The Southeastern Conference awarded the 2025 SEC Faculty Achievement Award for the U of A to William F. McComas, Distinguished Professor of science education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions.

"Dr. McComas has made a tremendous impact on our university through his research and his dedication to his students, and this honor is well-deserved," said Provost Terry Martin. "Dr. McComas' impact reaches far beyond the University of Arkansas. He's taught biology in secondary school; he's helped students at the university follow their chosen career paths as educators, and his research and scholarship have helped teachers throughout the nation who haven't even set foot on our campus. Dr. McComas encapsulates our mission of education, research and service through his work, and I'm grateful for the significant contributions he's made to the university and in science education." 

Every year, the SEC recognizes a faculty member at each of the conference's 16 institutions with a SEC Faculty Achievement Award for their outstanding record in research and scholarship. After the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards have been announced for each university, the SEC selects the SEC Professor of the Year from the group of recipients.  

The U of A will honor McComas for receiving this award during Faculty Appreciation Week in the second week of April. He will be recognized at the Provost's Faculty Recognition Reception, which will be held April 9 at the David W. Mullins Library. 

"Dr. McComas is an internationally acclaimed and highly influential science educator whose impactful contributions have shaped the trajectory of the entire field of science education," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "Dr. McComas is celebrated by his peers nationally and internationally. His scholarly achievements have been honored with more than 30 significant awards over his career. Dr. McComas is also deeply committed to teaching, mentoring and preparing the next generation of science educators. This recognition is well-earned, and we are extremely proud to have Dr. McComas as a faculty member and researcher in our college."

About William McComas

McComas is the inaugural holder of the Parks Family Endowed Professorship in Science Education at the U of A, where he directs the Project to Advance Science Education (PASE). He joined the U of A in 2006 after a career as a biology and physical science teacher in suburban Philadelphia and professorship at University of Southern California.

At the U of A, he teaches classes in educational research methods, curriculum design, the history and philosophy of science for science educators, issues in science education, and advanced science teaching methods. He is also currently teaching the foundation class in museology while working with the Art History Department to establish a museum studies microcertificate for undergraduates. He is also the director for the Professoriate, a campus-wide program sponsored by the Graduate School designed to assist doctoral students in securing positions and earning tenure and promotion in higher education institutions.

McComas has served in leadership roles with the National Science Teachers Association; the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group; the National Association of Biology Teachers; and the Association for Science Teacher Education, where he just completed a term as president. McComas is a recipient of the 2024 Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Research given by the Arkansas Alumni Association, Outstanding Evolution Educator and Research in Biology Teaching awards, the Ohaus award for Innovations in College Science Teaching and several ASTE Outstanding Science Teacher Educator awards.

McComas' research focuses on the improvement of laboratory instruction including science fairs, evolution education, the interaction of the philosophy of science and science teaching, science education for gifted students, and science instruction in museums and field settings.

He has written and edited several books, including the landmark Nature of Science in Science Instruction: Rationales and Strategies. He has given more than 100 keynote speeches, workshops and presentations at public events and professional meetings in the U.S. and in more than a dozen other countries. In 2012, McComas was a Fulbright Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning (CASTeL) at Dublin City University, Ireland. In 2014, he was named the editor of the American Biology Teacher, an award-winning journal of research and practice in life science and biology education, a position he still holds.

He earned his bachelor's degrees in biology and secondary education from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, master's degrees in biology and physical science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Iowa.

"It has been an honor to play for the University of Arkansas academic team for almost two decades here in the College of Education and Health Professors," McComas said. "I am surprised and very pleased now to represent the U of A in the SEC with this Faculty Achievement Award. Let me thank those who championed this application and make the U of A a supportive and nurturing place for faculty and students. I am humbled to know that I can now represent the university in this fashion as an 'Academic Razorback' and to be nominated among an all-star list of colleagues from across our SEC partners."

To learn more about the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards, visit thesecu.com.

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About the College of Education and Health Professions:  The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a wide range of careers in education and health, including teaching, nursing, counseling, educational leadership and policy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, public health, exercise science, and many more. The college has approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serves more than 6,000 students, and supports over 20 research and service units. Guided by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research that improves people's lives, increase transformative learning opportunities for its students, engage in meaningful partnerships across Arkansas and beyond, and embrace a culture of caring that empowers people to thrive in all aspects of life.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.