By Olivia Williams
Dr. Becki Bowman and Professor Ami Martinez have both been approved to take a sabbatical during the 2025-2026 academic year. A sabbatical is a period of paid leave granted to a professor for the purpose of professional advancement. According to the McPherson College Faculty Handbook, professors may apply for a sabbatical “at the beginning of their sixth year of employment.” This time can be used for a variety of things, and although students may miss their professors, the work that they complete during sabbatical is important for their program. Bowman and Martinez will be missed during their semester off, but both have exciting projects in the works.
Dr. Becki Bowman is a Professor of Communication at McPherson College. Bowman plans to take her sabbatical in the fall of 2025. In an interview, Bowman shared that she has a three-fold plan for her leave. She plans to (1) complete faculty development and some micro-credentialing courses, (2) visit nonprofit organizations in central Kansas to network and potentially set up internship opportunities for students, and (3) use the knowledge that she gains to create new courses for the Social Justice & Advocacy major at McPherson College.
Professor Ami Martinez is an Associate Professor of English at McPherson College. Martinez will take her sabbatical in the spring of 2026 and plans to work on her Ph.D. dissertation about academic honesty. She also would like to conduct research on female prisoners in the state of Kansas and their access to reading materials. Martinez began looking into the treatment of female prisoners as a personal interest a few years ago and has now begun considering how to incorporate literature into their routines as a means of enrichment and rehabilitation. Martinez also shared that she is excited to have more time to practice her violin and reconnect with the joy of playing.
Bowman and Martinez agree that after working at McPherson College for many years, they are excited to focus on their research interests without worrying about teaching. Hopefully, this time off allows them to gain some much-needed rest and discover ways that the humanities programs can be improved.
