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Professors go on sabbatical

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Philosophy associate professor Kevin Aho leaves this fall after his professional developmental leave application was approved for a full academic year.
Full-time faculty members who applied for a professional developmental leave received a letter on Dec. 6 if their applications were approved. A professional development leave is awarded to eligible full-time faculty members who meet certain requirements, and the leaves are only given to increase a faculty member’s value to the University, according to the Florida Gulf Coast University website.
The leave is included in the employee’s annual evaluation. A written report of the accomplishments made during the leave is due within 30 days after returning. Once a faculty member is granted a sabbatical leave, they are not be eligible for another until after an additional three years of continuous service at the University.
FGCU provides full pay for one semester or half pay for a full academic year, which does not include stipends.
“I’m ready to recharge my research batteries,” Aho said who will be headed to The University of Texas Medical Branch as visiting scholar at the Institute for the Medical Humanities. Aho will work on existential approaches to understanding and interpreting mental illness and focusing on the ways in which patients describe their experiences.
No one will take over his position while he is gone, and other full-time faculty professors in the department will cover two of his teaching sections, including senior capstone, Aho explained.
Aho is not the only one leaving FGCU during the next academic year.
Journalism associate professor Lyn Millner’s nine-month contract begins this fall. Millner said the administration will employ qualified adjunct professors to teach three of her sections and, so far, eight people are on the list. One person might teach a single section or two.
The administration will also hire a full-time professor to take over Dr. Rick Kenney’s vacant teaching position as an associate professor of journalism. All final decisions will be made by May, Millner explained.
Assistant professor Judd Cribbs will become the leader for the journalism program while Millner is gone.
Since 2007, Millner has been working on a book about the Koreshans cult, which was centered in Estero in the early 20th century, and will continue working on it during her sabbatical leave.
 

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