Faculty Fellows

The Center for Academic Innovation relies on the assistance and insight of its faculty fellows, who serve as a bridge between the faculty and College. 

Katherine Higgs-Coulthard, Ed.D.
Faculty Fellow of Pedagogy
Assistant Professor of Education

Katherine Higgs-Coulthard received her Ed.D. from Northeastern University and has expertise in writing instruction, elementary literacy, and elementary language arts. Her research interests include authentic engagements within elementary writing instruction, literacy strategies, and pedagogical content knowledge for the teaching of writing. She became the CFAI Pedagogy Faculty Fellow in Fall 2021. During that time, Higgs-Coulthard has worked to further develop the Farrell Mentoring program designed with new faculty members in mind. 

Amy Cavender, Ph.D.
Faculty Fellow of Assessment
Associate Professor of Political Science

Amy Cavender received her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, and has research expertise in digital humanities, political implications of the digital, religious pluralism and politics, and liberalism and religion. She became the CFAI Assessment Faculty Fellow in Spring 2022. During that time, Cavender has developed a method by which Saint Mary’s College can report assessment efforts in preparation of our upcoming Higher Learning Commission visit. 

Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.
Faculty Fellow of Research
Professor of Psychology

Bettina Spencer received her Ph.D. from The New School for Social Research located in New York. Her expertise is in social psychology with interests in the intersection of gender and social class, particularly how stereotypes about low-income women influence real-world outcomes. Bettina became the CFAI Research Faculty Fellow in Fall 2022. 

Staff

Terri Hebert, Ed.D
CFAI Director

Terri Hebert received her Ed.D. from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. As Director, it is her responsibility to design and implement professional development opportunities for faculty, as well as manage new faculty onboarding initiatives and internal grant opportunities for both faculty and students. Her areas of expertise are in science education, community engagement, and place-based teaching and learning. She teaches EDUC 303: Teaching Science in the Elementary/Middle School, and leads a Study Abroad Iceland experience for SMC students and alumnae. Hebert has 37+ combined years in public and private education, including K-12 and higher education. 

Patricia K Doyle '69
Sponsored Programs Coordinator

Patti has written federal, state, and local government, foundation, and corporate grants during her 50+year career in healthcare, community involvement in the arts, and academia.  She received a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1969.  She received a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas in 1973.  She is a Board Certified Music Therapist.  Patti is currently the Sponsored Programs Coordinator at Saint Mary’s College assisting faculty in research grants.  

Gretchen Moore '97
Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations

Gretchen Moore received her B.A. in Mass Communications from Saint Mary’s College. She brings two decades of experience in community and economic development to this role, most recently serving as Chief Strategy Officer at the Central Valley Community Foundation in Fresno, CA. At Saint Mary’s, she supports faculty and staff as they apply for and manage grants for programs, projects, scholarships, or strategic (i.e. College) initiatives.

The Center for Academic Innovation
307 Cushwa-Leighton Library
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame IN 46556
(574) 245-5425
cfai@saintmarys.edu