By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Prof. Kay Arden Gallo, alongside her GTA cohort and their supervising professors, Dr. Ryan Shepherd and Professor Eric Hoffman, following their teaching demonstration on August 23, 2024.
Central Philippine University (CPU) places a strong emphasis on the professional development of its faculty and staff, recognizing them as the cornerstone of the institution’s success and influence. The Faculty and Staff Development Program at CPU is crafted to offer advanced growth opportunities and resources, supporting the university’s diverse community of educators and administrative professionals. By investing in its people, CPU ensures its educational standards remain high, while its staff stay motivated and well-equipped to navigate the evolving educational landscape.
Prof. Kay Arden Gallo, a dedicated faculty member in the Department of Languages, Mass Communication, and Humanities (DLMCH), exemplifies the transformative impact of the said development program. Currently, as a first-year PhD student in English at Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, Illinois, USA, Prof. Gallo’s journey reflects how CPU’s support can help academic professionals become trailblazers in their respective fields.
Along with Prof. Gallo’s fellow international graduate students and GTAs of the English Department.
Prof. Gallo began her teaching career at CPU in 2011 as a part-time faculty member in DLMCH. By 2016, she had earned her Master’s in Education (MEd) in English as a Second Language from the University of the Philippines Visayas, leading to her appointment as a full-time faculty member at the University Senior High School. In 2018, after a ten-month professor exchange program at Korea University of Media Arts in Sejong, South Korea, she returned to DLMCH. Her various roles at CPU include her recent position as Director of the Local and International Linkages and Affiliations Center (LILAC).
“My experience as a Fulbright scholar under the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) grant, encouraged me to pursue a doctoral degree in the United States specifically at Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, Illinois, USA, my host school when I was an FLTA,” she said in an online interview. “Currently, I am one of the two Filipino PhD students at the NIU’s English Department where I also serve as one of the Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) teaching Rhetoric and Composition 1, a course required to undergraduate students.”
Reflecting on her challenges, Prof. Gallo mentioned uncertainty about receiving full approval for her proposal but could not recall significant obstacles during her preparation. She emphasized her goal to complete her PhD on time, contribute new knowledge to the field of language and teaching, and increase the number of CPU faculty members with a PhD degree.
When she was asked about her plan to share the outcome of the said program with the Centralian community: “Through teaching. I hope and pray that I finish my PhD on time so I can be back to the university after and teach CPU students again. I have always been a firm believer of helping the community through education. For me, teaching in the Philippines is my way of serving God and the country.”
The faculty development program at CPU played a crucial role in her journey, particularly by helping cover part of her living expenses in the US. When accepted into the PhD program, Prof. Gallo secured a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), which funded both her tuition and living expenses. She was grateful that the faculty development program approved her proposal to address additional costs.
As Prof. Gallo continues her studies, she remains connected to CPU, reflecting on how the faculty development program shaped her path. “First, a lot of professional development opportunities are available, and the only way to know if you’ll be qualified is by going through the application process. Second, the University is extremely supportive when it comes to our professional growth, and all we need to do is ask for assistance. Finally, while it is true that exciting doors will open when you start pursuing further studies and after we have earned our degrees may we remember to give back to Central Philippine University, the institution that has allowed these opportunities to come our way.”
The remarkable story of Prof. Gallo serves as an inspiring example of how CPU supports its faculty and staff in which it can open doors, bridge new opportunities, and transform careers. Her experience highlights the profound impact such programs can have on faculty members, ultimately benefiting the wider academic Centralian community and enriching the educational experiences of students around the globe.