UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Faculty Awards Presented at 2013–14 Convocation

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August 23, 2013

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 23, 2013

The University of Texas at Tyler officials presented faculty awards during the 2013-14 Opening Convocation Aug. 23, President Rodney Mabry announced.

“Our dedicated faculty are highly innovative and among the best in their fields. We are proud to recognize their great work,” President Mabry said.

Recipients and their awards are:

• Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – Dr. Jason Smee, associate professor of chemistry; and Dr. Barbara Wooldridge, associate professor of marketing.

This honor recognizes the nominees’ overall commitment and excellence in undergraduate teaching among UT System faculty members. Nominees are recommended by the President of each UT System and are reviewed by an external committee comprised of academic administrators, faculty, students and the UT System Board of Regents.

They each will receive a $25,000 award in recognition of their extraordinary classroom performance and innovation at the undergraduate level.

“We are deeply grateful to the Regents for their ongoing commitment to honor our very best and most dedicated faculty. These awards recognize the immeasurable impact teachers have on our students, who will shape the future of our communities across Texas and the nation,” said UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa.

• President’s Scholarly Achievement Award – Dr. Lance Williams, associate professor of biology.

This award recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements by a faculty member. Selections are made by a university committee.

• Jack and Dorothy Faye White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Suzanne Pundt, senior lecturer in biology; and Wooldridge.

This honor recognizes excellence in teaching. Nominations are made by both university faculty and students.

• 2013-14 Piper Professor nominee and White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Wooldridge.

This honor focuses on the nominee’s overall excellence in both teaching and scholarly achievement at UT Tyler. Nominees are made by UT Tyler faculty and become the university’s candidate for the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Excellence in Teaching award, which annually recognizes 15 professors for superior teaching at the college level in Texas. This nominee also automatically receives UT Tyler’s White Fellowship.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.