Six faculty members to be honored at Commencement for outstanding teaching

LAWRENCE — Six faculty members will be honored at Commencement for outstanding work in the classroom during the 2011-12 academic year with distinguished teaching awards.

The Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Classroom Teaching annually honor faculty from the KU Medical Center for excellence in teaching. This year’s recipients are Won Choi, associate professor of preventive medicine and public health; John Dorsch, associate professor of family and community medicine; and Beth Levant, associate professor of pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutics.

Three faculty members from the Lawrence campus will be honored as well. Timothy Jackson, assistant professor of chemistry, is the recipient of the Silver Anniversary Award. The award, presented by the 25-year anniversary class, includes a $2,500 cash prize. It is presented annually to tenure-track faculty members.

Donna Ginther, professor of economics, is the winner of the Byron Shutz Award. The award was founded in 1978 to honor exceptional teaching in economics and business. It was modified in 1985 to include faculty from all disciplines in alternate years. Winners receive a $4,000 cash prize and present a lecture on their topic of expertise during the fall semester.

Dave Tell, assistant professor of communication studies, will receive the Ned N. Fleming Trust Award. The award recognizes distinguished teaching, scholarship and service and carries a $5,000 cash prize.

Commencement will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 13, in Memorial Stadium.