The purpose of this portfolio is to provide formative information as to the extent and depth of my learning as a student in the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies Educational Leadership program, and allow me the opportunity to reflect and assess a few of my efforts as director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship at Samford University.

To provide the portfolio reader with the context in which I currently work, I wish to describe my working environment and relevant administrative responsibilities. I have had the pleasure of intermittently working at my institution since 1993. Samford University, a Baptist-affiliated institution, is comprised of nine schools, over 4400 students, and approximately 250 full-time faculty. With its relatively small size, Samford University has offered me several professional opportunities that may not have occurred at a larger university.  The position I hold at present results from such an opportunity.

My role and responsibilities involve complex, interdisciplinary and inter-level interactions. The position, I feel, embodies the desire of the university leaders to approach teaching and learning in a holistic manner. These duties, reflected in the Table below, vary in intensity and scope depending upon the time of year and the presence of new initiatives.

Table 1

Typical Responsibilities and Percentage of Time Relative to Responsibilities

With the director position, and work relative to the education leadership program, I have gained an extensive amount of knowledge about myself as a leader, manager, educator, and person.  I have had to extend beyond my experiences as a nurse and educator, and sometimes going beyond these roles has been a challenge. These challenges include refining my delegation and budgeting abilities.