That philosophy guided her work as a Chellgren Endowed Professor, an experience she describes as both affirming and transformative.

“Being named a Chellgren Endowed Professor was quite the honor,” Cramer said. “I had seen colleagues engage with Chellgren in meaningful ways, and it was clear to me before I applied that working with this unit was going to be transformative for my career.”

Part of the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, Chellgren Endowed Professors are selected for a three-year, nonrenewable term that recognizes and supports faculty who shape the undergraduate experience at UK through teaching, research and program innovation. The professorship encourages initiatives that raise student aspirations, foster curricular creativity and strengthen collaboration across disciplines.

Reimagining linguistics for non-majors

Cramer’s Chellgren project focused on renovating Introduction to the Study of Language, a high-enrollment linguistics course taken by students across disciplines to fulfill a UK Core requirement. Her goals were twofold: align the course with the “Inquiry in the Social Sciences” requirement and significantly improve its online offering.

Because the course serves primarily nonmajors, Cramer approached the redesign with a central question in mind: how to make linguistics meaningful and accessible to students who may have never encountered the discipline before.

“Students are already experts in language because they use it every day,” she said. “I wanted the course to recognize that expertise and show why linguistics matters in their lives.”

Impact on students

The Chellgren Endowed Professorship provided the ideal framework to launch that transformation. By centering student, teacher and program excellence, the redesigned course has benefited everyone involved.

Students now find the material more engaging and approachable, challenging long-standing perceptions that the course is difficult or abstract. The instructional team has greater flexibility to adapt and refine course materials based on student interests, and the Department of Linguistics has a renewed opportunity to showcase its work to students across the university.

Because LIN 211 fulfills a UK Core requirement, the impact extends far beyond a single department. Cramer and her colleagues hope the redesign will increase awareness of linguistics at UK and encourage more students to explore the major or minor.

Learning through community

For Cramer, one of the most meaningful aspects of the professorship was the opportunity to learn alongside fellow Chellgren Endowed Professors.

“Working with the other Chellgren Endowed Professors was the most fruitful part of the program in terms of growing and learning,” she said. “Seeing how others approach teaching and student engagement pushed me to reflect more deeply on my own work.”

Those exchanges, she said, offered a broader view of undergraduate education at UK and reinforced the value of cross-campus collaboration.

Advice for future Chellgren Endowed Professors

Cramer encourages faculty considering the Chellgren Endowed Professorship to fully embrace the opportunities it provides.

“Many of us have big goals for our classes, but the resources to make major changes can be hard to come by,” she said. “Chellgren offers financial support that turns dreaming into reality, along with intellectual engagement that gives you a wider view of the university.”

She also emphasized the value of participating in the full Chellgren experience, from cohort meetings to student-focused programming, and taking time to appreciate the energy of a community dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education.

“Becoming a Chellgren Endowed Professor means working with high-achieving students and colleagues who want to make UK great,” she said. “Soak in that positive energy and make the most of it.”

Application

Applications are now open for the next cohort of Chellgren Endowed Professors, with the application deadline recently extended. Applications must be submitted electronically by Feb. 15 to chellgrencenter@uky.edu. Final selections will be made by the provost, in consultation with the senior associate provost for administration and academic affairs, from finalists recommended by the Chellgren Endowed Professor Search Committee. The next cohort of Chellgren Endowed Professors will be announced no later than March 1.

Tenured UK faculty with a sustained commitment to undergraduate education are encouraged to apply for this honor, which includes a $5,000 annual stipend for salary or research support during the three-year term. For eligibility details, required materials and selection timeline, visit www.uky.edu/chellgren or email chellgrencenter@uky.edu.

The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence advances UK’s commitment to student, teaching and program excellence. The center supports high-impact learning experiences; mentors students for nationally competitive scholarships; and partners with colleges and programs to strengthen undergraduate education. Learn more at www.uky.edu/chellgren.

This profile is part of a UKNow series highlighting past and current Chellgren Endowed Professors whose work has strengthened the undergraduate experience at UK. Their projects demonstrate how these prestigious appointments elevate teaching, foster student success and advance UK’s national reputation for undergraduate excellence.

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