AUx Working Group
The AUx Working Group is charged with refining the AUx1 and AUx2 curricula, supporting and providing guidance to AUx1 instructors, and connecting with campus partners to enhance the AUx Program and course content.
Expand the box below for a full list of the AUx Working Group members.
AUx Working Group Members
Stephon Bradberry - Assistant Director of Student Success, Transition & Retention, CDI, OCL
Ashley Roccamo - Instructional Designer, University Library
Kernysha Rowe - Assistant Dean of Students, Office of Student Accountability & Restorative Practices, DSA
David Salgado - AUx Instructor & Advisor, FYA, UEAS
Izzi Stern (co-chair) - Director, AUx, UEAS
Michelle Swiger (co-chair)- AUx Instructor & First-Year Advisor, UEAS
Former AUx WG Members: Amanda Getz, Tara W. Rison
Former AUx1 WG Members: Matt Bruno (past co-chair), Camille Clark, Caroline DeLeon, Joyice Harris, Kyle Whitaker, Morgan Maxwell, Shaina Spann, Stacey Miles, Luis Alvarado, Elissa Margolin, Angela Chen
Former AUx2 WG Members: Shaina Spann, Aja Simpson-Zulfiqar, Munroe Bell-Rose, Rachel Brown, Steven Crudele, Sarah Jones (past co-chair), Luis Alvarado, Roshan Abraham (past co-chair), Caroline Figueiredo Hausmann, Diamond Brown, Juliana Martinez, Angela Chen
AUx Faculty Fellows
The AUx Faculty Fellows provide support by facilitating professional development workshops for instructors focusing on developing pedagogical and facilitation skills necessary for successful teaching and anti-oppressive practices in the classroom. They will also be available to provide instructor consultations and support in the form of individually scheduled meetings, small group meetings, or regular “office hours.” On a limited basis and at instructor request, the AUx Faculty Fellows can also provide instructors with opt-in peer teaching observations. These peer observations would be used for professional development purposes, and instructors can decide independently whether they want these observations to be incorporated into their adjunct faculty reappointment packages. In addition to instructor training support, they will facilitate 1-2 trainings for Peer Facilitators.
Dr. Amaarah DeCuir
- Amaarah DeCuir, Ed.D., educator, researcher, and inclusive pedagogy fellow, is a faculty member at American University in the School of Education and an Executive Board member at the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University. Her scholarship spans the areas of antiracist pedagogy, Muslim student experiences, Prophetic pedagogy, faith erasure, equity, antiracism and social justice, education leadership, teacher education, and faculty development. Dr. DeCuir has published articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and books and her public scholarship appears in news and media outlets. A highly regarded educator and facilitator, Dr. DeCuir teaches Education Studies and Social Justice, Education Leadership, and teaches an Antiracist Research Methods course she co-designed. She brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experiences from public and private K-12 schools to inform her current work in higher education
Dr. William N. Thomas IV
William N. Thomas IV joined the faculty at American University in 2021 as a Professorial Lecturer in the School of Education’s Ed.D. program.
After graduating in 2004 with a BA degree in English from Morehouse College, Dr. Thomas taught in Washington, DC for eight years as a science teacher and received a Master’s degree from the George Washington University in Middle School Science.
From 2012 to 2014 he was promoted to principal of the Community Academy Public Charter School’s Butler Global Campus and helped to create an authentic global culture for the school. After serving as the Academy Leader for the campus, he decided to transition to secondary school leadership and earned the position of Director of High School Programs for Paul International High School and helped the school in the development of a 21st century international studies program. During his time, he traveled to Panama, London and Costa Rica with Paul PCS students and increased opportunities for students to travel. In addition, he led the My Brother’s Keeper mentoring program at the school establishing a monthly Saturday Academy, weekly mentoring and an annual male team builder.
His passion for developing young males of color led him to go back to the classroom to teach at the Ron Brown College Preparatory High School as a Biology teacher for two years. He led the development of a new all-male high school using an event-based approach to teaching NGSS cross-cutting science concepts. He also was the founding sponsor of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and facilitated the Morehouse Mystique mentoring program for ninth grade students.
His service leadership is grounded in a growth mindset that promotes reciprocal development through open communication, trust, motivation and accountability. In addition, William believes that strategic programming that meets students in and out of the classroom is key in the development of 21st century skills.
Recently, William served as the Director of Science for the Mastery Charter Schools of Philadelphia and Camden. He led the network’s science program by supporting and building capacity of K-12 educators through curriculum development, strategic implementation, collaborative leadership, professional development and effective use of data and research. Dr. Thomas has a particular research interest in Global Education, Culturally Responsive Teaching in STEM education and the experience of Black Male Teachers in various public-school systems. His doctoral studies unpacked the intersectionality of self-motivation, professional development and young males of color as it relates to teacher retention of Black men in public-schools.
