Associate professor Jeffrey Coker has been named the next director of Elon’s General Studies Program and will observe and assist the current director, professor Janet Warman, during 2010-11 before assuming full duties in the fall of 2011.
Coker came to Elon in 2004 as an assistant professor of biology with a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, and a master’s and doctorate from North Carolina State University. Since his arrival, Coker has been involved in the General Studies Program, teaching The Global Experience (GST 110) and serving as chair of the General Studies Council in 2007.
As part of Elon teams, Coker attended two AAC&U Summer Institutes on General Studies and helped create a comprehensive assessment plan for the university’s General Studies Program.
A respected teacher, Coker has been involved with several programs in the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. He was named a CATL Scholar to pursue his “Reinventing Life: A New Paradigm for Biology Teaching and Learning” program with students, and has been a participant in the Elon Teaching and Learning Partnership, funded by the Carnegie Foundation, to conduct research with high school teachers into questions of student learning.
Coker is an active scholar himself and mentored Elon senior Amelia Helms’ Lumen prize research project on tissue regeneration. He received the 2006 Excellence in Service-Leadership Award from Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Coker was granted tenure and promotion to associate professor this spring by the board of trustees.
In the fall of 2011, Warman will resume her duties as professor of English and education.