Nine faculty members recognized for teaching excellence

LAWRENCE — Nine faculty members at the University of Kansas are being recognized as winners of annual distinguished teaching awards.

The nine award recipients will be honored Thursday, Aug. 19, at the KU Teaching Summit.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Peter Grund, professor in the Department of English, will receive the Byron T. Shutz Trust Award. Established in 1978, the award alternates between recognizing excellent teaching in business and economics in even-numbered years and outstanding teaching in any discipline in odd-numbered years.

Kyle Velte, associate professor in the School of Law, will receive the Ned N. Fleming Trust Award. This award, established in 1990, recognizes outstanding teaching.

Lisa McLendon, William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications; Kelly Welch, associate teaching professor in the School of Business; and Elizabeth Brand Six, clinical professor in the School of Law, are the recipients of this year’s Bob & Kathie Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes nontenure track faculty.

Four faculty members at KU Medical Center will receive the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Awards, selected by a committee of Medical Center faculty and students. The recipients of these awards are Tami Gurley, associate professor in the Department of Population Health in the School of Medicine; Heather Nelson-Brantley, leadership program director and assistant professor in the School of Nursing; Patricia Kluding, professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science & Athletic Training within the School of Health Professions; and Belinda Vail, David M. Heuben Professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health within the School of Medicine.

“The recipients of these awards have demonstrated an outstanding ability to help our students reach their full potential,” Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said. “Through their exceptional teaching, these educators have earned the esteem of their students and their peers. They should be proud of their contribution to the important work of our university.”

The KU Teaching Summit takes place each August and is co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence, Office of the Provost and KU Medical Center. The conference is designed for faculty and instructional staff from the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses. Those interested in registering to attend may do so online or by contacting the Center for Teaching Excellence at cte@ku.edu.