How Tatiana Andriienko-Genin is Turning Faculty Growth Into Her Next Great Lesson

The most influential people in our lives don’t just lead, they lift. They show up when it matters and raise the bar for everyone around them.

That’s exactly the spirit behind Westcliff’s CORE Faculty Team Leads — a powerhouse group of educators chosen not just for their expertise, but for their ability to elevate others. These faculty leaders are more than support experts, they are the peer mentors driving innovation and connection across all of Westcliff’s colleges. Their role? Coach. Problem-solve. Encourage. Rethink. Repeat.

This year’s new class is already making waves, and Tatiana Andriienko Genin, D.Sc., Ph.D., M.B.A., M.A., assistant professor in the College of Business, stands out as a voice shaping what’s next. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education and institutional leadership, Dr. Andriienko-Genin brings a deep commitment to fostering growth among both students and colleagues.

“When I found out I was selected, it was a mix of pride and humility,” she said. “The selection process wasn’t easy, so it was a happy moment for me. I’m looking forward to sharing some of my experiences with my peers.”

For Dr. Andriienko-Genin, the title is just the beginning. She steps into this role with an open heart, ready to support her colleagues and enhance the learning experience for students.

The Heart of the Role: Mentorship

Dr. Andriienko-Genin has navigated the chaos of teaching through a global pandemic — an experience that reshaped how she thinks about connection, community, and growth. Now, as a CORE Faculty Team Lead, she brings that perspective into a role centered on something she values deeply: mentorship.

“The pandemic really was a challenging time, but along my journey, I met people who were able to support, advise, and inspire me,” she said. “When you receive such gifts like mentorships, of course you want to pay it forward.”

Dr. Andriienko-Genin sees mentorship not as a one-size-fits-all model, but as a dynamic relationship built on trust, curiosity, and mutual respect. Her goal is to create space for honest reflection and shared learning, helping faculty feel both supported and empowered in their craft. Whether she is offering guidance on curriculum, collaborating on classroom challenges, or simply showing up to listen, Dr. Andriienko-Genin brings the same compassion and care her mentors once gave her.

“I will be happy if I see my mentees grow, the faculty grow,” she said. “If I see them achieve their goals — and most importantly, if I see them wanting to do more, wanting to create, wanting to learn more — that’s what education is about.”

For Dr. Andriienko-Genin, mentoring is not just about improving teaching; it is about investing in people because when faculty thrive, the ripple effect reaches every student they teach.

That same spirit of support does not stop with her colleagues; it extends right back to where it all begins — the classroom. The ultimate goal is to create a better learning experience for students, because when instructors feel confident, connected, and inspired, that energy reaches every learner they teach.

Students First, Always

If a classroom doesn’t spark curiosity — and maybe even a little joy — Dr. Andriienko-Genin believes it is time to rethink everything.

“I want the students to enjoy learning,” she said. “If they enjoy it, they’ll want to keep going. If they don’t, filling their heads with facts and stats won’t help. They’ll forget it the moment the class ends.”

That belief shapes her entire approach to teaching. Dr. Andriienko-Genin focuses on creating environments where students feel safe to ask questions, challenge ideas, and grow as a whole. She centers the student experience, not the lecture, and encourages active learning in every session. To her, the best kind of learning is personal.

That passion for teaching goes all the way back to her earliest days in Ukraine, where she spent more than a decade training future English teachers. “In one generation, we came to almost universal literacy in English,” she said proudly. “I know how to help people learn something that feels impossible, and love it while they do.”

Whether she is mentoring faculty or teaching a course, Dr. Andriienko-Genin leads with one mission: to make learning feel not only possible, but exciting. And now, as a CORE Faculty Team Lead, she brings that same student-centered mindset to the faculty she supports — because when educators thrive, students benefit the most.

A Blooming Purpose

Some people teach. Dr. Andriienko-Genin lives it. “Teaching is not only my profession,” she said. “It’s my hobby. It’s my passion.”

And when she’s not mentoring or in the classroom, you might find her tending to her balcony garden. “I love everything that is alive, that is growing, that is responding to whatever I give to it,” she said. “I give love to flowers, and they give me flowers back.”

It’s a fitting metaphor for her teaching philosophy. Whether nurturing orchids or shaping minds, Dr. Andriienko-Genin pours herself into the process with care, creativity, and joy — and the results speak for themselves.

As she steps into her new role as a CORE Faculty Team Lead, one thing is clear: Dr. Andriienko-Genin is not only ready to grow, she’s ready to help others bloom, too.