Campus Partners
Faculty, staff, and students from the AU community shared their knowledge and ideas, providing feedback on the AUx1 curriculum and the AUx2 curriculum during its creation and piloting phase.
Expand the boxes below for a list of campus partners. Please note that these lists are not exhaustive.
AUx1 Campus Partners
Scott A. Bass, Formerly of Office of the Provost
Mary Clark, Formerly of Office of Academic Affairs
Jessica Waters, Office of Undergraduate Education
Gail Short Hanson, Formerly of Office of Campus Life
Fanta Aw, Office of Campus Life
Christopher Moody, Formerly of Housing & Residence Life
Lisa Freeman, Housing & Residence Life
Robert Hradsky, Formerly of Office of the Dean of Students
Sara Bendoraitis, Formerly of Center for Diversity & Inclusion
Briana Weadock, AUx Instructor & Director of First Year Advising
Matt Bruno (Bruno), AUx Instructor & Assistant Director of First Year Advising
Senem Bakar, International Student & Scholar Services
Traci Callandrillo, Office of Campus Life
Mark Schaefer, Formerly the University Chaplain
Jennifer Johnson, Orientation, Transition & Retention
Katie Porras, Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution
Mickey Irizarry, Health Promotion & Advocacy Center
Sara Yzaguirre, Formerly of Health Promotion & Advocacy Center
Maya Vizvary, Formerly of Health Promotion & Advocacy Center
Abby Wolfe, Formerly of Health Promotion & Advocacy Center
Regina Curran, Formerly of Title IX
Fariha Quasem, Title IX
Shyheim Snead, AU Alum
Devontae Torriente, AU Alum
Taylor Dumpson, AU Alum
Diego Alemán, AU Alum
Nakeesha Ceran, One Card & Dining Programs
Juliann Winn, Formerly of Academic Support & Access Center
Marianne Thomson, Formerly of Academic Support & Access Center
Gihan Fernando, Career Center
Kiho Kim, CAS Faculty
Lyn Stallings, Formerly of CAS Faculty
Alison Thomas, CAS Faculty
Lacey Wootton, CAS Faculty
Caleen Jennings, Formerly of CAS Faculty and Former Chair of PCDI
Larry Engel, SOC Faculty
Rose Shinko, SIS Faculty
Shirleyne McDonald, Office of Enrollment
Courtney Pollack, AU Abroad
Isaac W. K. Thweatt, Formerly of Office of Alumni Relations
AUx2 Campus Partners
Scott A. Bass, Formerly of Office of the Provost
Mary Clark, Formerly of Office of Academic Affairs
Jessica Waters, Office of Undergraduate Education
Robin Adams, Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Tiffany Speaks, Formerly of Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Michelle Strange, Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Sara Bendoraitis, Formerly of Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Larry Engel, SOC Faculty
Filippo Trevisan, SOC Faculty
Leena Jayaswal, SOC Faculty
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, School of Education
Fanta Aw, Office of Campus Life
Bev-Freda Jackson, SPA Faculty
Andrea Brenner, AUx Creator, Former Director & Former Curriculum Designer
Celine-Marie Pascale, CAS Faculty
Theresa Runstedtler, CAS Faculty
Lily Wong, CAS Faculty
Caleen Jennings, Formerly of CAS Faculty and Chair, PCDI
Juliana Martinez, CAS Faculty
Sarah Trembath, CAS Faculty
Salvador Vidal-Ortiz, CAS Faculty
Gay Young, CAS Faculty
David Vine, CAS Faculty
Eileen Findlay, CAS Faculty
Amanda Choutka, CAS Faculty
David Pike, CAS Faculty
Mike Bader, CAS Faculty
Keith Leonard, CAS Faculty
Noemi Enchautegui-de-Jesus, CAS Faculty
Michele Carter, CAS Faculty
Maria De Jesus, SIS Faculty
Christine Chin, SIS Faculty
Easten Law, SIS Faculty
Malini Ranganathan, SIS Faculty
Maina Singh, SIS Faculty
Derrick Jefferson, Library
Sonya Grier, KOGOD Faculty
Emily Lindsay, KOGOD Faculty
Elijah Fosl, AU Alum
Koji Wieber, AU Alum
Janny Jang, AU Alum
Gabriel Benitez, AU Alum
Krista Chavez, AU Alum
Jaelynne Palmer, AU Alum
Chrissandra Jackson, AU Alum
Serina Williams, AU Student
Raquel Baudrit, AU Alum
Dyani Brown, AU Alum
Salimah Shabazz, AU Alum
Ashley Dejean, AU Alum