continued at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he delved into the molecular changes in muscles induced by exercise.

Seeking a more direct interaction with patients and clients, Rocky transitioned to nursing. He began as a Nursing Assistant after graduating from Madison College and later completed his Associate’s in Nursing. Graduating in 2020 at the start of the Covid Pandemic, Rocky worked with the complexities of this new disease and other complex diseases in a step-down ICU setting in Madison for over 4 years. Truly missing the aspect of the academic setting, he recently joined the Madison College Family as a Nursing Assistant Instructor.

Currently, Rocky is on the verge of completing his Master’s in Nursing Education and is preparing to embark on a Doctorate in Nursing Education Leadership. He is deeply committed to nurturing strong foundational skills in students and new nurses, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and culturally competent care.

Outside of his professional life, Rocky's personal story is rich and diverse. Born in New Jersey to Cuban parents, he grew up in the vibrant city of Miami, FL. He has been happily married to Laura Cruz for over 15 years. Together, they share a love for travel, fitness, board games, and video games.