Matthew Paolucci Callahan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Sonoma State, is recognized for improving instruction to close equity gaps and promote success for all students.
As the inaugural Faculty Fellow for Teaching and Learning at SSU's Center for Teaching and Educational Technology, Paolucci Callahan provides development opportunities to all deans and faculty aimed at creating inclusive classrooms and increasing faculty retention. He has conducted workshops and presented material to faculty regarding implicit gender bias and how to modify one's teaching practices to improve the classroom climate for underrepresented STEM students. In one example, a workshop was held for faculty in the School of Social Sciences titled,
Leading Difficult Dialogues in the Classroom, designed to address student concerns about classroom climate and enhance the instructor's ability to engage in constructive conversations about challenging topics such as equity, racism and microaggressions.
Paolucci Callahan also provides individual faculty consultations and plans new faculty orientations. His efficacy in faculty consultations is demonstrated an increased demand for his expertise: from 37 consults during the 2017-18 school year to 53 consults during the 2018-19 school year.
Over the last 10 years, Paolucci Callahan has dedicated his research lab to focus on transgender and gay prejudice and the dehumanization of undocumented immigrants. He has invited many undergraduate students to participate in this research, including DACA students, launching them into several research-intensive graduate programs across the country.
“Matthew has had a powerful influence on creating an environment that supports faculty in honing their craft that supports and includes all students on campus," says Lisa Vollendorf, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at SSU.