Discover the talented and dedicated individuals shaping the future of education through their innovative projects and fellowship experiences at Michigan State University.
Faculty Fellows
Our Faculty Fellows focus on transforming learning experiences and fostering a community centered around student success. Below, meet the visionary educators who are redefining teaching methodologies:
 | Dr. Michele (MJ) Jackson (any pronouns)Project: AI Commons – Gen AI for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Dr. Jackson is developing AI Commons, a collaborative platform hosted on Knowledge Commons at Michigan State University, to facilitate ongoing discussions and sharing of ideas among educators about the evolving role of generative AI in higher education. |
Graduate Fellows
Our Graduate Fellows are an enthusiastic cohort of emerging leaders in higher education committed to enhancing their professional skills and contributing to meaningful educational outcomes. Join them as they innovate and lead:
2024-25 Cohort
 | Yetunde S. Alabede (She/Her)Project: Multilingual Teacher Community Toolkit Yetunde is dedicated to developing a toolkit that fosters a sense of belonging among international graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) by creating inclusive multilingual teaching communities. Her research incorporates Global South epistemologies and aims to enhance educational experiences for African and African (im)migrant children. |
 | April Best (She/Her)Project: Cultivating Inclusive Classroom Communities April is working on a toolkit for first-year GTAs to foster inclusive classroom environments. Her aim is to tailor easy-to-implement resources to meet the diverse learning needs of students, rooted in her passion for poetry and engagement with literature. |
 | Erik Flinn (He/Him)Project: Reimagining Educational Pathways Motivated by his rural educational upbringing, Erik's project focuses on encouraging students from all backgrounds to recognize and embrace their potential. He seeks to create supportive educational frameworks that affirm student's abilities and futures. |
 | Jared Kubokawa (He/Him)Project: Adaptive Community of Practice for Language Teaching Jared is committed to building a community of practice to enhance teaching methodologies and support multilingual learners. His focus includes the impact of teacher identity on pedagogy and developing strategies for successful language acquisition. |
 | Andii Layton (She/Her)Project: Equitable Pedagogies for Marginalized Students Andii's initiative focuses on designing teaching methodologies that promote racial equity and social justice within P-20 educational systems. Her goal is to create supportive learning communities that address the needs of historically marginalized students. |
 | Jessica Saba (She/Her)Project: Academic Freedom and Educator Experience Jessica's project examines the experiences of educators amidst challenges to academic freedom. Through her work, she hopes to tackle systems of oppression and provide advocacy for marginalized communities, drawing on her background in social work and activism. |
2023-24 Cohort
- Peyton Ellis
- Tianyi Kou-Herrema
- Nicole Ransom
- Katherine Knowles
Connect and Engage
We invite you to connect with our incredible fellows during Fellows’ Hour and other hosted events. Learn firsthand about their projects, insights, and the influence they bring to the educational landscape. You may also explore the impact of our fellows through blog posts and publications.