Making A Difference in the Lives of Our Students

Dear Colleagues,

Each year, I am proud to announce the winners of the University of Kentucky’s Outstanding Teaching Awards — each one of whom is actively making a difference in the lives of our students through their passion and teaching. 

The Outstanding Teaching Awards, awarded by the Office for Faculty Advancement (OFA),acknowledge the distinguished individuals at UK whose dedication to student achievement is evident through their role in the classroom. The awards encourage the development of faculty and instructors as experts in teaching, and recipients are nominated through submissions from faculty, staff and/or students. 

Each winner’s contribution to student learning and student success cannot be overstated — their impacts are felt on all levels. Inside the classroom, students benefit from their teaching experience, allowing them to engage with a diverse range of learners. Outside of the classroom, their colleagues — whether other faculty, instructors or teaching assistants — benefit from their support and mentorship. And at our institution, we all benefit from their engagement and commitment to one of our core missions — to improve the lives of our communities through excellence in education.

Please join me in congratulating this year’s winners:

Category 1 (Regular and Special Title Series Faculty):

Jack Groppo, Department of Mining Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

Kristine Urschel, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Martha Yip, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences

Category 2 (Lecturers and Clinical Title Series Faculty):

Bradley Elliott, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences

Anastasia Hauser, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

Thaddeus Salmon, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine 

Category 3 (Teaching Assistants):

Lukas Bullock, Department of Gender and Women's Studies, College of Arts & Sciences

Daria Goncharova, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences

John "Jack" Swab, Department of Geography, College of Arts & Sciences

Throughout the summer, each of the winners will be highlighted on UKNow. Their diligence and hard work are a testament to the importance of teaching at UK, where we are preparing our students to be the future leaders of Kentucky and beyond. I know you join me and the rest of our community in celebrating these winners and their accomplishments.

Thank you for all you do to support our students and the entire UK community.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.

Provost