2023 Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence

Mollie Anderson, Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Psychology

Dr. Anderson is an Instructor in the Department of Psychology who refers to herself as “Dr. Mollie” to honor her family as well as the many women in academia who fought and sacrificed for her to be able to earn her doctorate. She earned her BA in Sports Medicine at Pepperdine University and her MS in General Psychology and PhD in Experimental Psychology at The University of Memphis.

Anderson's passion for teaching first began during her undergraduate career where she served as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for four different courses. During her graduate studies, she worked as a TA as well as taught independently as an instructor of record for General Psychology, Human Sexuality, and the Internship in Psychology course. She has received the Dr. Craig M. Brown Experimental Program Director’s Award, the UofM Graduate Assistant Meritorious Teaching Award and the American Psychological Foundation’s 2016 Henry P. David Grant for Research in Human Reproductive Behavior and Population Studies. As founder and director of the Health, Education, and Lifestyle Promotion (HELP) Lab, Anderson continues to mentor undergraduate and graduate students whose research focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning as well as the promotion of sexual health. She has authored four articles for academic journals and presents annually at national, regional, and state conferences.

Anderson has been teaching full time at the UofM since 2016 and has been coordinating and teaching the General Psychology Auditorium courses, instructing Human Sexuality, and directing and teaching the Internship in Psychology course. She was awarded the Graduate Student Coordinating Committee’s Faculty Appreciation Award in 2016 and was recognized as one of the Top 50 Teachers in Lower Division Courses at UofM in 2019.

Along with her teaching commitments, Anderson dedicates herself through service as a selected member of the department Undergraduate Academic Curriculum Committee; an early member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; and a contributing member of the LGBTQ+ Task Force. She is the Faculty Fellow for the University’s Title IX: Prevention Center and serves on the Title IX: Prevention Task Force and the Alcohol and Drug College Campus Connect Committee, and is the Faculty Advisor for Active Minds, a registered student organization (RSO) dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with mental health and to promoting peer support and connection to mental health services.

Dr. Mollie’s students and colleagues bring her life great joy. During these trying times of physical isolation and prevailing social injustices, Anderson hopes that her teachings will inspire her students to “give psychology away” to the world around them. She hopes the skills students have learned will aid them in building a caring community and creating pivotal social change.

Tim McCuddy, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Dr. McCuddy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He received his Ph.D. in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 2018 and worked as a research professor before joining the UofM in 2019.

His research focuses on the causes and consequences of youth crime and violence by examining how schools, neighborhoods, and the internet impact offending and victimization. He specializes is peer groups and crime, school safety, and the role of digital communication in the etiology of delinquent and criminal behavior.

His current work focuses on examining various disparities and consequences of contact with the criminal legal system. Dr. McCuddy also serves a faculty affiliate of the Urban Affairs Ph.D. program where he teaches and mentors doctoral students.

He is also the recipient of the 2023 Michael K. Harless Faculty Excellence Award.

Kendra Murphy, Associate Professor of Teaching and undergraduate advisor, Department of Sociology

Ms. Murphy is an Associate Professor of Teaching and undergraduate advisor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Memphis. She earned her Bachelor's in Sociology at the University of

 Central Arkansas in 2003 and her Master's in Sociology at the University of Memphis in 2007. Upon graduating, she began teaching as a full-time instructor at the University and in 2012, she became the undergraduate advisor for the Sociology department.

Ms. Murphy teaches undergraduate courses both in-person and online, including Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Sociology for Pre-Med and Pre-Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sociology of Gender, Sociology of Deviant Behavior, Marriage and Family, Contemporary Social Problems and Social Statistics. Ms. Murphy was the recipient of the 2013 College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching award, the 2014 Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award, the 2016 College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Award for Advising Excellence, the 2017 W. Russell Smith Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2019 Top Teaching Award.

Ms. Murphy's teaching is focused on helping students develop critical thinking and writing skills that they can use throughout their lives. She is best known for her creative lectures on social deviance, which is her favorite topic to teach. Whether by discussing statistics or bringing furries into the classroom, Ms. Murphy is committed to helping all of her students in developing their sociological imaginations.