Kaitlin J. “Kait” Farrell is the director of Domestic Field Study. Domestic field study programs provide students with course-based, off-campus experiential learning opportunities throughout the United States. These faculty-led programs are offered by schools and colleges across campus and allow students to make progress toward their degree while immersing themselves in place-based learning.
As the director of DFS, Kait supports current programs and their directors and collaborates with faculty and staff across campus to develop and launch new US-based study away programs. In addition, Kait works to expand the visibility of DFS programs across campus and increase student participation in DFS programs.
Dr. Farrell first got involved in domestic field programs while pursuing her Ph.D. in the Odum School of Ecology at UGA. During summer 2016, she had the opportunity to teach two ecology courses as part of the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program. Spending four weeks living and learning with students that summer convinced Kait that these types of immersive, off-campus courses offered unique and transformational experiential learning opportunities for students as well as course instructors. She has continued her involvement with IFP ever since.
After completing a postdoc at Virginia Tech, Kait returned to UGA in 2019 to join the faculty of the Odum School as an academic professional and the ecology instructional lab coordinator. While in this role, she developed and coordinated lab curricula for two large-enrollment 1000- and 3000-level ecology lab courses while mentoring and training graduate teaching assistants. In August 2023, Dr. Farrell transitioned to a lecturer role in the Odum School, where she now teaches courses focused on building students’ quantitative skills and data literacy.
Kait was appointed as the inaugural Director of DFS in October 2022. In her first year, she launched a Domestic Field Study Advisory Council of DFS program directors, instructors, and program support staff to provide feedback about DFS-related policies and processes. In addition, Kait developed and led an intensive workshop and training series for new program directors–the Domestic Field Study Fellows Program. The first cohort of DFS Fellows met in June 2023 to develop and plan new DFS programs that will launch in 2024.
Kait is always open to hearing from faculty with new DFS program ideas and from students who want to learn more about how DFS can enrich their UGA experience; please email or visit dfs.uga.edu to get in touch.
Office: 138 Ecology
Phone: 706-542-2968
Email: [email protected]
