Hello, I'm Lee Skallerup Bessette

Educator • Designer • Technologist

Welcome to my academic portfolio. I am passionate about higher education, digital humanities, and inclusive pedagogy, dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and teaching.

About Me

With over 20 years of experience in higher education and more than a decade in faculty development, I am a dedicated researcher and educator specializing in digital learning, inclusive pedagogy, and academic culture transformation. My work focuses on creating more equitable and innovative educational spaces through technology integration and institutional change.

Currently, I serve as Assistant Director of Digital Learning at the Center for New Designs for Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) at Georgetown University, where I lead signature programs including Digital Learning Days, Digital Learning Webinars, and institutional AI initiatives. I also serve as Editor of the National Teaching and Learning Forum, a leading publication in higher education pedagogy.

My career includes transformative leadership roles at multiple institutions: leading the eLII program at the University of Kentucky (bridging teaching & learning centers with technology analytics), spearheading Domain of One's Own at the University of Mary Washington, and contributing to institutional initiatives including the Working Group on Digital Fluency and digitally intensive general education requirements. I bring extensive experience in SACS accreditation, institutional leadership programs, and public scholarship through platforms like ProfHacker at the Chronicle of Higher Education and my College Ready Writing blog.

Areas of Expertise

Faculty Development Digital Learning Educational Technology Inclusive Pedagogy Academic Culture AI in Education Digital Humanities Higher Education Leadership Public Scholarship

Institutional Leadership & Innovation

Georgetown University CNDLS

Assistant Director for Digital Learning (2021-Present)

  • Digital Learning Days: Designed and lead institution-wide digital learning programs
  • Digital Learning Webinars: Monthly professional development series reaching faculty across the university
  • AI Initiatives: Developed "help or hinder" framework for institutional AI integration
  • Digital Research Initiative: Collaborative programs with GU Library

University of Mary Washington

Instructional Technology Specialist (2015-2018)

  • Domain of One's Own: Led institutional implementation and faculty development
  • Working Group on Digital Fluency: Contributed to digitally intensive general education requirement
  • Faculty Development: Comprehensive digital pedagogy training programs

University of Kentucky

Faculty Instructional Consultant (2014-2015)

  • eLII Program: Led innovative initiative bringing teaching & learning center together with Technology Analytics
  • Digital Pedagogy Integration: Bridged educational technology and faculty development
  • Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Facilitated connections between academic support units

Leadership Development & Service

Multiple Institutions

  • President's Leadership Academy: Class of 2014, Morehead State University
  • SACS Accreditation Experience: Institutional assessment and compliance
  • Editorial Leadership: Editor, National Teaching and Learning Forum
  • Public Scholarship: ProfHacker contributor, College Ready Writing blog

Projects

Digital Pedagogy and Technology

Exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning in digital environments, with focus on accessibility, equity, and meaningful educational technology integration.

Digital Pedagogy Educational Technology Online Learning

Neurodivergence and Mental Health

Research and advocacy around neurodivergence, mental health, and creating inclusive academic environments that support diverse minds and experiences.

Mental Health Neurodivergence Inclusive Education

The Future is Minimal (Computing)

Advocating for minimal computing approaches in education technology to promote digital equity, sustainability, and accessible learning environments.

Minimal Computing Digital Equity Sustainability

Creative Works

A collection of creative projects including digital art, interactive media, design work, and experimental expressions that blend technology with artistic vision.

Digital Art Interactive Media Design

Workshops & Presentations

Current

Georgetown University Workshop Series

Georgetown University - CNDLS

Regular workshop series including: Introduction to Domains, Dynamic Lecturing, Getting Started in Canvas, IC 101, Digital Learning Days Series, and Webinar Series.

Faculty Training Educational Technology
2023

The Future is Minimal

Reclaim Open

Presentation on minimal computing approaches in digital learning and their implications for equitable education technology.

Minimal Computing Digital Equity
2021

Online Learning in the Humanities: Lessons Learned

MLA 2021 (with Roopika Risam, Robin DeRosa, and Jason B. Jones)

Panel discussion on effective strategies for teaching humanities courses in online environments.

