Summer Serpas
Professor of English
Coordinator of The Hub: Center for Professional Learning
Professor Summer Serpas is the embodiment of the Caring Campus philosophy—leading with empathy, purpose, and a relentless focus on student success. Through her innovative and equity-driven initiatives, she has redefined what it means to create a truly student-centered learning environment.
A champion for belonging, equity, and faculty engagement, Summer has launched a number of strategic efforts that weave the Caring Campus mission into the fabric of everyday teaching. One standout initiative is a professional development series she designed for faculty, centered on creating classroom environments where every student feels a sense of belonging. By fostering a collaborative space for instructors to explore and implement equitable teaching practices, she’s helping transform the student experience from the inside out.
Her reimagining of assessment frameworks is another game-changer. By eliminating punitive late work policies and shifting the focus toward mastery-based learning, Summer ensures that grades reflect what students actually know—not how well they conform to deadlines. This approach is particularly impactful for neurodivergent and historically marginalized students, aligning with equitable grading models that promote fairness and inclusivity.
Summer also leads college-wide workshops and book clubs that dig into critical topics like neurodiversity, anti-racist pedagogy, and accessibility. These efforts aren't just checkboxes—they’re vehicles for deep, systemic change, equipping faculty with the tools they need to serve all students more effectively.
Her work is a direct reflection of the college’s mission to foster equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. Through equitable grading, advocacy for neurodiverse learners, and the cultivation of faculty-student connections grounded in care, Summer is modeling the kind of sustainable, institutional change that moves the needle on student success.
In short: she’s not just teaching English—she’s rewriting the script on what it means to care.