Faculty Integrator Spotlight
Why am I a Marketable Skills faculty integrator?
Jennifer Baggett, Biology
“I wanted to join a community of faculty who share ideas and methods for improving communication with students about how their classes prepare them for careers and provide professional growth.”
Jocyln Hanson, Speech
“I am a faculty integrator because I know the need to specifically connect what we teach and our learning outcomes to real-world and workplace skills. The better we communicate this, the more equipped our students will be for employment.”
Natalie Pleimann, English
“I often think there is a disconnect between what students are working on in their academic lives and the skills they gain for their professional life, especially in ‘soft skills.’ Giving students the language to articulate these skills and understand the professional purposes of their academic pursuits is an important part of my pedagogy.”
Edit Dibra, World Languages
“Being a faculty integrator helps me actively contribute to fostering a collaborative and innovative learning environment in my course to equip my students with marketable skills essential for success in today’s dynamic professional world and integrate those skills in my French language curriculum.”
Gerardo Vega, World Languages
“I am a faculty integrator because I want to better prepare students in understanding the skills they are learning in their courses, especially those generally labeled ‘basic courses’ that go beyond the discipline and subject matter.”
Camille Raspante, English
“I am thrilled to serve as a Marketable Skills faculty integrator because it provides a meaningful and intentional way to help students recognize the connection between the skills they develop in my class and skills they will need to succeed professionally. As an English professor, my role is to help students become stronger writers, more effective communicators and better critical thinkers. As a Marketable Skills faculty integrator, my role is to guide them even further in their understanding of how the skills they practice today will serve as the foundation for seeing their career goals to fruition.”
Felisha Avery, History
“I see myself as a faculty integrator because I thrive on connecting ideas, people and resources to create meaningful learning experiences. My role goes beyond teaching — it’s about fostering collaboration across disciplines, integrating innovative strategies and ensuring that students see the relevance of what they learn in a broader context. I enjoy bridging gaps between theory and practice, and between faculty and students, to build a cohesive academic environment that supports success for everyone.”
Adeyemi Adams, Biology
“I took on the faculty integrator role because I see it as one of the most direct ways we can close the gap between what students learn in our classrooms and what employers (and life) actually demand from our graduates. I’ve watched too many talented students graduate with strong GPAs but still struggle to articulate how their degree translates into real-world value. The Marketable Skills framework gives us a shared language and intentional structure to embed those competencies into our courses without watering down disciplinary rigor.”
Kristin Bocchine, History
“I am a faculty integrator because I think it is important for students to understand that the value of a college education goes beyond just a degree. Many students view coursework as a series of boxes they must check to qualify for a particular job without realizing higher education teaches lifelong skills that follow students through multiple careers. I want my students leaving my class knowing they have an arsenal of skills to deploy whenever they may need it in the future, regardless of where life takes them.”
Bethan Salle, Geology
“I'm passionate about students’ understanding that every class is preparing them for the workforce. Every assignment, presentation and lab provides them with practice for the workplace.”
Would you recommend this program to your colleagues?
Dr. Saroja Ginagunta, Chemistry
“Yes, definitely! After participating in this program, I am learning how to modify and reveal the job-relevant skills to students in a more efficient way!”
Tiffany Nacoste, Government
“Absolutely. This program highlights soft skills that are already practiced in class. The program is about having conversations with students so they understand the activities in the classroom translate to the workforce and outside world.”
Robert Ortiz
“Yes! I firmly believe Dallas College is positioned to be a work-ready college, so I would love to see every faculty member involved.”
Felisha Avery, History
“I would tell my colleagues that being a faculty integrator is a great opportunity to showcase why the discipline you teach is an important component in the workforce.”
Desiree Nachawati, Math
“Yes, I would. It does take a considerable investment of time at the beginning, but that investment is rewarded by the benefits the students get from having instructors that are faculty integrators. It‘s so important to be a part of this program to help our students excel in the workforce and their careers.”
Amy Boltrushek, English
“I would recommend this program to colleagues who want to strengthen the connection between their course’s student learning outcomes and the application of the marketable skills in their course work. Once I started looking at my assignments through the lens of ‘marketable skills,’ it pivoted the way I taught this semester. As instructors, we must not only nurture a growth mindset for our students, but also a growth mindset for ourselves, and this program affords us just that. This program provides a welcoming environment that is brimming with ideas, support, resources and opportunities so we, as faculty, can continuously evolve as both teachers and lifelong learners.”