Online Learning Humanities
2020

Active Learning Online - Strategies for Engagement

Misericordia University

Workshop on implementing active learning techniques in virtual classroom environments to maintain student engagement.

Active Learning Student Engagement
2020

Teaching Writing Online

Skidmore College

Professional development workshop focused on adapting writing instruction for digital learning environments.

Writing Instruction Online Teaching
2020

From Triage to Wellness: Creating Pedagogical Priorities in a Time of Uncertainty

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit (with Jennifer Friberg and Nancy Chick)

Collaborative presentation on sustainable teaching practices during crisis periods.

Crisis Pedagogy Faculty Wellness
2019

Embedded in the Fabric: Domains and the Learning, Design, and Technology Program

Domains 2019

Presentation on integrating Domain of One's Own into academic programs and institutional culture.

Domains Digital Identity
2018

Building your Academic Digital Identity

DHSI 2018

Workshop on developing professional online presence and digital scholarship practices for academics.

Digital Identity Professional Development
2018

Incorporating Digital Fluency

Digital Pedagogy Lab 2018

Hands-on workshop on integrating digital literacy skills into curriculum design and assessment.

Digital Fluency Curriculum Design
2017

Transforming the Workshop With and Through Design Thinking

Educause ELI (with Chris Rice)

Interactive session on applying design thinking principles to faculty development and workshop design.

Design Thinking Faculty Development

Recent Publications

2024

Minimal Computing and Ed-Tech

Learning, Media and Technology (Special Issue)

Co-edited special issue with Roopika Risam exploring minimal computing approaches in educational technology for equity and sustainability.

Minimal Computing Educational Technology Digital Equity
2023

"There's no normal to get back to': The state of Higher Ed"

Public Books

Analysis of higher education's transformation post-COVID and the need for systemic change rather than returning to previous models.

Higher Education COVID-19 Institutional Change
2022

Digital Redlining, Minimal Computing, and Equity

Critical Digital Pedagogy – Broadening Horizons, Bridging Theory and Practice

Chapter examining how digital inequities mirror historical redlining practices and proposing minimal computing as a solution for educational equity.

Digital Equity Minimal Computing Critical Pedagogy
2020

Affective Labor: The Need for, and Cost of, Workplace Equanimity

EDUCAUSE Review

Examining the emotional and psychological demands placed on higher education professionals and the institutional costs of expecting workplace composure.

Affective Labor Higher Education Workplace Culture
2021

Affective Labor and Faculty Development: COVID-19 and Dealing with the Emotional Fallout

Journal on Centers for Teaching and Learning

Co-authored with Susannah McGowan, examining the emotional labor required of faculty developers during the pandemic transition.

Faculty Development Affective Labor COVID-19
2020

5 Myths About Remote Teaching in the Covid-19 Crisis

Chronicle of Higher Education

Co-authored with Nancy Chick and Jennifer C. Friberg, debunking common misconceptions about emergency remote teaching during the pandemic.

Remote Teaching COVID-19 Crisis Pedagogy

Published Books

OF MANY
MINDS
Neurodiversity & Mental Health

Of Many Minds: Neurodiversity and Mental Health Among University Faculty and Staff

Rebecca Pope-Ruark, Lee Skallerup Bessette

An exploration of neurodiversity and mental health in academic environments, offering insights and strategies for creating more inclusive university communities.

Johns Hopkins University Press
AFFECTIVE
LABOR
Alt-Ac Careers

Affective Labor and Alt-Ac Careers

Lee Skallerup Bessette

Examining alternative academic careers and the emotional labor involved in reimagining professional paths beyond traditional academia.

University Press of Kansas
A JOURNEY
IN
TRANSLATION
Anne Hébert's Poetry

A Journey in Translation: Anne Hébert's Poetry in English

Lee Skallerup Bessette

A scholarly exploration of French-Canadian poetry translation, focusing on the works of Anne Hébert and their English translations.

University of Ottawa Press
TWIST
WEAVE
UNTANGLE
Critical Pedagogue

Twist, Weave, Untangle: The Making of a Critical Pedagogue

Lee Skallerup Bessette

A reflective memoir on developing critical pedagogical practices and the journey toward becoming an engaged educator.

