AUSTIN, Texas — Eleven new faculty members have been elected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at The University of Texas at Austin. The academy, which now totals 41 members, is intended to recognize and enhance teaching, particularly at the undergraduate level.
Honorees are chosen on the basis of their outstanding teaching, their personal commitment to students and the learning process, and their ability to inspire and motivate students in the classroom. The new academy members will be recognized at the UniversityÌs May 23 Commencement ceremony.
The new members are Dr. Charles B. Chiu, department of physics; Dr. Robert A. Duke, School of Music; Steven J. Goode, School of Law; Dr. Joy Hinson Penticuff, School of Nursing; Dr. Jonathan J. Koehler, department of management science and information systems; Dr. David A. Laude, department of chemistry and biochemistry; Dr. William Roger Louis, department of history; Dr. John H. Murphy, department of advertising; Dr. Timothy Schallert, department of psychology; Dr. Michael P. Starbird, department of mathematics and Lance E. Tatum, School of Architecture.
When created in 1995, the academy was the first of its type in the nation. Members, who receive a permanent annual salary increase of $5,000, serve in the academy for eight years and may be re-elected. In addition to the salary increase, faculty members selected also will earn the permanent designation of Distinguished Teaching Professor, and will be afforded other perquisites normally available to holders of endowed faculty positions.Deans of the colleges and schools nominated proposed members, and a committee headed by Vice Provost Ricardo Romo reviewed the nominations. The selection committee included members from the academy, university administrators, faculty members and students.
Romo said the committee did a superb job in selecting “11 extraordinary teachers. This was a very rigorous selection process, and we are proud of the eminently qualified individuals selected. The new members are dedicated educators who have been singled out by both peers and colleagues as among the very best classroom teachers at the University.
It was a difficult task to select only 11 when the University has so many outstanding teachers. But it also was a pleasurable task because we got to look at so many exceptional files on our faculty members.”
Academy members serve as an advisory group to the provost on teaching excellence, and provide institutional leadership and guidance for the distinctive undergraduate experience available in a research university environment. In addition, members organize seminars, colloquia and workshops on teaching effectiveness and serve as mentors for new faculty.
