Campus News

'Behind the Blue': Provost Awards for Outstanding Teaching — Part 1

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 27, 2023) — In 1990, the University of Kentucky recognized the first group for the Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Teaching for Tenured and Nontenured Faculty and Teaching Assistants. The awards were established by the Office of the Provost to reward and encourage excellence in teaching.

In accordance with the reorganization of the university in 2002, the awards were renamed the Provost Awards for Outstanding Teaching. Qualities of dedication, imagination, creativity, inspiration and concern for students are among the traits considered for this award.

Awards are given in three categories: the Outstanding Teaching Award for tenured faculty, the Outstanding Teaching Award for Nontenured Faculty and the Outstanding Teaching Award for Teaching Assistants.

This year’s winners for the Outstanding Teaching Award for Tenured Faculty are:

  • Amanda Ellis — Biostatistics, College of Public Health
  • Lynda Sharrett — Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Lou Hirsch — Plant Pathology, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Elizabeth Williams — Gender and Women’s Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

On this episode of "Behind the Blue," the winners talk about the significance of winning the award, their teaching philosophies and how they hope to motivate and inspire students, and more.

The other category winners will be highlighted on upcoming episodes of "Behind the Blue."

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

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