Empowering HBCU Educators with Cutting-Edge Technology

Dr. Takisha Durm, a two-time graduate of Alabama A&M University and assistant professor of Education, has been selected for the 2024-2025 HBCU Faculty Fellows Academy (HFFA). Launched by the PROPEL Center, an innovation technology hub for HBCUs, HFFA offers faculty members year-long professional development training aimed at enhancing teaching skills, integrating Apple technology to boost student success, and expanding professional networks.

“I am tremendously excited for this opportunity as I understand the increasing role technology will play in all our lives, particularly in the lives of educators,” said Durm. “I want to ensure A&M students have access to cutting-edge technologies that will enable them to excel in their careers. Being a Propel Fellow not only allows me to grow in my craft and my passion for all things Mac/Apple, but also brings visibility to the University. In addition to the Fellows component, Propel offers a student component, and I hope to open doors for my fellow Bulldogs.”

Originally from Childersburg, Alabama, Durm considers herself a Huntsville native. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership since 2018. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Alabama A&M, Durm holds a Master of Educational Leadership from UAB and a Ph.D. in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. She is a proud mother of four daughters, one of whom will start her journey at Alabama A&M as an English major in the fall.

Durm applied for HFFA after being named a Whisenton Public Scholar through the Kettering Foundation and looks forward to exploring the latest technology.

“We will start in the fall, diving into various aspects of technology and technological research,” said Durm. “There are multiple areas of interest, but I am particularly keen on learning more about AI and how we can harness it as a tool in higher education. I am also excited about collaborating with other Fellows from various HBCUs and attending the conference in San Antonio, where I hope to gain more insights on my areas of interest.”

Eager to share her knowledge with her students, Durm says they are the reason she enjoys teaching at AAMU.

“This is my alma mater first, so I am a Bulldog through and through, but seeing the growth and development of my fellow Bulldogs is what I enjoy most about teaching at AAMU,” she says. “Commencements are my favorite events of the year. I get teary-eyed seeing the number of first-generation graduates we continue to produce - it never gets old. As a first-generation graduate myself, it is awe-inspiring to be part of something that is ‘rich in heritage divine.’”