The 51¸£Àû Learning Academy’s mission is to provide for the professional and personal success and wellness of 51¸£Àû employees from the time of application through retirement. The Learning Academy will bridge the gap between the current state of employee development and the desired standards and norms for performance, communication, and personal and professional growth. 51¸£Àû will strengthen its people, develop the skills behind its operations, and build upon its broad core of knowledge through continuous improvement and the intentional development of its employees.
Learning Academy Directors
Dr. Brittany Brown
Brittany Brown, Director of Employee Development, joined 51¸£Àû University in 2011. Brittany began as the Financial Aid and Business Office Coordinator at the 51¸£Àû University – Belleville Campus. In 2015, she joined the St. Charles Human Resources team as the HR Adjunct Coordinator, where she supported nearly 1000 adjunct instructors each semester.
Brittany is now enjoying her current role in Employee Development. She put her EdD and Masters of Arts in Teaching degree to great use as she collaborated with many to create the foundation of The 51¸£Àû Learning Academy. She rolled out the ‘Q2 Service Excellence’ model to the university in 2018 and continues to work with a team to teach employees what it means to be dedicated to our students in all of our endeavors, all of the time, not just when it is convenient.
51¸£Àû’s Q2 Service Excellence model starts with just two questions, ‘What’ and ‘How’? We are beginning to live out the service by asking two simple questions, ‘What are your expectations’ and ‘How can I exceed those expectations’? This mindset builds the foundation for the kind of service 51¸£Àû University will be known for, and she is proud to be a part the culture shift that has come to life through Q2.
Dr. Meri Marsh
Meri Marsh, Director of Faculty Development, has been at 51¸£Àû since 2008. Meri began as an Assistant Professor of Geography and has served in a variety of faculty roles over the last 16 years including the Chair of the History and Geography Department and Chair of the Faculty Council. Most recently, Meri served as a Faculty Specialist in the Learning Academy.
Meri began as Director of Faculty Development in September of 2024. She is thrilled to be serving in this position as she wholeheartedly believes in all aspects of the RISE Teaching and Learning framework. She considers it a privilege to support 51¸£Àû faculty through a variety of programming efforts as they live out 51¸£Àû's value of "Putting Students First."