Earlier this week, a rite of spring played out at Mizzou. Chancellor Brady Deaton and an entourage of reporters visited classrooms across campus to personally deliver an award that celebrates excellent teaching — the Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence. The awards are given to five faculty members each year. This year’s winners are:
Michael Barnes, assistant professor of classical studies, combines diverse approaches to create a casual, unrehearsed feeling in the classroom. He teaches both introductory and graduate level courses in the Honors College, humanities sequence and languages.
Srinath Gopalakrishna, professor of marketing, prepares for his lectures like training for a race: He combines different strengths, strategies and training methods to perform best in an unpredictable atmosphere. He teaches each marketing concept as if it is a fantastic new discovery for mankind because it is, in fact, a new discovery for his students.
Anand Prahlad’s students say that by asking challenging, thought-provoking questions he encourages his students to reflect on their own preconceptions and beliefs. Prahlad, professor of English, specializes in contemporary poetry and “folkloristics,” which is the study of folklore and culture studies of the African Diaspora.
Gregory Triplett, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, teaches some of the most difficult courses in the undergraduate and graduate engineering program. Colleagues say he is one of the brightest spots in their department when it comes to student interaction and personal attention.
Michael Ugarte, professor of Romance languages, introduces students to the Spanish language, literature and culture by helping them experience a new view of the world. Students say his capacity to mediate between the text and students’ attitudes comes from his teaching talent and his trust and respect for students.