Introducing DU’s 4D Experience Co-Directors
Dear DU community,
One of the University’s Five Strategic Imperatives is our commitment to providing students with a unique, global, holistic experience. The 4D Experience, currently in its pilot and development phase, is the foundation on which we will accomplish that goal.
To help lead 4D and grow the pilot, we are pleased to announce we have hired two 4D co-directors.
Introducing the 4D Faculty Co-Director
Dr. Laura E. Sponsler has been appointed the 4D faculty co-director. Dr. Sponsler will hold this role in conjunction with her current role as clinical assistant professor in the Higher Education Program at the Morgridge College of Education. She is also currently serving as the resident scholar for teaching and professional faculty in the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Previously, Dr. Sponsler worked at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, where she served as the director of civic learning initiatives and as a fellow for civic learning and democratic engagement. Dr. Sponsler holds a PhD in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania, a MSEd in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in biology from Saint Joseph’s University.
Introducing the 4D Staff Co-Director
The staff co-director, Dr. Laura Perille, comes to DU from Georgetown University where she held the position of associate director of the Center for Research and Fellowships. In this role, she designed and oversaw high-impact, co-curricular opportunities. Previously, Dr. Perille worked at the University of New Hampshire as an associate with the Office of National Fellowships and the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. There, she coordinated the signature university-wide Undergraduate Research Conference. Dr. Perille holds a PhD and AM in history from Brown University, where she was a Peter Green Doctoral Scholar and Brown/Wheaton Faculty Fellow. She received a BA in history and English from Colby College.
About 4D
Over the past year, the first cohort of 4D students has participated in a wide variety of holistic programming, including dedicated First-Year Seminar courses (FSEM) and co-curriculum designed to help students advance intellectual growth, explore character, promote well-being, and pursue careers and lives of purpose. Our ambition is that 4D will be the DU experience—allowing every student to receive the holistic education they need to become resilient, driven champions of the public good.
Drs. Perille and Sponsler will begin their co-directorships this summer. As a team, they will oversee the leads of each of the four dimensions and work closely with the 4D associate director and project manager and with advisory boards comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and students. The co-directors will be supervised and advised by Mary Clark, provost and executive vice chancellor, Todd Adams, vice chancellor of student affairs and Brandon Buzbee, associate vice chancellor of advancement.
We want to thank the members of the search committee for lending their time and expertise in this process:
Todd Adams, vice-chancellor of student affairs
Mary Clark, provost and executive vice chancellor
Kyle Inselman, assistant director, career and professional development
Jennifer Karas, vice provost for academic affairs
Sarah Pessin, professor and president of faculty senate
Audrey Moreno, assistant director of student engagement
Thomas Walker, director of inclusion and equity education
Please join us in welcoming Laura Perille and Laura Sponsler as they assume leadership of the 4D Experience.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner, chancellor
Mary Clark, provost and executive vice chancellor
Todd Adams, vice chancellor of student affairs
Brandon Buzbee, associate vice chancellor for advancement