Twelve University of Georgia faculty members will reimagine historical pieces into active-learning opportunities for students as part of UGA’s Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows program, now in its 11th year on campus.
While projects are in the beginning stages, the newest Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows are planning unique class activities in fields from English and history to international affairs, fashion, chemistry, and physics, incorporating a broad array of materials from the UGA Libraries three special collections departments.
For example, a physics and astronomy instructor plans to enrich students’ explorations of the night sky constructing their own telescopes using 3-D printers while challenging them to understand evolving notions of the universe and earth. Another fellow is planning a course where pathology students will analyze agricultural records, photos, newspaper clippings, and other items to understand the changing nature of animal disease.
“Over the past decade, Special Collections Teaching Fellows have worked with the Libraries and the Center for Teaching and Learning to create more than 110 archives‑centered courses,” said University Librarian and Associate Provost Toby Graham. “Together, these courses have introduced thousands of students to hands‑on, active learning using some of UGA’s most distinctive collections.”
The 2026 Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows are:
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Vivian Appler, associate professor of theatre and film studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Paul Babinski, assistant professor of religion, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Sha'Mira Covington, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
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Maureen DeNino, assistant professor of French, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Holly Fling, lecturer and academic coach, Office for Student Success and Achievement, Office of Instruction
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Franklin Leach, assistant professor of chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Massimiliano Lorenzon, lecturer of Italian, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Linn Normand, associate professor of international affairs and resident fellow at the Center for the Study of Global Issues, School of Public and International Affairs
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James Sargan, assistant professor of English, Frankin College of Arts and Sciences
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Elizabeth T. Shermer, professor of history, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
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Elizabeth Uhl, professor of pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine
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Nandana Weliweriya Liyanage, lecturer of physics and astronomy, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
A partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows program centers archival materials as learning objects, drawing upon the tools and resources of TeachArchives.org, a comprehensive teaching guide developed by the Brooklyn Historical Society. The faculty will work with objects preserved in UGA’s three special collections units: the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies and the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection.
This year’s fellows will spend the upcoming Maymester in workshops learning, researching, and developing courses that feature materials from special collections in ways that advance the learning objectives and interests of their respective disciplines. The program will conclude with a four-day institute where fellows will present their course designs and gather feedback from their cohort peers and the fellowship instructional team.
"This program demonstrates the power of active, inquiry-driven learning,” said Meg Mittelstadt, assistant vice president for learning initiatives and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. “When students work directly with primary sources, they move beyond absorbing information to interpreting, questioning, and constructing knowledge in ways that are both rigorous and deeply engaging.”
The Special Collections Fellows instructional team includes Steve Armour, Mazie Bowen, Kathleen Carter, Anne DeVine, Mary Miller, and Jill Severn, who serves as program coordinator for UGA Libraries. Jennifer Eimers serves as the program’s liaison and advisor from the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Since 2015, UGA Special Collections Teaching Fellows Program has welcomed 105 faculty participants who have designed or adapted more than 110 courses across 46 disciplines. Their efforts have connected thousands of students with the rich array of materials held in UGA’s three special collections libraries. In 2020, the program was recognized by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council with an award for excellence in the educational use of historical records.