Office of Faculty Affairs announces new program fellows

LAWRENCE — Three program fellows have joined the Office of Faculty Affairs at the University of Kansas to support programming initiatives, with an initial term extending through May 2026. 

Spring 2025 Program Fellows: 

• Michael Amlung, associate professor of applied behavioral science  
• Megan Kaminski, professor of English and environmental studies  
• Alcides Velasquez, associate professor of communications studies  

The program fellows will work with the Office of Faculty Affairs on designing and delivering faculty development programming. The goal of the program fellows initiative is to enrich the development of the KU faculty community through innovative and evidence-based programs, broaden Faculty Affairs’ impact and collaborations across the KU community, and grow and develop academic leadership at KU.  

Mary Banwart, associate vice provost for faculty development, mentoring & growth, said the additional capacity and expertise brought to the office’s programming portfolio will further enhance and expand development opportunities for faculty at KU. 

“What we’ve heard, in focus groups and anecdotally, is that faculty are asking for more nuanced programming, specific to the career phase they may be in at any given moment,” Banwart said. “I am excited to expand our programming capacities with our program fellows as we build out just-in-time offerings for all faculty at all career stages.”  

Michael Amlung 

Amlung serves as an associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science. Additionally, he is the associate director of training in the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment and the director of the Behavioral Economics and Addictions Neuroscience Laboratory (BEAN Lab) at KU. His research examines factors that contribute to motivation and decision-making in individuals with substance use disorders, the behavioral and brain basis of motivation to consume alcohol and other drugs, and the effects of environment on addictive behaviors.   

Megan Kaminski 

Kaminski is a professor of environmental studies and English and affiliate faculty in visual art. Her research as a community-engaged poet and essayist focuses on place-based, environmental justice-informed writing, arts and contemplative practices. She has written and co-written multiple books of poetry, essays and photography. Her place-based sound, poetry and art installations have appeared at museums, public gardens and libraries across the country. Her community-engaged research includes three edited volumes of nature poetry and art, as well as hundreds of community workshops, place-based poetry walks and community readings, talks and performances centered on community connection, healing and liberatory futures.   

Alcides Velasquez 

Velasquez is an associate professor of communication studies. Additionally, Velasquez is an associated faculty member with the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies and affiliate faculty with the Institute for Policy & Social Research. His research focuses on understanding the social and political uses of social media and how access and use of new communication technologies can both create inequalities and reduce existing disparities in contemporary societies. His scholarship incorporates concepts and theories from communication, political science, information studies and social psychology.   

The Office of Faculty Affairs supports faculty and faculty leadership in the development of an exceptional learning community at KU. Find opportunities to get involved in faculty development and growth and updates on new opportunities at the OFA’s faculty development and growth page.