March 08, 2016
by Jere W. Morehead, President
Undergraduate education is a cornerstone of the University of Georgia’s mission, and UGA faculty hold a deep commitment to teaching and learning.
We were proud to recognize three professors recently with the Russell Award, which is given to early career faculty who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching. In addition, five faculty members were named Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professors, the University’s highest honor for excellence in teaching. Faculty also are recognized annually with Creative Teaching Awards for developing and implementing creative methods to enhance student learning.
Our faculty are celebrated nationally as well. In the past year, a public health professor received the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health/Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence. A faculty member in engineering was given the Outstanding Teaching Award by the American Society for Engineering Education’s Southeastern Section. A professor of agricultural and environmental sciences was presented with the Excellence in College and University Teaching Award for Food and Agricultural Sciences. UGA also was the only university in the nation with two recipients of the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for teaching excellence this year.
Prospective students have recognized the exceptional quality of instruction at UGA. In fact, a record number of students—more than 22,900—applied for admission to the first-year class for fall 2016, and the academic quality of the applicants was higher than ever. Faculty and staff at the University of Georgia are inspired by students’ passion to learn, and they are cultivating an environment that prepares students to succeed in the professional world, graduate school, and community life.