Campus News

UGA College of Education recognizes outstanding faculty, Honors student

Butchart
Ron Butchart

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Education recognized several outstanding faculty members, an academic adviser and an Honors student at its annual recognition celebration held recently at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

Aderhold Distinguished Professor
Ronald Butchart, professor and head of the department of elementary and social studies education, received the college’s highest honor when he was named the Aderhold Distinguished Professor for exemplary contributions in teaching, research and service.

Butchart is the author of Schooling the Freed People: Teaching, Learning, and the Struggle for Black Freedom, 1861-1876, published in 2010. The book is a result of a three-year study he began in 2006 with a $318,775 grant from the Spencer Foundation.Butchart researched the archives of all of the freedmen’s aid organizations, as well as the archives of every Southern state to compile a vast database of more than 11,600 individuals who taught in Southern black schools from1861-1876.

Butchart has an adjunct faculty appointment in the UGA department of history and is an affiliate of the UGA Institute for African American Studies. The Aderhold Distinguished Professor holds the title for one academic year and receives discretionary funds for one year, a one-time cash award or a combination of the two. Only professors with five years or more on the UGA faculty are eligible.

Other faculty awards included:

Ira Aaron Award for Teaching Excellence
Stephanie Jones, an associate professor in the department of elementary and social studies education, received the Ira E. Aaron Award for Teaching Excellence and Collegiality. Only full-time tenured faculty members are eligible for this award. The awardee receives an instructional grant.

Carl Glickman Faculty Fellow
Lewis Allen, an academic professional in the department of elementary and social studies education, received the Carl Glickman Faculty Fellow Award, which recognizes distinguished accomplishments and potential for future contributions of faculty in fulfilling the mission of the university through teaching, research and service. Awardees receive a cash award and a grant for professional development.

Russell H. Yeany, Jr. Research Award
J. Steve Oliver,professor and associate head of the department of mathematics and science education, received the Russell H. Yeany, Jr. Research Award, which recognizes a tenure-track faculty member’s outstanding cumulative research. It includes a cash award and a grant for professional development.

Faculty Diversity Award
Jepkorir (Rose) Chepyator-Thomson, a professor in the department of kinesiology, received the Faculty Diversity Award. This award recognizes faculty members whose research, teaching and/or service promotes a more diverse local, university and/or global community. It includes a cash award.

Donald O. Schneider Award for Mentoring
Beth Tolley, a lecturer in the department of elementary and social studies education, received the Donald O. Schneider Award for Mentoring. This award recognizes excellence in mentoring of UGA students. Awardees receive an allowance for professional travel or development.

D. Keith Osborn Award for Teaching Excellence
Karen Samuelsen,an assistant professor in the department of educational psychology and instructional technology, received the Faculty Senate D. Keith Osborn Award for Teaching Excellence. Awardees receive an instructional grant.

Others recognized at the luncheon were:

Martha Carr, Aderhold Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology, and Research Fellow of the UGA Institute of Behavioral Research, who received UGA’s William A. Owens Creative Research Award.

Peter Smagorinsky, a professor of language and literacy education, who was named a UGA Distinguished Research Professor.

Jonathan Campbell, an associate professor in the department of educational psychology and instructional technology, who received the Outstanding Teaching Award during the university’s Honors Day.

Priscilla Carter, an academic adviser in the department of kinesiology, who was named the college’s Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Adviser. The awardee receives a cash award.

Rebecca Parker, of the department of kinesiology, received the Outstanding Honors Student in the College of Education award. The award includes a membership to a professional organization or a journal subscription. Parker was recognized at the Honors Banquet held in April.

For more information about the UGA College of Education, see http://www.coe.uga.edu/.