Three University of Wyoming professors have received the University of Wyoming's John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award. The award was created in 1977 by businessman John P. "Jack" Ellbogen to, in his words,"foster, encourage and reward excellence in classroom teaching at UW."

Associate Professor Doug Russell, from UW's Department of Art, is recognized by the a UW press release as bringing out the best in his students.

“Doug does much more than merely instruct students. He mentors, supports and takes time to help them find their own voice as creative artists,” says nominator Ricki Klages, head of the UW Department of Art.

The release goes on to say Professor Russell teaches various art drawing courses at the University, as well as an international summer course in Turkey.

Russell has worked with the University since 2005 and earned a B.A. from Columbia and an MFA from the University of Iowa.

Also honored is Associate Professor Peter Parolin.

UW faculty members give Parolin high praise for his

Peter Parolin
Peter Parolin
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teaching methods and commitment to his students.

“I have never seen a faculty member who is better at engaging a whole class in discussion. Peter seems to do nothing special, but he does,” wrote fellow Professor Duncan Harris. “He does not hesitate to call on students, and he uses their names and some reference to a past contribution to motivate them to speak. He cares enough about his students to remember what they have said, and that concern speaks volumes about Peter's commitment to his students.”

Parolin received a B.A. degree in English and History at the University of British Columbia, and earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. in English at the University of Pennsylvania.

Awardee Assistant Professor Naomi Ward splits her days between the Department of Molecular Biology and the Department of Botany.

"Courtesy of Naomi Ward"
"Courtesy of Naomi Ward"
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According to the UW release, Ward is in her sixth year as a faculty member of the University.

“Naomi is simply a gifted teacher,” says Anne Sylvester, a molecular biology professor and director of UW's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (ESPCoR). “She excels not only in content delivery, but in designing courses that are relevant and rigorous.”

Ward earned her doctorate from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom; and her B.A. from the University of Queensland, Australia.

 

 

 

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