Dagni Bredesen, associate professor of English, has been selected as the new interim director of faculty development.

In choosing the new appointment, Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he appealed to the university to submit nominations. He then asked the Faculty Development Advisory Committee to interview those individuals who expressed interest. From three candidates who expressed interest in the position, Bredesen was chosen.

“(Bredesen) brings to her new assignment enthusiasm, energy, creativity and a keen sense of what might work well for faculty development at this time in Eastern’s history,” Lord said. “I look forward to working with her to refocus the office so that it can meet best the needs of our faculty.”

In addition to providing leadership for the programs and initiatives of the office, she also will be responsible for revisiting and reshaping the functions of the office to support Eastern’s faculty members best in the years ahead, according to Karen Johnson, administration assistant for academic affairs, in an issued press release.

Bredesen said she is pleased to have the opportunity to serve the campus community in her new appointment.

Bredesen received her bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria in British Columbia in 1980. She earned her master’s degree in literature at the University of California in San Diego in 1993 and earned her doctorate in English from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1999.

She arrived at Eastern in 2001 where she began teaching in the English department as an assistant professor. She was later promoted to associate professor in 2006.

In addition to being a member of the English department, Bredesen is a faculty member in the women’s study minor and has served as both the representative and chair for College of Arts and Humanities on the International Education Council.

Bredesen has been very involved in promoting study abroad at the university and has directed three short-term faculty-led programs in Cape Town, South Africa in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

In addition to her travels to South Africa, Bredesen has also been to the United Kingdom, where she directed a summer program at Harlaxton College in 2006 and taught for a semester at the same university in 2009.

Along with her study abroad efforts, Bredesen serves on the Advisory Committee of the Inter-Disciplinary Center for Global Diversity and has recently become affiliated with the New EIU Humanities Center, serving on the speakers series committee.

To her new appointment, she plans to bring her experience as a faculty member deeply committed to teaching and research that is also actively engaged in service to the university, she said.

“As a whole, my experience in various interdisciplinary units will stand me in good stead as I seek to support my colleagues in the different dimensions of their work,” she added.

While Bredesen has acquired a wealth of knowledge from her various positions and experiences, she recognizes that she has much to learn concerning, “how they would best like to be supported as they seek to fulfill their professional aspirations and the mission of the university.”

Bredesen will officially take her position on Jan. 1.

Shelley Holmgren can be reached at 581-7942 or meholmgren@eiu.edu