Christa Craven featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education

Christa Craven, professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and anthropology at The College of Wooster, was recently featured in an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education about the collaboratively designed course she teaches, Feminist Pedagogy in Action.  

The article, which is part of the Chronicle’s Teaching Series, focused on collaborating on course design with students. “It is such an honor to be acknowledged for my teaching in the Chronicle,” Craven said. “I’ve so often looked to their articles for advice on my own teaching, and in my recent role as dean for faculty development, to recommend to colleagues.” 

Feminist Pedagogy in Action is the senior seminar in the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program and the only course at the College that is ungraded: automatically pass/fail for all students. Students collaborate with the instructor to develop the policies, assignments, and final projects. “The name ‘Feminist Pedagogy in Action’ speaks both to the process of co-creating the course, and to the ways that feminist pedagogy can inform student’s experiences whatever paths they take after college,” Craven said. “We all continue learning and teaching (even when we don’t necessarily intend to) throughout our lives and careers. Being able to infuse that with lessons about collaborative pedagogical practices makes for exciting possibilities.” 

Last year, Craven co-taught Feminist Pedagogy in Action with Ahmet Atay, professor of communication studies, women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and global media & digital studies. The eight students in the class collaborated to propose a new global queer studies minor at Wooster. “As faculty whose research centers on LGBTQ+ communities, we’ve wanted to see this for more than a decade,” Craven said. “In the past few years, student interest has grown substantially, so it was important to have their input on what it will ultimately look like and how it can be most meaningful to them.” The first Introduction to Global Queer Studies course will be offered this fall and students can declare the minor next academic year.  

“When students are motivated to design their own projects, process, and contributions, they do truly amazing things,” Craven said.

Posted in News on April 27, 2023.