Intro by King Musa
“Yo, what it is, You know what it is. It's your man King Musa. Welcome to the Cheat Sheet where we decode success for professors, creators and business owners. I'm your host King M Musa, and today we're diving into the art of science of teaching and learning. Our guest leads the effort to support faculty and students in their educational journey. Joining us today is Dr. Cynthia Kilpatrick, the director of the center of teaching and learning here at Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Kilpatrick is dedicated to empowering educators and enhancing the learning experience for students. Let's learn more about her journey and her vision for the future of teaching and learning. Welcome Dr. Kilpatrick.”
Dr. Cynthia Kilpatrick: “Thanks so much, Musa. It's great to be here with you.”
KM: “Yes, ma'am, welcome. I, it is 2025, right? New Year, you know, most people would say new me, you know, is that you? Do you have new goals? You know, what's what's going on with that?”
CK: “You know, I have lots of goals. None of them are new. But, you know, I I try or I have been trying for the last few years rather than setting specific resolutions or things that I promise myself I'm going to do for like two weeks and then I fail and I give up and I I turn to something else. For the last few years what I've been doing is choosing a word for the year that can lead my focus and that can help me um set goals along the way and so my my word for the year this year is balance. I need some balance. I need some work life balance. I need some balance in in what I do, um and how I feel and the way I play versus the way that I work. And so so I'm I'm all about balance this year.”
Getting to Know Dr. Cynthia Kilpatrick
KM: “That's exciting. For me, it's learning not to um react, like be less reactive, um and just boundaries and limits. That's that's really something huge, but balance, I like it. That's my own. So let's go ahead and dive in. Can you introduce yourself and what you do here?”
CK: “Sure. I'm Cindy Kilpatrick. I am the director of the center for teaching and Learning. And at the Center for teaching and learning, our mission is to support and strengthen teaching and learning across our campus. We want to support our faculty, we want to support our students. So at the CTL that's what we call the center for teaching and learning, we really focus broadly in three areas, so we provide development for faculty. So when new technology comes out or new innovative methods in the classrooms, we want to push those out to our faculty and make sure they're aware of them. So you might remember a couple of Christmases ago with chat GPT at the airwaves. You know, we had to respond by letting faculty know what AI is and how it's going to affect our classrooms and how we can use it effectively, but also to think about the ethics of that. So that's one of the things we do is those new things that come along, we push it out and want to make faculty aware of how to use it to our advantage, but also to be careful with it. So that's one thing we do and that's that's a very important aspect of what we do. A second thing that we do is we support online classes on campus. So anytime an online class is coming online, it goes through a review process with the CTL where we look at it and we make sure it's a high quality class. We make sure that it's a good learning experience for students and we work with faculty to improve online classes in general. And then finally for students, specifically, we run bright space support. So when you're in bright space and you're like, I have no idea how to submit this assignment. We're the people you call.”
Personal Background and Journey
KM: “Yes, man. So before we learn more about that, though, because I'm I have so many questions for that. I want to know a little bit about you. You know, where are you from? You know, where did you go to school, things like that?”
CK: “So I consider myself a Texan, but I'm not technically. I was not technically born in Texas. I was born in Tennessee. But we moved here when I was about six years old. I grew up in Texas, so I can call myself a Texan. I went back to Tennessee for my undergraduate program. I attended a small liberal arts college in Tennessee. and um and then I did my masters at UT El Paso, so I was back in Texas and I did my PhD at the University of California at San Diego. So I spent a great time on the beach. I still miss it, but I know that Texas is where I need to be.”
KM: “Did your parents go to college and everything?”
