Community Engaged Early Career Faculty Cohort

Community-Engaged Early-Career Faculty cohort members working on the campus farm

Photo caption: Community-Engaged Early-Career Faculty cohort members working on the campus farm

In fall 2023, Xavier University welcomed its inaugural Community-Engaged Early-Career (CEEC) Faculty Cohort. This innovative program allowed these six faculty to join Xavier to support our mission to practice service rooted in justice and love through community-engaged teaching. The CEEC cohort completed our Community-Engaged Faculty Academy, received a stipend, and obtained a course release to ensure they have the knowledge, time, and support to build relationships and work in communities in their new city. Members are now teaching community-engaged courses, working with an array of community partners and receiving continued support from our staff experts.

The 2023 Community-Engaged Early-Career Faculty Cohort included:

Dr. Conner Basset, Assistant Professor, English
Dr. Yalie Saweda Kamara, Assistant Professor, English
Dr. Liz Moreno-Chuquen, Assistant Professor, Spanish & Latin American Literature
Dr. Keturah Nix, Assistant Professor, English
Dr. Katherine Robiadek, Assistant Professor, Political Science & PPP
Dr. O’neil Van Horn, Assistant Professor, Theology

Some courses being taught as a result of the cohort include Dr. Keturah Nix’s ENGL 205: “Health, Activism, Community.” In this course, students examined how various community partners are supporting residents in our city through venues such as art, spirituality, education, and advocacy. This course is now part of the new Medical Health Humanities major and minor. Dr. Katie Robiadek has integrated community engagement into a number of her courses. Her POLI 336 “Leadership for Democracy,” is a standout course at Xavier. Dr. Robiadek and her team of students worked closely with Ignite Peace to conduct a needs assessment. Students presented their work to the campus community and to City Hall. Dr. Liz Moreno-Chuquen and her SPAN 301: “Spanish Composition” partnered with Casa de Paz, a local nonprofit serving Latina women and children who are survivors of domestic abuse. This partnership provided vital support and community for Casa de Paz clients and allowed Xavier students and Latine children to their hone developing language skills.

Xavier welcomed it’s second cohort of faculty in fall 2025. The fall CEEC cohort includes

Ms. Megan Cales, Teaching Professor, Social Work
Dr. Erica Ogeltree, Assistant Professor, Counseling
Dr. Sebastian Antezana Quiroga, Assistant Professor, Classics and Modern Languages
Dr. Carrie Roundtrey, Assistant Professor, Speech, Language, and Communicative Behaviors
Dr. Suni Sharma, Assistant Professor, Counseling
Ms. Ursula Tierney, Teaching Professor, Nursing
Dr. Kristen Toole, Assistant Professor, Counseling
Ms. Megan Zarnitz, Teaching Professor, Social Work