Chelsie Hawkinson and Nathan Slife (both Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) were selected as the Geoffrey J. Comber Touchstones Teachers of the Year. Hawkinson and Slife revised COE 103, COE 202, and COE 303 curriculum to include various texts published by the Touchstones Discussion Project, a non-profit organization focused on guiding discussions based on collaborative problem solving and shared leadership. Hawkinson and Slife have worked closely with the publishers to learn the discussion approach and to bring Touchstones to UNLV and the local community. 

Last year, Hawkinson participated in the Touchstones Fellows Program and worked with the publishers to create a special Touchstones UNLV edition for COE 103 that focuses on community engagement. Slife brought Touchpebbles, a version designed for elementary school students, to a local elementary school this past summer. This semester, Hawkinson is piloting a Touchstones text called Exploring Ideas in Mathematics to help students more readily talk about math success and anxiety. Slife is teaching a Touchstones text called Completing the Odyssey, specially designed to support Veteran students. 

Through this work, Hawkinson and Slife have demonstrated a desire to empower all people with communication, thinking, and leadership skills that prepare them for success in work, school and life.