CK: “So my mom did not. My mom graduated from high school and that was as far as she went. My dad um when he was in his early 20s felt a call to ministry. And because of that he went to college to a seminary. So he got a bachelor's degree in something related to to ministry and then um went and pastored a church in Idaho for a few years. So I lived in Idaho. I miss that snow still maybe we'll get some on Tuesday. Keep it in Idaho. We don't want snow. Just a little bit, just a little bit. He pastored a church for a while and then he went back to Tennessee and did a master of divinity there. And and I have to add, you know, his um his schooling was so impactful for him that I and all of my sisters went back to the very same college and we all did our undergrad or at least part of our undergrad at the same school that my dad graduated from.”
Life Outside Work and Career Path
KM: “That's what I'm talking about because that's there's first generation students who, you know, their parents didn't go to college, which almost seemed like you your situation. But the fact that your dad had that experience gave you something to look forward to. And there's a lot of students that don't have that, and that's good to hear. Yes, ma'am. Now, when you're not doing this, right? No no work. What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies interest?”
CK: “Well, you remember I said my word for the year? It's balance because I need some hobbies. I need to do some things outside of work. But there are a couple major things I do, so I have a 16 year old son, and so a lot of what I do is I work with my son on stuff. We just moved to Nacogdoches about six months ago. I started at SFA on July 1, and so we're still so excited about exploring Nacogdoches and all there is here. I've heard so much about the gorgeous azaleas. So we are looking forward to getting out and doing some hiking and things like that in the area. But we also love to travel. So um it feels like it's been a long time since I got on a plane and just went somewhere just for fun, but we love doing that as well. And, you know, around the house, I'd love to say that I love gardening and I do love gardening, but I really am not a good gardener, so I can't call it. So I've been exploring some, you know, some little things I can do. I love to read, and so I'm always learning about things. I've tried some diamond painting. I've tried just some regular watercolor painting. I've tried to be a handy woman around the house. I'm not very good at that either. But you know, I'm hoping this year to be be able to develop some more things to find more balance.”
KM: “Yes, ma'am. Oh, you have the ideas, you have the plan is just by placing them in the parts, right? It seasons, I'm welcome to Nacogdoches. I do wanna say that. Y'all came at the right time. It's about to start being spring season. all the flowers are gonna come out and the animals and things like that, so I'm glad, welcome, welcome. Yes, ma'am. So my favorite part, right? Let's go ahead and jump into your career, you know? How did you get to SFA?”
CK: “So, you know, one thing I have to say, um in terms of of teachers, so I've I've worked for years, um one area of linguistics is called applied linguistics, and that's where we take our knowledge and we apply it in real situations. And so teaching language is part of applied linguistics. So I've been training language teachers for years and years, and my one word of advice that I always give to my students who are training to be teachers is, you got to know your students. You have to understand where they're coming from and you have to understand where they want to go, because when you know that about your students, you know better what's going to motivate them in the classroom and how you can move them forward and how you can help your students be successful. So that's my word of advice for faculty who want to move forward in their teaching is know your students. And yes, of course you want to learn techniques, you want to innovate, you want to do those things, but none of those things matter if you don't care about your students. So so that's the word of advice in terms of just teaching, but in terms of of getting into a position like this, you know, you have to do the time as a teacher, right? I don't I I have been a teacher for for probably way too long. But, you know, you have to learn about higher education and about how higher education works. You have to learn about teaching and you have to learn about learning and how students learn and the best way to teach them. So to get into a position like this, you got to do your homework, right? But then you also have to keep your eyes open and you have to be willing to make a move. So for for a couple of years I've kind of been like I wonder what else is out there, right? And I'd keep my eyes open and I'd go on higher ed jobs and look at what's out there and and think about them and think about, you know, is that where I want to be? And what I realized as I started to think was h well, when I think about what I want to be when I grow up, what I really want to do is positively impact student success by working with faculty. And so I start I started looking and as I looked when this job was available, I was like, that's it. That's the job that I want, right? Because I had been thinking about it and I had really thought about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. Yes, ma'am.”
Vision and Challenges at CTL
KM: “Now, what is your vision for CTL the center for teaching and learning?”
