Assistant Director of Engaged Learning and Strategic Initiatives
Katie joined the Northwestern University community in October of 2020 as the Assistant Director of Engaged Learning and Strategic Initiatives. She earned a doctorate in theatre studies from Florida State University and a masters in theatre studies from Central Washington University. At the Searle Center, she oversees the development and administration of the Teaching Certificate Program where graduate students and postdoctoral fellows engage in a yearlong program centered on establishing a scholarly teaching foundation and becoming more critically reflective practitioners.
Before coming to Searle, Katie served as the program assistant for the Program for Instructional Excellence at Florida State University. In that role she planned and facilitated the program’s signature workshop series aimed at graduate student instructors and organized the fall and spring new TA conference. She also co-founded DIRECTO, the Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Teaching organization. Through her work with DIRECTO, Katie helped create a multidisciplinary and intergenerational learning community exploring the implementation of inclusive and equitable teaching practices.
While in graduate school Katie taught a variety of theatre studies courses for theatre majors and non-majors, such as Introduction to Theatre, Script Analysis, and a multi-term theatre history sequence. Katie aspires to create inclusive and equitable learning environments that honor the multitude of lived experiences and cultural backgrounds students bring to the classroom.
Katie is interested in the pedagogical and professional development of graduate students and postdocs, including examining the pathways to a SOTL-centered career in faculty development. She is fascinated by the liminal space occupied by graduate students and postdocs viewing it as a site rich with potential for research and systemic change. She is also passionate about expanding her knowledge of inclusive pedagogies and teaching methods, such as Universal Design for Learning, indigenous pedagogy, and alternative modes of assessment.
University Committees:The Women’s Center Advisory Board
Featured in The Graduate School’s Spotlight Series
Katie Pierson627 Dartmouth Place
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208
Email: k.pierson@northwestern.edu
