East Asian Studies Chair Junjie Luo has been named director of the College’s Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL). His three-year appointment begins in May when he assumes the role from Health Sciences Prof. Josef Brandauer, who served from 2020 to 2024.
“It is an honor to take on the role of director at the JCCTL,” Luo said. “The JCCTL stands as a vibrant platform where faculty at Gettysburg College come together to showcase and share their creative teaching practice. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to fostering this invaluable exchange of pedagogical innovation.”
At Gettysburg, Luo has taught Chinese language classes from the first-year through the fourth-year level, an introductory course to Chinese culture and society, and a literature course on Chinese identity. He values interdisciplinary collaboration in teaching. Alongside Economics Prof. Meg Blume-Kohout, he has co-developed and taught a data science course titled Cultural Analytics, which focuses on applying programming skills to textual analysis.
Luo is the author of “Traditional Chinese Fiction in the English-Speaking World: Transcultural and Translingual Encounters” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022), and his essays have appeared in multiple journals, such as Comparative Literature Studies, Perspectives, ISLE, and Translation Quarterly. He has also contributed to edited volumes of “Historic Engagements with Occidental Cultures, Religions, Power” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) and “Philosophy as World Literature” (Bloomsburg Publishing, 2020). His current endeavors in teaching and research seek to link the humanities with technology, with a particular focus on the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI).
The JCCTL, which began in 2001 after Gettysburg received a challenge grant from the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, is a resource for faculty to hone their pedagogical skills, explore collaborative and experiential learning techniques, and incorporate technological innovations into their teaching. Throughout the year, the JCCTL coordinates speakers, programs, and workshops related to teaching; provides teaching-related services for individual faculty members, departments, and programs; and awards creative teaching grants and professional development opportunities.
Over the past year, the JCCTL has created online resources for Gettysburg College faculty and staff on using AI in the classroom. The JCCTL’s proactive approach to preparing Gettysburg’s faculty for AI and its emerging influence in higher education has been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times. Additionally, the JCCTL has partnered with Musselman Library to champion student success through affordable course materials and Open Educational Resources (OER).
By Michael Vyskocil
Photos by Khun Minh Ohn ’19 and Shawna Sherrell
Posted: 04/25/24