CK: “So, you know, the CTL itself has a vision that we want to serve as collaborators and catalysts in a community that advances advances teaching and learning. So that's the general vision of the CTL. But for me, um as the director of the CTL, of course I want that vision, but when I think about what that looks like at SFA, I want us to be a hub for faculty to come it say, oh, you know. I heard about this thing. I want to learn more about it. CTL can help me. I want to be a gathering place. If I had my you know, if I could do anything, I'd I'd be like running a little coffee shop for faculty to just come and fit and talk to each other and talk to us about how we can teach and learn better because you know we we're here. We're here for students. We're all about student success, but how are students going to be successful if they don't have faculty supporting that? So that's what we want is we want to build student success by building faculty success. It's that vertical success chain, right? You pouring from the top, it overflows laterally? I like it, yes, ma'am. UT, she's already been in Arlington. She's here with us now, you know, at SFA. Can, you know, a good coffee hub here at SFA? We're redesigning everything, you know, if we need a refund for the ring, we we'll do that. Yes, ma'am, but that's beautiful. I do have to ask you now, most people dont answer this part, but there's challenges in getting things coordinated. I'll be honest with you. I know what it's like, right? So what are the challenges in your position as a director?”
CK: “So, um number one challenge for me in the six months that I've been here is has has revolved around learning a new campus. So, spending 15 years at one campus, you learn how things are done. You know the people to go to to get what you want. You know the people to avoid who are going to stand in your way, you know, who to ask and how to ask. And, you know, there's a lot of politics in in higher education. You You know, I knew all of that at at my old campus and um and I knew the policies and the procedures and how to do things according to the rules. But things worked different on different campuses. And so I'm having to figure all of that out. And so I'm constantly saying, well, this is how we used to do it at my previous campus. How does this work here? Okay. I like that last part. There you go, there you. And so I'm asking a lot of questions. I love asking questions so I don't mind that. But that's been a challenge just learning a new campus in addition to learning my new job, right? In terms of the job itself, now that I'm feeling more comfortable with my campus and what I do, to me, one of the biggest challenges is thinking about thinking about student success by way of faculty. What is it that students want and that students need? and how can we help faculty provide that and find, you know, that that innovation, that finding ways to help faculty find that that's always a challenge because you know how it is being in a classroom. what works for one professor doesn't always work for another professor. it works for one student doesn't work for every student, so finding different ways to help different faculty so that all together as a campus, we can be successful. Yes ma'am.”
Exciting Initiatives and Advice
KM: “Now that even though you say that's a challenge, I say it's a vision and I like I like that challenge. It's not one of those like failure challenge, you know, it's something you can shoot for. And I like a vision that a challenge youion to be challenge. There we go. All right, we're doing great. Now, I know what are some exciting initiatives that students and faculty can find from CTail and the learning com.”
CK: “Okay. So one of the things that that we do every year, um I don't know how aware students are of this, but the faculty are certainly aware every August before the fall semester begins. CTL runs camp CTL. and we um we have typically about three days. It's kind of like a mini conference. We have three days of um faculty development sessions where faculty can come and learn all kinds of new stuff. um not only does the CTL present, but we have the provost come and run a panel with faculty. Last year, we had a ton of faculies who came and talked to us about AI and how they're using AI in their classes. We had Dr. Andrew Dees come and talk about how this affected policies on campus. so we have different people on campus come and share with us what they're doing and looking at policies and procedures across the campus. So camp is one of our biggest initiatives. Another initiative that we have currently in progress is that there are some large organizations that offer faculty development that we realize will be helpful for SFA faculty. And so we have been running these programs on our campus. We've recruited faculty into them, and faculty are taking these classes um and they're learning more about ways that they can kind of tweak their classroom and to work better for their students. And so we're excited to see how that's going to positively impact student success this year with our faculty in that. And then a brand new initiative that um I I have the draft of on my desk right now is actually for a brand new grad student program, because you know one thing we realize is that not all faculty when they finish their their schooling know how to teach, and it's important that we start training faculty how to teach while they're grad students. And so that's the vision behind that. I've been talking with Dr. Forest Lane and about the need for the new campus, and so we've we've I've got a framework for that that I'm ready to send over to him and say, hey, here's how I think we can best help our grad students at SFA. Round of applause, you are skyrocketing. You already have a camp going on. Like that's amazing to see just to know that that that's how people can start getting training. And then we already do a lot of network into other campuses, so to know that that can go to other campuses eventually when we network? Yeah, okay. Yes, ma'am. um for my next question, uh do you have any advice for, you know, educators who are looking to, you know, grow in, you know, education and things and also, you know, to get into your your spot, like, how do they get there?”
