The 2019 College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards banquet took place Thursday, December 5 at the Holiday Inn Downtown. From Diversity Leadership to awards in research, advising, and teaching, the annual awards banquet honors faculty excellence in all areas of the college mission.
“As we recognize particularly outstanding faculty this evening, I want to thank all of our faculty in the college, individually and collectively, for everything you do— your teaching, research, service on college and university committees, thesis committees, and tenure and promotion committees, and service to the public through community engagement,” said Theresa Lee, dean of the college and emcee for the awards ceremony. “A college can be no greater or stronger than its faculty and the College of Arts and Sciences is a college of excellence because each of you has a passion for our profession and you work selflessly to make our students, departments and university the best they can be.”
Nitin Jain, associate professor, received the Senior Award for Excellence in Teaching. Jain shines through his focused efforts on one course BCMB 401: Biochemistry I. He teaches other courses, but he is the leader and primary instructor for BCMB 401 and has transformed it into a remarkable experience for the students. He has created an online version of the course, for summer instruction, and has added some innovative online features for all versions of the course (analogy-based animations). He has shared his work with other biology educators and has involved undergraduates in some of the course development. Regarding impact, one of his students wrote: “I would recommend this professor to other students but would caution them heavily because you learn an enormous amount that will likely stay with you, especially in terms of how the professor applies topics learned in class to real world work place scenarios – Fantastic!!”
Congratulations Professor Jain on your award!