Jax State of Teaching Names Two Faculty to Administrative Positions
07/30/2026
Two faculty members have been selected to support Jax State of Teaching, the university's quality teaching initiative. Beginning August 1, Dr. Candice Byers will serve as the Assistant Director of Faculty Training, and Dr. Laura Pitts will serve as the Director of Experiential Learning.
Dr. Byers, an assistant professor of teacher education, will assist Faculty Commons with implementing a new training model that provides national certification in teaching for Jax State faculty.
" What excites me most about this position is the opportunity to lead meaningful faculty development initiatives that directly enhance teaching effectiveness and student success," said Byers. "I look forward to mentoring faculty and supporting collaborative learning communities across the university."
The new training kicks off in early August, when new faculty beginning at Jax State for the Fall semester will enroll in Effective Teaching 101, an asynchronous course offered by the Association of University and College Educators (ACUE). This approach was recommended by the Jax State of Teaching task force, a group comprising faculty representatives from across campus.
"I am excited to welcome Dr. Byers to the Faculty Commons," said Mica Mecham, Director of Faculty Commons. "She will play an important role as we launch our new ACUE faculty development initiative by coordinating training, supporting faculty through their learning journey, and helping expand faculty development opportunities across the university."
To complement the ACUE training, Jax State will continue to offer its High Impact Learning Institute, an opportunity for faculty to gain knowledge and training in experiential learning pedagogy. The institute began as a program offered by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, where Associate Dean Dr. Seth Johnson led the program. Dr, Pitts will help move it to the university level.
Dr. Pitts, associate professor of library services, will direct Experiential Learning by overseeing the institute, collaborating with departments to expand experiential learning opportunities, and partnering with business and industry.
"I am incredibly honored to step into this role and continue building a culture where experiential learning is woven throughout the student experience," said Pitts. "My goal is to create meaningful opportunities for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence employers seek while supporting faculty as leaders in innovative teaching and collaboration. I also look forward to strengthening partnerships with community stakeholders so that together we can prepare graduates who are ready to make an impact from day one.
The first emphasis for Experiential Learning this year is work-based learning, which consists of internship, clinical, and practicum opportunities for students. Pitts will collaborate with departments on their work-based EL offerings.
"I look forward to working with Dr. Pitts in this leadership role," said Dr. Staci Stone, vice provost of academic affairs. "Jax State will benefit from Dr. Pitts’s experience as the Provost's Fellow of Experiential Learning and her expertise in high-impact learning."
Additional details about the Jax State of Teaching's goals for this year and new opportunities for faculty will be shared at the Faculty Convocation in August.
Dr. Candice Byers
Dr. Laura Pitts