Cherissa Vitter

The 2023 President’s Award Winner for Excellence in Faculty Service is Cherissa Vitter, assistant professor of IB education. A faculty member since 2015, she is responsible for coordinating the International Education Programme and teaching courses leading to the IB Educator Certificate in Teaching and Learning. Vitter also fosters communication between the University and the IB Organization, completes reviews of online courses, and researches experiential learning online as part of the EL Leadership Team.

“It (service) is not about checking a box or clocking hours. To be service-minded is to integrate service into every part of one’s life,” she said. “My professional service includes several university and college-level committees in addition to accreditation work. Outside of the university I am the president of the Louisiana Association of IB World Schools, responsible for gathering and sharing international data and curriculum updates with IB World Schools in Louisiana.”

Vitter represents the Gulf South in the international education community by participating in World School Association meetings and advocating for the needs of teachers and students in the Southern states. This position, she said, provides a pathway for service in local school systems.

“The recent award of the TQP grant for $5 million will also facilitate opportunities to provide support to our local district partners,” she explained. “Most of my service time is dedicated to the students of Southeastern before, during, and after enrollment. As a member of the graduate faculty, I actively recruit to all graduate programs when participating in an international conference or event.”

Using funds from the Edward Schlieder Endowed Professorship, Vitter has attended IB events where she connects with former students and recruits new candidates to the graduate program. IB courses have also been extended to undergraduate students, which gives her the opportunity to serve the direct student population. She is the academic advisor to all students taking IB courses and advocates for their needs in meetings where she is a committee member, such as the honors committee and the technology committee.

Vitter also supports English language learners as they complete the graduate application process and assists in western idiosyncrasies, such as spring/fall on different hemispheres. She helps the registration process along with fee payments by working closely with graduate admissions and the controller’s office, a relationship that she says is strengthened during the course program and extends beyond completion.

Paul Campbell, head of development, recognition and outreach for the IB Organization, has worked with Vitter for the past seven years and says she has been a tireless advocate for IB education.

“Dr. Vitter is both an exemplary scholar and a dedicated servant in the community,” he said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with her to deliver a world-class international education to as many Louisiana students as we can.”

Moving forward, Vitter plans to expand the reach of the undergraduate program and incorporate the first Study Abroad in the College of Education. As a recent appointee to the Strategic Enrollment Management Task Force, she anticipates further involvement with the recruitment and retention of both undergraduate and graduate students.