LA Faculty Mentors
Florida Atlantic University has extremely active, motivated and engaged faculty members who are helping to build the foundation for a strong LA Program by providing guidance and sharing their experience with new LA Faculty.
2024 LA Faculty Mentors
Dr. Wendy Hinshaw - Director of the English Writing Program & Associate Professor (English)
I’m excited to join the LA program at FAU and see the benefits it brings to the writing classroom. I’m still in my first year of participating but I’ve already seen its transformative effects first-hand, particularly in the way that LAs are able to engage students and connect with them on a different level. The LA program has also changed my own teaching practices by helping me better understand the principles of active learning and incorporate them into my classes. Because the LA model has such a strong STEM background, I’m looking forward to seeing what writing classes can learn from this model—as well as what the model can learn from writing classes.
Sigal Rubin - Senior Instructor & Field Experience Coordinator (School of Criminology and Criminal Justice)
Mrs. Sigal Rubin is a Senior Instructor and the Associate Undergraduate Coordinator for the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University. With a diverse instructional background that spans subjects like math, science, history, and criminology, Mrs. Rubin has dedicated herself to teaching and supporting students. She completed her Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University while teaching full-time, and her commitment to education led her from an adjunct position to a full-time instructor role.
In her current capacity, Mrs. Rubin not only teaches a range of courses in Law, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System but also serves as the Field Experience Coordinator for the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her passion extends beyond the classroom as she organizes the Criminal Justice Summer Camp annually, aiming to attract high-achieving high school students to consider FAU for their college journey.
Excited about her role as a Learning Assistant Faculty Mentor within Florida Atlantic’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Mrs. Rubin believes in the transformative power of student-centered education. She states, "I am thrilled to be part of a program that will reshape the culture of teaching and learning at FAU, fostering active and collaborative experiences guided by the principles of the Learning Assistant (LA) model."
Dr. Tito Sempertegui - Senior Instructor (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Originally from Ecuador, Dr. Tito Sempertegui serves as a Senior Instructor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and chairs its Undergraduate Program and Assessment Committees. He strongly advocates for enriched educational opportunities in college. He teaches both Honors General Chemistry I and II and has been instrumental in creating and supporting the Honors in the Major program in Chemistry. Additionally, he expanded the Learning Assistant Program to General Chemistry II. This initiative aims to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge retention among students. Ultimately, his goal is to empower students and support their learning, resulting in improved academic achievements and readiness for future endeavors.
Past LA Faculty Mentors
2023
Dr. Jason Mireles-James - Associate Professor (Mathematics)
I have been involved in the LA program since the summer of 2018, when I was recruited by Dr. Adelmann. Since then, I have been blown away by my experiences with the program, which really changes the student/professor dynamics. I feel like I work much more closely with students in an LA course and am much more able to adapt to their needs. Because of these wonderful experiences, I was very happy to join Dr. Adelmann and Dr. Bebergal to work on the QEP proposal back in 2021.
Dr. Tito Sempertegui - Senior Instructor (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
See above (LA Faculty Mentor for 2024)
Dr. Katarzyna Winkowska-Nowak - Senior Instructor (Mathematics)