AUSTIN, Texas—Ten new faculty members have been elected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at The University of Texas at Austin. The academy, which now totals 70 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 members are Ross Jennings, associate professor, Ph.D., department of accounting; Harvey M. Sussman, R. P. Doherty, Sr. Centennial Professor in Communication, Ph.D., department of communication sciences and disorders; Nancy L. Roser, Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor in Early Childhood Education, Ed.D., department of curriculum and instruction; Anthony Bedford, professor, Ph.D., department of aerospace engineering; Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum, Robert M. and Prudie Leibrock Endowed Professor in Engineering, Ph.D., department of electrical and computer engineering; David M. Rabban, Dahr Jamail, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail, Regents Chair in Law, J.D., School of Law; James B. Ayres, Shakespeare at Winedale Regents Professor, Ph.D., department of English; Mia E. Carter, associate professor, Ph.D., department of English; Robert D. King, Audre and Bernard Rapoport Regents Chair of Jewish Studies, Ph.D., department of linguistics; and Katherine M. Davis, associate professor, Ph.D., department of mathematics.
When created in 1995, the academy was one of the firsts 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 to the provost. An advisory committee of members from the academy, university administrators, faculty members and students, chaired by Vice Provost Lucia A. Gilbert, submitted recommendations for new members to the provost.
Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson said the committee did a superb job in selecting "10 extraordinary teachers. Being selected is a clear expression of the high regard colleagues hold for the new members’ dedication and contributions to teaching and to our students’ intellectual development."
"When the academy was established, it was evident that admitting only 10 new members each year would necessarily mean that the selection process would always face the very difficult task of choosing among a group of very outstanding nominees. This year was no exception, every person nominated needs to be congratulated for contributing significantly to the teaching mission of this great University."
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.
