Basas has dedicated her study and service to strengthening the research-to-practice pipeline while building philosophical and collaborative bridges in deaf education.
What is your title on Staff, and what does your position entail?
I am the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. My job is to provide pedagogical support for all faculty and teaching staff through workshops, book clubs, one-on-one mentorship, and in-class support.
How has your professional and educational background informed your work at Flagler?
I have been working in the field of education in some capacity for over 28 years. My experience as a K-12 educator and as a college professor has given me the opportunity to see the field through multiple lenses, which has shaped my professional practice into one that is reflective and founded on mentorship and collaboration.
What do you enjoy most about working at Flagler?
I work with some of the coolest people! I really enjoy learning about my colleagues and finding ways to support them in meaningful ways. My role as CTL director affords me a lot of space for creativity and making connections. I really feel like the luckiest person in the world most days!
Tell us about a recent project or goal you’ve completed within your department that you’re proud of.
I am not sure if there is any one thing that I could pinpoint. What I am most proud of is how the CTL has grown over the past (almost) two years. There are a lot of exciting things on the way (including a new CTL space) and I am excited to continue to grow the center into the space that our amazing Faculty needs and deserves.
Do you have a stand-out memory from working with students or other campus community members?
Working with students is my greatest joy. I am inspired by their enthusiasm for teaching every day and always look forward to our class discussions. The moments that stand out most are when students come back after graduation, or when I see them out in the professional world kicking butt! We have one of the finest Deaf Education programs in the country here at Flagler, and many of our graduates are making lasting impressions in the field years after graduation. There is nothing better than seeing the successes of the students who once sat in your classroom. The best!
What is one thing no one would guess about you?
I hatch and raise my own chickens! I almost always have baby chicks in a brooder in my living room. Their little chirps bring so much joy (and who doesn't love to snuggle baby chicks?!?!?)
Who is someone that inspires you and why?
I am inspired daily by my son, Phillip. He is 7 going on 17, and is continuously joyful, caring, and curious. He always finds a way to help me see the world in positive and beautiful ways and he gives love and care in all that he does. I am the luckiest mama on the planet.
