Perhaps most notably, Bodily’s leadership is deeply informed by her understanding of what it means to begin in community college. As an SLCC alumna herself, she embodies the transformative potential of accessible education and serves as a living example for her students — especially her daughters, for whom she hopes to model what education and ambition can achieve. Building Foundations and Visibility Monica Chandler brings complementary strengths to the department’s leadership. Born in Brazil, Chandler is also an SLCC alumna who transferred to the University of Utah, where she earned her Master of Architecture. She became licensed after 14 years of professional work with firms such as Architectural Nexus and FFKR Architects before shifting her focus to education. Chandler began teaching at SLCC as an adjunct in 2018, quickly developing a reputation for student-centered instruction and curricular precision. Since becoming a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor and department coordinator, Chandler has led a thorough and thoughtful curriculum overhaul — redefining course outcomes, aligning course numbers and titles with state-wide systems, and reinforcing articulation agreements with key transfer institutions. Her revisions to the architecture history sequence have given students a stronger grounding in architectural vocabulary, theory and cultural context — preparing them not just to transfer, but to think critically as emerging designers. In response to Utah’s evolving general education requirements, Chandler introduced new architecture-specific courses that build student competency in design software, visual communication and presentation techniques — skills that had previously received limited formal attention in the curriculum. Her leadership has made a measurable difference in student attendance, retention and portfolio quality. Chandler also recognized the importance of teaching presence and flexibility in the digital age. She partnered with SLCC’s eLearning division to develop and refine online and hybrid courses, completing multiple certifications in digital pedagogy. These efforts have not only supported diverse learning styles but have also expanded the department’s reach and resilience. As coordinator — the first woman to hold this role in the department’s 30-year history — Chandler oversees course scheduling, faculty onboarding, program assessment, inventory, student workers and resource allocation. Her dedication has extended beyond administration into the public face of the department: She has elevated its visibility by curating student work in campus hallways, digital displays and social media platforms, while also maintaining a current stream of events and transfer information. Her work earned her the Outstanding First-Year Full-Time Faculty Award and a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning fellowship, where she is currently researching the applications of AI in architectural history and design instruction. National Engagement and Strategic Alliances Under Bodily and Chandler’s leadership, the SLCC Architecture Department has made substantial strides toward national professional integration. One of the most transformative shifts has been their department-wide participation in the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), which has connected SLCC faculty to a national network of educators and resources. Attendance at ACSA conferences and webinars has exposed SLCC to pedagogical trends, student work and course models from across the country, directly informing the structure and content of its evolving curriculum. In addition, the department has joined the Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP), a peer organization that offers critical support 26 REFLEXION
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==