Self-Published
LEARNING
TO
BREATHE
Mental Health Journey

Learning to Breathe: A Mental Health Journey

Lee Skallerup Bessette

A personal and professional exploration of mental health in academia, offering insights and strategies for well-being in academic careers.

Self-Published
DANY
LAFERRIÈRE
Essays On His Works

Dany Laferrière: Essays On His Works

Lee Skallerup Bessette (Editor)

This collection of essays examines the body of work of Quebec writer Dany Laferrière through various critical and analytic lenses. Issues such as identity, privilege, memory, exile and return are explored in relation to his writing.

Guernica Editions
ANNE
HÉBERT
Essays on Her Works

Anne Hébert: Essays on Her Works

Lee Skallerup Bessette (Editor)

Anne Hébert made Quebec literature internationally known. This collection of essays is a tribute to Hébert's literary grace and power as an author, exploring her poems, stories and novels that brought the passion and mysteries of rural Quebec to wider audiences.

Guernica Editions

Teaching

Teaching Philosophy: Care-Centered & Peer-Driven Pedagogy

My teaching philosophy is grounded in care-centered pedagogy—meeting students where they are, understanding the real challenges they face, and creating meaningful learning experiences regardless of constraints. Drawing from over two decades of experience across diverse educational contexts, from traditional universities to correctional education programs, I believe that meaningful learning happens when we prioritize care, flexibility, and inclusive design.

Central to my practice is peer-driven learning, an approach I developed and refined over multiple semesters that transforms students from passive recipients to active collaborators in their education. Instead of the traditional "banking model," I create classroom environments where students drive their own learning through collaboration, play, and authentic engagement with material that matters to them. This approach honors student autonomy while maintaining high standards, fostering what Daniel Pink identifies as the key motivators: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

I approach educational technology as a tool for enhancing human connection rather than replacing it, inspired by the same spirit that made Sesame Street revolutionary: using innovative approaches to reach learners where they are, with careful attention to research, representation, and equity. My courses emphasize digital literacy, collaborative learning, and the value of diverse perspectives in academic discourse, always with an eye toward creating accessible and sustainable learning environments.

Digital Studies

Graduate & Undergraduate

Courses exploring digital tools, methodologies, and critical approaches to technology in academic and professional contexts.

Digital Tools Critical Technology Studies Digital Humanities
Explore Digital Studies

Writing Studies

All Levels

Academic and professional writing courses emphasizing digital literacy, multimodal composition, and inclusive pedagogical practices.

Composition Digital Writing Rhetoric
Explore Writing Studies

Languages and Literature

Graduate & Undergraduate

Comparative literature, French language, and world literature courses focusing on cultural analysis and critical interpretation.

Comparative Literature French Language World Literature
Explore Languages & Literature

Graduate & Professional Development

Graduate & Professional

Empowering educators through care-centered pedagogy, instructional technology, and innovative teaching practices across diverse contexts.

Faculty Development Instructional Technology Care-Centered Pedagogy
Explore Graduate Development

Curriculum Vitae

Download Full CV

Get the complete version of my curriculum vitae with detailed information about my academic background, research, and achievements.

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Education

Ph.D. in Comparative Literature

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2001 - 2007

Dissertation: Found in translation: the journey of Anne Hébert's poetry in(to) English

M.A. in Comparative Canadian Literature

Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, 2000 - 2003

B.A. in English Studies with Specialization in Professional Writing

Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, 1996 - 1999

Professional Appointments

Assistant Director for Digital Learning

Center for New Designs for Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS), Georgetown University, 2021 - Present

Learning Design Specialist

CNDLS, Georgetown University, 2018 - 2021

Editor, National Teaching and Learning Forum

Wiley Publishing, 2021 - Present

Instructional Technology Specialist

Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies, University of Mary Washington, 2015 - 2018

Instructional Designer

Learning Innovation Center, Lambton College, Sarnia, Ontario, 2017 - 2018

Faculty Instructional Consultant

Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, University of Kentucky, 2014 - 2015

Full-Time Instructor

Department of English, Morehead State University, 2010 - 2014

Assistant Professor

Department of English, Florida A&M University, 2008 - 2009