AUSTIN, Texas—Seven new faculty members have been elected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at The University of Texas at Austin. The academy, which now totals 80 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, who will be recognized during the university’s 2003 Spring Commencement ceremonies May 17 on the South Mall, are:
- Dr. James P. Barufaldi, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education
- Dr. Thomas J. Garza, Department of Slavic Languages and Literature, College of Liberal Arts
- Dr. Judith A. Jellison, School of Music, College of Fine Arts
- Dr. Prabhudev C. Konana, Department of Management Science and Information Systems, Red McCombs School of Business
- Dr. Carol H. MacKay, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts
- Dr. John M. White, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences
- Dr. Kristin L. Wood, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering.
When created in 1995, the academy was one of the first of its type in the nation. Upon election, each faculty member receives a permanent salary increase of $5,000 and is designated a Distinguished Teaching Professor. In their first eight years of membership, members also are afforded other perquisites normally afforded to holders of endowed faculty positions. On retirement, faculty members are designated a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus.
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.
For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, 512-475-7847.
