Kevin Hall Named February 2026 Cordes Chair

The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center recently welcomed Kevin Hall as the February 2026 Wally Cordes Chair.

Hall is a University Professor of civil engineering and serves as associate dean for academics in the College of Engineering. He joined the U of A civil engineering faculty in 1993 and previously served as department head from 2005 to 2016. A past president of the UA Teaching Academy, Hall is widely recognized for his dedication to teaching, mentorship and academic leadership across the university.

His Cordes Chair lecture, titled "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome," focused on how educators can respond thoughtfully and intentionally to constant change in higher education. Drawing on ideas from both ancient philosophy and modern culture, Hall framed teaching as a dynamic and evolving practice shaped by advances in technology, shifting student populations and changing expectations of what a college education should provide. He emphasized the importance of adaptability while also highlighting the need for balance — noting that effective teaching requires flexibility without losing sight of foundational values such as ethics, professionalism and meaningful student learning. Throughout the lecture, Hall encouraged faculty to view change not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity for growth, reflection and renewal in the classroom.

About the Cordes Chair: The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center recognizes six outstanding teaching faculty each academic year as Wally Cordes Chairs. Faculty are selected as Cordes Chairs because they embody the student-centered teaching excellence that late University Professor Emeritus Wally Cordes exhibited throughout his more than 40-year career at the U of A. 

About TFSC: TFSC invests in faculty excellence, promotes innovation in teaching and learning, and supports programs to advance student success. The center provides educational opportunities for faculty such as teaching and learning workshops, teaching symposia, and new faculty orientation. TFSC offers competitive teaching and learning grants for faculty, celebrates effective teaching with several awards and an awards reception, and promotes faculty-to-faculty mentoring through classroom observation. More information about TFSC can be found at their website or by following them on LinkedIn.