WilmU’s Center for Teaching Excellence Welcomes Jordan Davis

Becoming the best teacher requires passion and commitment. Wilmington University’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is there to help, with a team of nine employees, including new hire Jordan Davis. 

“Good teaching is hard. It’s really important, and it’s possible,” says Davis, a faculty development specialist. “I think it’s a community effort to kind of raise the bar for what teaching excellence looks like.” 

Innovation in Education 

Davis earned a B.A. in Communication from McDaniel College and an M.A. in Learning, Design and Technology from Georgetown University, where he worked as a project coordinator at the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship before joining WilmU. 

“I see myself as more of an artist and a designer,” says Davis, a professional speaker who specializes in equity-centered teaching and learning. “I’m thinking about ways to tell stories about teaching that are captivating the attention of faculty. I’m thinking of ways to translate complex teaching theories into metaphors that really land and resonate with faculty.” 

The CTE empowers faculty members through professional growth initiatives, training and resources so students receive the highest quality education. Its employees help make WilmU a rewarding place to work and earn a degree by supporting the University’s commitment to exemplary teaching, program relevancy and personalized learning. They are educational champions who assist department chairs, host workshops, conduct orientations, offer one-on-one coaching and mentoring, analyze course feedback, recruit adjunct instructors, and more. 

Faculty Development 

“We want to be innovative in how we provide faculty development,” says Dr. Adrienne Bey, CTE director. “We’re hoping that Jordan can help us with those efforts as we integrate teaching best practices” because “I think he brings a fresh perspective.” 

“One of the parts about CTE that I’m most excited about is continuing to build our asynchronous tools, our online presence around our teaching and learning resources,” Davis says. “I thought it was such a unique opportunity to utilize my expertise in inclusive teaching and really translate that to the virtual classroom.”  

When he’s not working, the Baltimore native enjoys watching the Ravens, playing board games and cooking. He’s a big fan of flapjacks because “every Sunday, my mom made pancakes before church.”  

Just like it takes practice to flip the perfect pancake, teaching takes dedication and skill. At a recent conference, Davis heard a quote that bears repeating: “Teaching is the profession that makes all professions possible.”   

“That really stuck with me,” he says. “I want faculty to walk away knowing that their teaching is valuable, and it’s transformative.”