Thiel appoints coordinator at its new learning center

GREENVILLE, Pa. — Dr. Patricia Kelvin of Poland, a former Vindicator editorial writer, has been named coordinator of teaching and learning at Thiel College’s new Center for Learning & Advising.

Her responsibilities will include one-on-one consultation with faculty as well as developing and offering seminars to those teaching first-year courses to increase student engagement and incorporate relevant technology into the classroom.

This position will play an important role in meeting the CLA’s goal of increasing first-year student retention and satisfaction, said Dr. Oscar T. Lenning, CLA director. Kelvin’s role will eventually expand to include curriculum design for all levels of course work at Thiel.

Kelvin comes to Thiel after four years as an associate professor of communication at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she also worked with faculty to develop service learning opportunities for students.

Previously, Kelvin worked for seven years as an editorial writer and a member of the editorial board for The Vindicator, and for three years she worked as an assistant professor of English at Youngstown State University.

She holds a doctorate in English from Ohio State University, a master’s in English from Humboldt State University and a bachelor’s in international agricultural development from the University of California at Davis. She also has done graduate work in microbiology at San Francisco State University.

Kelvin, a native of London, England, is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.