The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center and the U of A Teaching Academy recently co-sponsored the Faculty Teaching Awards Reception for 2022-23. This annual event, held at the Hembree Alumni Center, recognizes faculty who have received university-level teaching awards during the previous academic year. 

Teaching Academy President Paul Calleja welcomed faculty in a ceremony entitled "Celebration of Teaching." Congratulatory comments were given by Provost Terry Martin and Chancellor Charles Robinson. The John and Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship award winner, Heather Walker, gave a speech about teaching and its importance on the U of A campus.

Robinson, Martin, former Chancellor Dan Ferritor and former TFSC Co-Directors Ro Di Brezzo and Paul Cronan were on hand to help pass out the awards and to remind everyone of the legacy of Wally Cordes, who was instrumental in creating a culture that honors teaching at the U of A. In addition, TFSC Co-Directors Carole Shook, Richard Cassady and Hope Ballentine and Program Manager Lori Libbert, along with Teaching Academy Vice President Susan Bristow, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Anna Zajicek and Director of Faculty Development Stephanie Adams, helped celebrate the award winners.  

The following award recipients were recognized: 

Daniel E. Ferritor Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching

School of Human Environmental Sciences

Ro Di Brezzo Excellence in Service to Teaching Award

Heather Walker, chemical engineering

Paul Cronan Technology Teaching Excellence Award

Casandra Cox; agricultural education, communication and technology
Chase Rainwater, industrial engineering

Wally Cordes Chair Award

Adnan Alrubaye, poultry science and biological science
Margaret Butcher, communication
Jack Kern; health, human performance and recreation
Molly Rapert, marketing
Lia Uribe, music
Heather Walker, chemical engineering

Recognition for Outgoing Co-Director

Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center

Lynn Meade, ARSC student success

University awards recognized, but awarded by other groups:

Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award

Marcia Imbeau, curriculum and instruction

Alumni Association Rising Teaching Award

Alex Nunn, School of Law

Outstanding Graduate Mentor and Educator Award

Mike Richardson, horticulture

Outstanding Contributions to Service-Learning Teaching Award

Raquel Castro Salas, World Languages, Literature, and Cultures

Outstanding Faculty Academic Advisor

Leslie Massey, First Year Engineering Program

Silo-Busting Advising Award

Adnan Alrubaye, Poultry Science

To recognize efforts to improve teaching beyond the student evaluation scores and reward faculty who invest in teaching improvement on campus, the Teaching and Faculty Support Center awards two teaching faculty commendations: the New Faculty Commendation for Teaching Commitment and the Not-So-New Faculty Commendation for Teaching Development.

Commendation Certificates

The faculty listed below received commendation certificates presented by Chancellor Robinson and Provost Martin.

New Faculty Commendations 

Jeanice Ball, NURS
John Bergdall, MASC
Will Doss, AECT
Natalie Edwards, CIED
Samuel Fernandes, AGSL
Glenda Hux, CDOT
Nick Johnston, THES
Rupesh Kariyat, ENPL
Joanna Kud, ENPL
Kimberly Larsen, MULN
Rebecca Leach, COMM
Christiane Long, SCSW
Kristi Mascher, CIED
Brett Nachman, CLRM
James Roddy, MASC
Lekshmi Sasidharan, CVEG
Derico Setyabrata, ANSC
Wyann Stanton, CIED
Alexandra Vasile, CIED
Emily Woodruff, SCSW

​Not-So-New Faculty Commendations 

Lindsey Aloia, COMM
Dennis Beck, CIED
Lisa Bowers, CDOT
Margaret Butcher, COMM
Kate Chapman, PSYC
Brandon Crisel, INEG
Aysa Galbraith, ENGF
Lisa Hinrichsen, ENGL
Don Johnson, AECT
Ringo Jones, COMM
Jack Kern, HHPR
Deborah Korth, ARSC
Faith Lessner, BISC
Leslie Massey, ENGF
Meredith Neville-Shepard, COMM
Caleb Rawson, ACCT
Joy Reeber, WLLC
Rocio Paez Ritter, SOCI
Carole Shook, ISYS
Lobat Siahmakoun, THES
Tamara Snyder, PHYS
Leigh Southward, THES
Claire Terhune, ANTH
Kate Walker, BISC

Faculty may work toward one of these commendations during the academic year. Please click on the links below for more information, including eligibility criteria: 

• https://teaching.uark.edu/about-our-programs/teaching_awards.php

Pictures from the event are available at https://uark.box.com/s/sq0mlo6b1zoskyitwdcz01ghdjmif1w3