Outstanding Educators

August 21, 2015

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Faculty Recognized at 2015 Convocation

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August 21, 2015

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

August 21, 2015

The University of Texas at Tyler officials presented faculty awards during the 2015-16 Opening Convocation Aug. 21, President Rodney H. Mabry announced.

“We are honored to have faculty members who are innovative thinkers, great professors and true experts in their fields of study,” President Mabry said. “We are proud to recognize some of those faculty for their outstanding dedication.”

Recipients and their awards are:

• Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – Susan Doty, senior lecturer in economics.

This honor recognizes the nominee’s 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.

Doty is among System-wide educators who each received a $25,000 award in recognition of their extraordinary classroom performance and innovation at the undergraduate level.

“These amazing educators are responsible for helping to prepare the next generation of great leaders,” Regents Chairman Paul Foster said. “With a total award of more than $1.9 million dollars this year, no other university system in the nation is making this kind of an investment in rewarding outstanding faculty. The efforts of these faculty members significantly enhance the educational experiences of our students and the UT Board of Regents is pleased to have this opportunity to honor them.”

• President’s Scholarly Achievement Award – Dr. John Placyk, associate professor of biology.

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

• Provost’s Excellence in Teaching Award – Dr. Sean Butler, assistant professor of chemistry; and Dr. Carolyn Tilghman, associate professor of English.

The Provost’s Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes faculty whose excellence in undergraduate teaching resulted in their nomination for the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.

• Jack and Dorothy Faye White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Dr. Michael McGinnis, assistant professor of civil engineering; and Dr. Andrew Schmitt, associate professor of psychology.

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

• 2015-16 Piper Professor nominee and White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Schmitt.

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 features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.