The School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) is pleased to share that two of our distinguished faculty in the Department of Kinesiology—Clinical Associate Professor Cassandra Coble, Ph.D. and Professor Donetta Cothran, Ph.D.—have been named members of the historic IU Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching (FACET). Coble and Cothran, both of whom in recent years have won the IU Trustees Teaching Award, will be formally inducted next month at the annual FACET Retreat at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County, Indiana.
For Cothran, teaching has been a passion since childhood when she helped her mother—an elementary school educator—make bulletin boards.
Cothran shares that she is “extremely happy” to learn of her selection after a rigorous application process that included a self-study and a presentation of exceptional teaching methods reviewed by FACET members at both IU Bloomington level and across the entire Indiana University system, with a final review by the Statewide FACET Selection Committee before a final choice is made.
“Teaching is the most important job I have, and I want to get better at it every year for my students. Being surrounded by other individuals who share that goal is inspiring and energizing,” says Cothran. “I think FACET is an honor, but also a responsibility and one that will keep me moving forward on my career path and growth.”
Coble is one of the founding members of the highly successful community outreach Hoosier Sport program and shares that Indiana University Bloomington has provided significant support in developing her pedagogy.
“I have found the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and the Learning Analytics programs to be especially important as I have learned to apply various methods to introduce data-driven methods in the classroom,” says Coble. “The resources across campus—as well as the excellent examples and support of faculty like Dr. Cothran—have allowed me to understand the importance of pedagogical innovation.”
Coble and Cothran are both looking forward to both learning and inspiration from fellow top-quality FACET educators, as well as sharing their professional experience for the benefit of others.
“I’m also excited to contribute to teaching excellence in a broader forum than just my classroom,” says Cothran. “Every student deserves the best instruction possible in every class, but there are many competing demands to that goal. Hopefully I can help other faculty grow in their skills and commitment to exceptional teaching.”
Conferences and publishing service opportunities in the FACET journals are some of the resources that Cothran hopes to leverage. Coble plans to seize the opportunity to share her teaching strategies as a guest on FACET’s "Transformative Teaching" podcast during the 2025–26 academic year, as well as completing peer reviews “to enhance instruction around the institution.”
“I am thrilled to be able to continue my growth as an instructor with the support of such an amazing group of faculty,” adds Cothran.
For more stories on SPH-B students, faculty and staff making a difference locally and worldwide, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.