CK: “I.. So, you know, one thing I have to say, um in terms of of teachers, so I've I've worked for years, um one area of linguistics is called applied linguistics, and that's where we take our knowledge and we apply it in real situations. And so teaching language is part of applied linguistics. So I've been training language teachers for years and years, and my one word of advice that I always give to my students who are training to be teachers is, you got to know your students. You have to understand where they're coming from and you have to understand where they want to go, because when you know that about your students, you know better what's going to motivate them in the classroom and how you can move them forward and how you can help your students be successful. So that's my word of advice for faculty who want to move forward in their teaching is know your students. And yes, of course you want to learn techniques, you want to innovate, you want to do those things, but none of those things matter if you don't care about your students. So so that's the word of advice in terms of just teaching, but in terms of of getting into a position like this, you know, you have to do the time as a teacher, right? I don't I I have been a teacher for for probably way too long. But, you know, you have to learn about higher education and about how higher education works. You have to learn about teaching and you have to learn about learning and how students learn and the best way to teach them. So to get into a position like this, you got to do your homework, right? But then you also have to keep your eyes open and you have to be willing to make a move. So for for a couple of years I've kind of been like I wonder what else is out there, right? And I'd keep my eyes open and I'd go on higher ed jobs and look at what's out there and and think about them and think about, you know, is that where I want to be? And what I realized as I started to think was h well, when I think about what I want to be when I grow up, what I really want to do is positively impact student success by working with faculty. And so I start I started looking and as I looked when this job was available, I was like, that's it. That's the job that I want, right? Because I had been thinking about it and I had really thought about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. Yes, ma'am.”
Mindset for Student Development
KM: “Okay, okay. My final question before we go, this is sad to to say that, but um mindset for student development, right? So what is the right mindset um for developing students, especially, you know, going into since post-COVID?”
CK: “So, in terms of mindset, I am a true believer that we have to believe we can do it and have to believe our students can do it. If I come into a classroom and I'm like, all of these students are going to fail miserably. You know what's going to happen? All of those students are going to fail miserably. It's not going to be their fault. It's going to be my fault because if I think at the beginning I think oh, these students they're not ready for this class, then I have to adapt I have to adjust. I know my students and I know they're not ready. How do I get them ready? I have to have to fix their readiness so that they can move forward so they can be successful. And so to me, it's all about having the right attitude and believing in ourselves, believing in our students and and how we can all be successful together. Because I'm not successful as a teacher if my students are not successful as students.”
KM: “Your key message has been that you have to first, you know, feed yourself or get your own mindset, right, things like that. If you're motivated, the students are motivated. If you're excited, they're excited if you're learning, they're wow, so that's that's just how it's going to be. what you give is what you get. That is truly what I think.”
CK: “Okay.”
Outro by King Musa
“Thank you so much, Dr. Kilpatrick, for joining us and sharing your expertise and vision for the future of teaching and learning. It's been inspiring to hear about the supportive systems that are in place at SFA and how they are helping educators and students thrive. Remember listeners, education is a partnership, and great learning starts with great teaching. Subscribe to the Cheat Sheet, follow our social medias, and stay connected for more episodes. This is King Musa signing off, reminding you to stay encouraged, stay curious, and keep learning.”
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