Grant Team

Diane Boyd

Dr. Diane Boyd is the Associate Dean of Faculty Development and the Executive Director of the Faculty Development Center at Furman University in Greenville, SC. In this role she collaborates with colleagues locally and regionally to create support structures for ongoing professional development of faculty and academic staff. Prior to rejoining the faculty at Furman, Boyd was the Director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at Auburn University, where she led a campus-wide course redesign initiative to prepare instructors at all ranks for inclusive, active learning-infused teaching to maximize student learning and success. Her most recent scholarly publications focus on learning improvement, cognitive science and active learning, the intersection of faculty vitality and student success, and learner mindset and motivation.


Amy Jasperson

Dr. Amy Jasperson is Professor of Political Science and Dean for Faculty Development, the point person for faculty development, mentoring, and faculty evaluation at Rhodes College. She administers faculty development programs, works to expand faculty development resources, liaises with faculty committees, and oversees faculty evaluations and reviews. Dr. Jasperson’s teaching and research interests focus on American politics, political communication, public opinion, and political psychology.  She came to Rhodes from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she taught from 1999 to 2012.


Michael Jennings

Michael Jennings, Chief Diversity Officer, is Furman University’s inaugural Chief Diversity Officer. He joined Furman in July 2017 after a 13-year career at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  As Furman’s Chief Diversity Officer, he supports and advances diversity, equity and inclusion by facilitating cooperation and advancement of diversity themed change within and between campus units. Jennings also serves as a tenured full professor in the Department of Education at Furman, where his research focuses on cultural and racial diversity in education.


Justin Rose

Dr. Justin Rose was appointed Dean for Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Diversity effective July 1, 2020, and also serves as chair and associate professor of Political Science. Prior to joining Rhodes, Rose served as an associate professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the Africana Studies program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Most recently, he was a fellow in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the Harvard Kennedy School. As a member of Academic Affairs, Rose’s primary responsibility is to help recruit and retain a first-rate and diverse faculty. Rose also works very closely with the vice president for strategic initiatives to actualize the college’s commitment to diversity, equity, and accessibility.


Betsy Sandlin

Betsy A. Sandlin is Associate Dean of the College for Inclusion and Faculty Development and Professor of Spanish at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. She also serves as co-director of the annual Summer Teaching and Learning Workshop hosted by the Associated Colleges of the South. Research interests include faculty development, inclusive teaching, and gender and sexuality in contemporary Latinx literature. She holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been at Sewanee for 17 years.


Claire Strom

Claire Strom is the Rapetti-Trunzo Chair of History at Rollins College in Florida. She also serves as the director of the American Studies program and a faculty member in the African and African American Studies program. Her research focuses on aspects of American history including gender and sexuality, race, and public health. She recently completed work on an ACS grant, “Pathways to Diversity: Uncovering our Collections,” in which students at ACS schools examined the racial history of their institutions. She is principal investigator on a similar grant to look at women’s experiences—“Before #MeToo: How Women Historically Negotiated Education at the ACS Schools.”


Kristie Williams

Dr. Kristie Williams is the Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion at Birmingham-Southern College.  At BSC, she oversees student programming to develop intentional experiences to create global citizens prepared to thrive in diverse environments.  These experiences take place collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students on BSC’s campus and with community partners through programs and professional development opportunities.  With a M.A. in Counseling from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, Dr. Williams has served over the years as a counselor, advocate, mentor, and educator in higher education and with non-profit community organizations.  She continues to provide professional development opportunities and trainings in counseling as well as in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.