Senator Spotlight October 2016

The October 2016 Senator Spotlight is on Kristin Hoffner

What unit do you represent?  

Exercise Science and Health Promotion: Kinesiology

How many years have you served on the Senate?

I served as a senator for Kinesiology from 2010-2013 and have served as president-elect and president of the downtown campus faculty senate from 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 respectively.   

How many years have you been employed at ASU? 

I have been employed here since 2003

What other institutions have you taught at before coming to ASU?

My entire career has been spent at ASU. I worked here as a teaching assistant from 2003-2006, a faculty associate, and was hired on as full time faculty in 2008.    

What is your research and/or creative activities focus?  

My area is in sport, exercise and health psychology. My interests are performance psychology, effects of exercise on mental health, motivation, and health behavior change.

Why did you decide to get involved with the Senate?

I decided to get involved in the senate because I knew it would be a valuable and interesting way to fulfill my service duties for the department. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my time as a senator, and later decided to run for a leadership position in the senate to broaden my knowledge of the university and get more involved in faculty affairs. It has been a great decision, and has opened my eyes to all of the things happening “behind the scenes” to make Arizona State a leading university.

Describe what you have learned during your time on the Senate. 

During my time on the senate, I have learned a lot more about how a university works. I have gained insight in to the perspectives of the administrators and other faculty members, and expanded my mindset when it comes to the function of a university like Arizona State University. I have learned about many of the things that our university offers, from edX classes, to international partnerships - things I feel that I would not have been as knowledgeable about without spending time on the senate. I have been able to offer insight and vote on important issues that impact all faculty, and voice particular concerns from our college specifically. I have learned more about faculty governance, and felt like an active participant in the process.   

What committees have you participated in, or would like to participate in and what were you able to (or hope to) accomplish.

The main committee I have participated in as a part of the senate has been the Transfer Matters Steering Committee, where I served as the chair of the faculty dimension committee. We produced a comprehensive report assessing the current state of ASU with regard to the transfer student experience. Specifically we gathered both qualitative and quantitative data to investigate current perceptions and expectations of faculty members towards transfer students, available trainings for faculty members, current faculty and transfer student interactions, and forms of recognition for faculty for providing enriching transfer student experiences. We submitted a report of our findings, which contributed to a larger final report based on the “Foundations of Excellence” protocol.

What would you say to your peers who might be considering accepting a nomination or nominating themselves for a position on the Senate?

To anyone considering running for and/or accepting a nomination for a position in the senate: Please do it! It allows you to fully participate in faculty governance, and ensures that your voice is heard when it comes to important issues impacting our faculty and our university as whole. It helps with giving you a greater understanding of how the university works, and gives you opportunities to interact with other colleagues, as well as high level administrators and members of the Arizona Board of Regents.