Linfield University has launched a new center for teaching and learning that reimagines how students learn and how faculty teach. Named CaTaLyst, the center strengthens Linfield’s long-standing commitment to mentorship, academic excellence and student success.
Serving as co-directors of CaTaLyst are:
- Joelle Murray, associate professor and chair of the Department of Physics
- Megan Bestwick, associate professor of chemistry and program coordinator for the biochemistry and molecular biology major
- Yanna Weisberg, professor and co-chair of the Department of Psychology
- Brian Gilbert, professor of chemistry
CaTaLyst is not just a resource — it is a mechanism for innovation. The center offers several ways to support faculty members and their teaching. This includes stipends for course transformations, fellowships to organize endowed lectureships around central themes, and support for active and experiential teaching. Meanwhile, CaTaLyst plans to add more supports for students. One idea is to develop new and integrate with existing peer-to-peer programs, including writing and quantitative reasoning student fellows, to support one another across disciplines.
“CaTaLyst is about action,” Gilbert said. “We’re creating a hub where faculty experiment with teaching, students take ownership of their learning and together we build stronger connections between the classroom and the wider world.”
Made possible by visionary donor support
The creation of CaTaLyst is fueled by a generous gift from Ronni Lacroute, one of Linfield’s most dedicated supporters. Her philanthropy has advanced dozens of academic and cultural initiatives at Linfield. With this gift, her philanthropy is driving a new era of teaching and learning on campus.
“Ronni’s generous support of the liberal arts at Linfield has inspired innovation, creativity and collaboration,” said Joseph Hunter, Linfield’s vice president for university advancement. “Her generosity has supported everything from the arts to cross-disciplinary programming, and CaTaLyst is a natural extension of that vision. It brings together the very best of what Linfield offers — mentorship, hands-on learning and a deep commitment to helping students thrive.”
Linfield plans to establish a physical home for CaTaLyst in the near future. One proposed location is in the university’s former Observatory, transforming the space into a collaborative hub for faculty and students.
“Ronni’s gift makes it possible for Linfield to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning,” Gilbert said. “She has given us the spark we need to keep Linfield at the forefront of student-centered education.”
