Purpose and Goals of TPN CoP
Our Community of Practice brings together tenured and tenure track teaching-focused faculty from across disciplines to discuss career advancement, share innovative pedagogical strategies, discuss unique career milestones, and collaborate on education initiatives. Our goals include:
- Professional Advocacy: Support for navigating the specialized review, merit, and promotion processes unique to the Teaching Professor series at UCSB.
- Peer Mentorship: Connecting seasoned educators with newer faculty to foster a supportive teaching culture on campus.
- Pedagogical sharing: Creating a dedicated space to discuss evidence-based teaching and pedagogical innovations.
Leadership
The TPN is a faculty-led group with an executive committee of dedicated Teaching Professors.
| Lalo Gonzalez | Chair |
| Vickie Scott | Vice Chair |
| Phill Conrad & Renee Rottner | Historian-Archives/Resources |
| Vanessa Woods & Max Czapanskiy | Communications & Advocacy |
| Lisa Berry & Nate Emery | OTL Liaisons |
A Message from the New Leadership Board
Welcome to a new chapter for the UCSB Teaching Professors Network.
As the incoming leadership board, we are excited to build upon the strong community that Teaching Professors have created at UCSB. Teaching Professors play essential roles as educators, scholars, mentors, innovators, and campus leaders. Our goal is to ensure that members of our community have opportunities to connect with one another, share their expertise, receive support throughout their careers, and contribute collectively to the future of undergraduate education at UCSB.
During the coming year, we hope to strengthen peer mentorship, provide meaningful guidance related to merit and promotion, highlight the accomplishments of Teaching Professors, support collaborative projects, and advocate for the needs and contributions of our series.
We invite all UCSB Teaching Professors to participate, propose ideas, and help shape the direction of the network. We look forward to learning from one another and working together.
—The UCSB Teaching Professors Network Leadership Board
PARTICIPATE IN THE TEACHING PROFESSORS NETWORK - COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Ways to Participate
Members can:
- Attend community meetings
- Join a TPN project or working group
- Mentor or be mentored by another Teaching Professor
- Present their work at a meeting
- Share resources
- Submit news or events
- Suggest a workshop topic
- Participate in campus or systemwide advocacy
The TPN Google Group is our primary hub for email communication about events, questions and resources.
Join/Access the TPN CoP Google Group
Note: This group is restricted to UCSB faculty and instructors to maintain an open, supportive space for peer discussion.
QUESTIONS?
Email TPN@otl.ucsb.edu with questions about the Teaching Professors Network
Upcoming TPN Community Meetings
TPN Community Meetings take place twice a quarter, on the Friday of weeks 4 and 10. Lunch is provided thanks to the generous support of OTL.
| Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 4 | Friday, October 23, 2026 12-1pm Location: PHELPS 2516 Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) | Friday, January 29, 2027 12-1pm Location: TBD Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) | Friday, April 23, 2027 12-1pm Location: TBD Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) |
| Week 10 | Friday, December 4, 2026 12-1pm Location: PHELPS 2516 Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) | Friday, March 12, 2027 12-1pm Location: TBD Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) | Friday, June 4, 2027 12-1pm Location: TBD Zoom (see Calendar Event for link) |