Schreyer Institute consultant available to help instructors grow professionally

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Whether they are designing a new course, refining assessments or seeking feedback on their teaching, Penn State instructors have a dedicated resource to support their professional growth.

Through the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, instructors can schedule confidential, one-on-one consultations with experienced teaching consultants. The conversations are instructor-driven, allowing faculty to seek guidance when they need it and decide how best to apply the insights and recommendations in their own classrooms.

Jonathan Aragon joined Penn State in January 2026 as a faculty consultant at the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence with a specialty in helping instructors create interpersonal learning experiences in which they work with students to construct meaning. Like his Schreyer Institute faculty colleagues, Aragon is a professional faculty developer dedicated to enhancing the work of higher education institutions by holistically supporting teaching at individual and organizational scales. Faculty developers in higher education come to the profession in a variety of ways.

Aragon said both previous scientific training and performing arts experiences have allowed him to have a deeper understanding of classroom environments and group settings.

“Teaching and live performance both require careful preparation, but neither can be completely predetermined,” Aragon said. “You have to be present, pay attention to the room and respond to what is happening. The experience is something we create together. How it feels shapes how we carry that learning into our lives beyond the classroom.”

Aragon said he believes teaching happens between people, not just through exposing students to information. While consulting for the Schreyer Institute, he said he prioritizes relationships, dialogue, belonging, feedback, professional networks and fundamental psychological needs to create effective and supportive learning environments.

“There is no best approach because every instructor, every group of students and every course is different,” Aragon said. “This is what makes this work so exciting. Whether someone is teaching a large class, responding to artificial intelligence or navigating the uncertainties of our changing world, there are always creative possibilities we can explore together.”

Throughout his career as a faculty developer, Aragon has led many opportunities for faculty, including course design retreats, workshops, talks, collaborative teaching and research grant programs. Aragon said he considers himself fortunate to have the opportunity to work with faculty, but he is most proud of his work when it is directly translated into the classroom with students.

“What matters most to me is when I hear from a faculty member who carried forward a piece of meaning from their faculty development experience into their work with students," he said.

Aragon added that he is looking forward to consulting with faculty as a peer and creative partner while identifying and untangling the barriers blocking meaningful learning in the classroom.

Instructors can reach out to a specific consultant or send an email to site@psu.edu. Consultations are free and confidential. Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education.