2020 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD

Students, faculty and alumni submit nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award. Up to four faculty members are honored annually for their dedication to high-quality teaching.

Tammy Jones, Instructor, Department of English

Jones teaches a variety of undergraduate courses in the Department of English and works with students from several different programs. She teaches both developmental as well as Honors sections, participates in the Tiger Learning Communities, has served as a mentor for new teaching assistants in the First-Year Writing Program and co-leads a study abroad program in the United Kingdom.

Additionally, to prepare instructors for work with newcomers and refugees, she developed the teacher training curriculum for the Connect Language Center in Memphis. She is the recipient of the CAS Award for Teaching Excellence and the Helen Hardin Honors College Excellence in Teaching Award. She is the co-author of "How Would a Document Designer Create Classroom Material?" and "Unlocking the Visual Puzzle: Understanding Textbook Design," which appeared as part of the TESOL Classroom Practice Series.

Dr. Lenard Wells, Instructor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Awarded Posthumously)

Wells graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee with a bachelor's in Psychology and a master’s degree in Public Administration. He earned both degrees while working full-time on the Milwaukee Police Department. Dr. Wells earned his PhD in Leadership, Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

He brought more than 30 years of criminal justice experience into the classrooms with energy and creativity. His students create and analyze mock crime scenes. He inspired his students to allow their brain, heart and training to guide them.