Teaching Academy Inducts Four New Members

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Professor Donald M. Johnson, recipient of the 2009 Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship

The University of Arkansas Teaching Academy recently inducted four new members into the Academy, and also recognized the 2009 recipient of the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship.

The Imhoff Award winner is Donald M. Johnson of the department of agricultural and extension education. Johnson has taught the introductory course in his department 18 times in the past 17 years, achieving superior student evaluations throughout that time period. Since 1995 he has taught 77 sections of nine different courses. He has served as academic adviser to all students in his department, and also has served as the faculty adviser for two different student organizations. He also serves as mentor to all of the graduate students in his department. He has been recognized many times for his outstanding mentorship and teaching, receiving an award from the Office of Post Graduate Fellowships for outstanding mentorship, the Jack Justus award for teaching excellence in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the Arkansas Alumni Association Award for outstanding teaching and service.

Newly inducted into the Academy on the basis of their outstanding teaching:

• Vikas Anand is an associate professor of management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Anand teaches both undergraduate and master's students, and has developed a three-week India Study Abroad Program in which a number of students spent last winter break studying business in India. He is currently teaching a course which is being simultaneously offered to students in India as well as at the University of Arkansas. In past years he was well known for his outstanding teaching of Walton College honors students in the honors business strategy course. In 2008 Anand received the Arkansas Alumni Association Award for outstanding teaching.
• Casandra Cox, an instructor in the department of agricultural extension education in the Bumpers College, regularly has a extraordinarily high course load and receives outstanding evaluations in all courses. She advises numerous undergraduate and graduate students, and serves as an adviser to Farmhouse Fraternity. She has been recognized by the faculty within the Bumpers College for her excellence in teaching, in 2008 receiving the John W. White Outstanding Teacher Award. This was the first time that the award was presented to an individual at the instructor rank. She was also recognized by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture with the Teaching Award of Merit in 2008.
• Alan Ellstrand is an associate professor of management in the Walton College. He is currently serving as director of the M.B.A. program, while continuing to teach both undergraduate and graduate students. He worked with Anand to develop the three-week India Study Abroad program, and joined him and the students in the trip this past winter. Ellstrand helped to develop the business strategy course, the capstone course in the Walton College core. He has also served as coordinator for the course. In 2008 Ellstrand received the Arkansas Alumni Association Award for outstanding teaching and service.
• Patrick Williams is an associate professor of history in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Besides being well known as a gifted and driven teacher, Williams puts together the department newsletter and also serves as chief editor of the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, the state journal of Arkansas history. Williams is well known for his energy and creativity, and has been called the “energizer bunny of Old Main.” He is also generally regarded as the hardest working man in the history department. In 2005 Williams received the Fulbright College’s Master Teacher Award.

Established in 1988, the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy consists of faculty members who have established a record of outstanding teaching on the university campus. Approximately 80 current University of Arkansas faculty are members of the academy. Professor John Norwood of the Walton College is currently serving as president of the academy.