MTLE Mission and History
Madison Teaching and Learning Excellence (MTLE) improves student learning at UW-Madison by engaging early-career faculty to become fast, effective, and efficient starters in teaching.
We accomplish this mission through a two-semester program (Chism, Holley, & Harris, 2012; Connolly, Savoy, Lee, & Hill, 2016) in teaching that engages small cohorts of 8-12 faculty (Cox, 2004). A new cohort begins each fall and spring semester.
MTLE was established in 2012 through the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates. Nick Balster and Janet Batzli were the founding co-directors. Our first MTLE cohort was launched in August 2012.
Naomi Salmon
Position title: MTLE Program Manager and Facilitator
Pronouns: they/them/theirs or she/her/hers
Prior to joining MTLE, Naomi was involved in a range of professional development initiatives for teaching assistants within the UW-Madison English Department, the College of Letters & Science, and L&S Learning Support Services. These experiences highlighted how transformative it can be for instructors to take part in a community devoted to teaching and learning. Naomi loves teaching writing and learning about others’ research – these were highlights of their time as an instructor at UW–Madison’s Writing Center. As someone passionate about open pedagogy and equitable assessment, they enjoy working with instructors who would like to bring their students into the process of producing and sharing knowledge. Naomi sees teaching as an act of generosity and an iterative process, so they especially celebrate the conversations that emerge when activities or assignments don’t go as planned. Outside of work, Naomi enjoys trying to spot cranes and frogs in Cherokee Marsh. They are a terrible banjo player and an aspiring printmaker.
Katie Will
Position title: MTLE Facilitator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Dr. Katie Will helps develop and facilitate learning communities for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring, including MTLE. She enjoys helping instructors see their courses as creative spaces that are meant to adapt and evolve, and where mistakes are inevitable, informative, and full of potential. She entered the world of writing pedagogy as an undergraduate Writing Fellow at UW–Madison and worked as a mentor and consultant for graduate instructors at the University of Michigan while she earned her Ph.D. Katie taught composition and literature courses at Monmouth College (IL) and Louisiana State University before returning to the UW in her current role. Outside work, she spends time spinning, listening to podcasts, gardening, and exploring Madison and Milwaukee with her husband and two young kids.