By Rachel Crenshaw and Bridgette Sallee, student news writers
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Dr. Frieda Gebert, associate professor of music at Campbellsville University, has spent part of her summer teaching in the Govenor’s Scholars Program at Morehead State University. She’s the first in a decade from Campbellsville University to teach at GSP.
The selection process for joining the faculty is very rigorous including an application and personal interview, Gebert said. In fact, Gebert is only the second member of the CU faculty ever to be chosen besides Dr. Patrick King, a former professor of the School of Education, and she is the first in a decade to be chosen from Campbellsville University.
“This is a great opportunity for me to spread the word about Campbellsville University among our state’s brightest scholars,” Gebert said.
The GSP is a prestigious program that strives to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders.
Gebert has taught two courses at the GSP campus at Morehead State University. However, Gebert will not be teaching her usual subject of music, instead she will put her artistic knowledge to use in another area of study.
“There is only one position in the music category each year at the GSP,” said Gebert. Since the program is committed to having returning members comprise two-thirds of its faculty, only one third of the professors are new each year.
Gebert said this year the music position was not open. However, the selection committee asked her if she could find a way to use her experience in the arts to teach psychology. “Of course!” said Gebert, and quickly proposed a course titled, “The Psychology of Creativity.”
Each GSP students takes two subjects – one in her or his core area of academic interest and one in another as an elective. Gebert’s course is a core course.
“Every teacher at GSP is responsible for teaching two classes during the term,” said Gebert. The first one is chosen by the committee and director. For Gebert, this was the psychology class.
However, the teacher’s second course is one they get to select. Gebert said, “It can be anything, as long as we agree to be fellow learners along with our students.” The teachers can choose any subject (as an elective) that interests them, anything from origami to organic gardening.
“I was identified as a ‘gifted’ child when I was in the eighth grade,” said Gebert as she explained why she wanted to spend her summer participating in GSP.
“I started taking college classes on weekends the next year and completely skipped my senior year of high school. That experience has made me pretty sensitive to gifted students, emotionally and academically.”
Gebert said, “After I finished my doctorate I even went back to graduate school to get a gifted and talented endorsement to my Kentucky teaching certificate; that’s how passionate I am about helping gifted learners.”
Gebert has taught six weeks at Morehead State University Campus where the session ends July 25.
To encourage teacher-student relationships, the faculty members of the GSP are required to stay with their students for the duration of the program. This includes evenings and even weekends.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to help shape the lives of these young people,” said Gebert.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 29 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.