UK professors, staff honored with teaching awards

LEXINGTON, Ky. (UK Public Affairs) — Nine university faculty and teaching assistants were recently recognized by the University of Kentucky with the 2020 Outstanding Teaching Awards.

This annual award recognizes faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate special dedication and outstanding performance in the classroom or laboratory.  Recipients were selected via nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the Provost’s Office of Faculty Advancement.

“The diversity of disciplines reflected in the Outstanding Teaching Award winners speaks to the breadth and depth of expertise that distinguishes the University of Kentucky,” Provost David Blackwell said. “But, of course, no matter the discipline, each recipient shares something of lasting importance: the art of great teaching transcends any single discipline.”

Winners received award certificates and cash awards of $4,000 for regular and special title series faculty and $1,500 for teaching assistants.

The 2020 winners are:

Regular and Special Title Series Faculty

Betsy Beymer-Farris, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geography

Gabriel Dadi, College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering

Kathryn (Rosie) Lanphere, College of Education, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion 

Lecturer and Clinical Title Series Faculty 

Matthew Godbey, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English

Diane Loeffler, College of Social Work

Thomas Cochell, College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

Teaching Assistants

Edward Lee Bullock, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology

Jennifer Murray, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English

Juan Fernandez-Cantero, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Hispanic Studies

These awards are usually presented during a ceremony in April that had to be canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.