The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching, inaugurated last year, recognizes faculty members in Liberty’s residential and online programs, undergraduate and graduate, who have promoted significant student learning evidenced by exceptional pedagogical skill, effective use of instructional technology, and incorporation of creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
“Liberty University is committed to providing the most useful and highest quality of education possible to our students,” said Provost Dr. Ron Godwin. “The awards are all about putting action behind our words of commitment. We want to encourage teachers to excel, to get out of their comfort zone, and to try new learning technologies, to employ new classroom techniques or online teaching techniques, to innovate, and to learn and improve the quality of teaching.”
Recipients are selected by judging committees comprised of deans from seven discipline areas and are honored formally at Commencement.
Godwin said it was part of the original vision for Liberty to train leaders in all discipline areas, realized through faculty impact on student faith, thought, and character, a key motivating factor for the awards.
He said the awards are just one of many steps Liberty has taken to promote teaching excellence.
- Read the full story, including bio’s of each of the winners.
This year’s winners are:
Liberty University Online Graduate
- Lucinda S. Spaulding, Teacher Education
- Deborah Pinkston, Counseling and Family Studies
- Steven W. Guest, Seminary
Liberty University Online Undergraduate
- Trilby Wheeler Cox, Psychology
- Jennifer Anne Hollis, General Studies
- Mark Robert Hensley, Religion
Residential Graduate
- Anita M. Knight, Counseling and Family Studies
- Samuel James Smith, Graduate Education
Residential Undergraduate
- David E. Towles, English and Modern Languages
- Stuart H. Schwartz, Communication Studies
- Donald H. Alban, Jr., General Studies
