Four University of Iowa faculty members are recipients of the 2023 President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing their exceptional and ongoing contributions to student learning and success.
Established in 2004 by the UI Council on Teaching, the President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence is the university’s highest honor for teaching. Each year, the council selects three clinical-track or tenure-track faculty members and one instructional-track or adjunct faculty member to receive the award.
This year’s recipients are Mitchell Kelly, clinical professor of learning sciences and educational psychology in the College of Education; David Murhammer, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering in the College of Engineering; Lorie Reins-Schweer, professor of legal analysis, writing and research in the College of Law; and Joseph Yockey, David H. Vernon Professor of Law in the College of Law.
The four awardees embody the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and serve as inspirational examples of the impact the UI faculty can have on their students.
Kelly has been a faculty member in the College of Education for more than 25 years, educating and influencing thousands of UI students along the way. He is widely recognized for his exceptional teaching skills, dedication to students, and innovative contributions to graduate education. Students consistently praise him as the best instructor they’ve ever had, and he is known for his passion for teaching and student learning. He is the director of the Office for Graduate Teaching Excellence, which offers a certificate program in college teaching, and he has received numerous awards and honors, including the College of Education Collegiate Teaching Award. He is an engaging and dynamic teacher who sets high expectations, encourages student participation, and forms strong relationships with his students. Kelly has played a significant role in curriculum development for graduate programs in the college, has led a First-Year Seminar, and has taught courses in India and Thailand.