Abstract
As a newcomer to faculty development seven years ago, I thought I knew what I was getting into; I thought I could manage the task of promoting excellence in teaching and learning. After all, my field is education, so thinking about teaching comes naturally to me. What I did not know, and have only recently come to understand, is the complexity and reach of the role of faculty developer. The purpose of this article is to shed light on understandings that I have acquired through the work of our center and connect my experience to research on the role of faculty developer, on leadership, and on organizational change. Ultimately, I conclude that if we do our work well in the most apparent areas of engaging with faculty and focusing on teaching and learning, we are more likely to have a meaningful impact on the campus community, especially in a small college setting.