University Housing Recognizes Faculty-in-Residence, Lissette Lopez Szwydky-Davis

Photo Submitted

Lissette Lopez Szwydky-Davis, assistant professor in the Department of English in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, serves as University Housing's Faculty-in-Residence.

This critical role as a faculty liaison brings strong benefits to residential students. Faculty-in-Residence members typically live in an apartment within University Housing's residential halls.

Szwydky-Davis helped pioneer many academic initiatives hosted by University Housing during her four years as Faculty-in-Residence.

She serves on the ACCESS committee to provide a faculty perspective on programming. ACCESS stands for autonomy, confidence and competence evolving through self-awareness and a sense of purpose.

That committee focuses on developing residential education programming in three main areas:

1. Personal development
2. Multicultural competence
3. Academic success.

Her valuable insight has been used as a basis for organizing University Housing's Annual Life Raft Debate as well as other signature programs in the @Home series.

English Literature and Writing LLC

Szwydky-Davis will serve as the coordinator for the new English Literature and Writing Living Learning Community housed in Humphreys hall during the next academic year.

She will develop supplemental educational programming initiatives for the literary community in her role as an LLC coordinator.

This LLC provides students with opportunities to study literary topics and to regularly meet and talk with faculty about this field.

Students attend social events specifically designed for those with an interest in literature and culture, participate in career preparation workshops and build relationships with others that are fascinated by the art and history of storytelling.

Grant Awarded

Szwydky-Davis and Sean Connors, a faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, were recently awarded a $173,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Szwydky-Davis and Connors will use it for a two-week summer institute at the University of Arkansas this summer. The institute, titled "Remaking Monsters and Heroines: Adapting Classic Literature for Contemporary Audiences," is aimed at kindergarten through high schools teachers interested in learning to teach and adapt classical texts for students of today.

University Housing staff congratulate her on this wonderful honor and are happy to work alongside her to enhance the educational experiences of our undergraduate students.

About Living Learning Communities: University Housing offers several residential communities to students organized around academic majors and educational interests. Each Living Learning Community, or LLC, allows on-campus students to live alongside others who share their interests and participate in monthly activities that promote academic and personal success. Learn more about LLCs.