Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences creates director of education innovation position

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences has started a new senior-level position, called director of education innovation, and named G. Peter Lepage to fill it.

Lepage is a professor of physics and former dean of the college.

“Peter is a real leader in educational excellence both within the college and nationally. He helped to initiate the Active Learning Initiative (ALI), and we are fortunate that he will be at the helm of the college’s ongoing efforts to expand our engaged learning strategies,” Gretchen Ritter, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts & Sciences, said in a university news release on the Cornell Chronicle website.

Lepage served as co-chair of the working group for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He currently sits on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Association of American Universities’ Undergraduate STEM Education Initiative, and is vice chair of the National Science Board’s Committee on Education and Human Resources.

Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences says that many of its more than 700 instructors use active learning techniques and Lepage says they are improving student learning.

“Active learning models use short lectures in strategic ways, teaching according to how people learn most effectively. Studies show that student-student discussion followed by a lecture results in the best learning. Exercising your knowledge by talking to someone is hugely beneficial in cementing knowledge,” he said in the release.