'I Love My Team' — Martha Riddell Named 2020 Great Teacher
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2020) — “My own teaching philosophy is to help students achieve their potential.”
Martha Riddell from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health is one of the six educators surprised by their students’ nominations for the 2020 Great Teacher Award. Riddell said her teaching style comes from the energy her students give, by always inspiring her to be better.
“It made it particularly meaningful and affirming at the same time, that what we are doing is helping students achieve,” said Riddell.
Riddell is an associate professor of health management and policy, as well as the director of the Masters of Health Administration program. Being director gives her the unique opportunity to see students in all stages of their education – when they are deciding to move into graduate studies, while they are learning, in their internships and as they look for post-graduate positions.
“In transitioning into grad school, she was extremely instrumental and pivotal,” said Majd Jabbour, a College of Public Health graduate student who nominated Riddell for the Great Teacher Award. Jabbour said Riddell taught him to genuinely care.
“I hope to continue that message – to carry it with me wherever I go. Because I think it’s really important for me, as a future health care provider or administrator, to show that compassion to people,” said Jabbour.
Teaching students and preparing them for their futures is not something Riddell takes lightly. She is well known for her commitment to each of her students, and her perseverance in helping them succeed.
“It’s a very large responsibility. Helping students find their calling, find their strengths for service is truly extraordinary,” said Riddell. “I’m biased, but I think they’re great. To quote Coach Cal, ‘I love my team.’”
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.