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\nDistinguished Teacher Award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Long before she taught at Florida State University, Professor of Biological Science Nora Underwood led science field trips for elementary school students at a national park.<\/p>\n
Learning how to work with children gave her the first glimpse at how to clearly communicate with different audiences. More than two decades later, she is still thinking about the best ways to get her point across with students, even though they are now much older.<\/p>\n
In honor of her work in the classroom, Underwood received FSU\u2019s 2021-22 Distinguished Teacher Award during the annual Faculty Awards Dinner April 27.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy teaching is very important to me, and I work very hard on it,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cIt is nice to know that the students see that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Distinguished Teacher Award is the university\u2019s most prestigious honor for teaching and includes a $7,500 stipend.<\/p>\n
Underwood, an ecologist, started teaching at FSU in 2002 after completing her doctoral studies at Duke University and then working as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate at University of California, Davis. During her time at FSU, she has taught a variety of classes including the Ecology of Food, Conservation Biology and Biology II, plus a variety of graduate classes.<\/p>\n
Underwood requires extensive writing from all of her students. In several of her courses, students draft a funding proposal, similar to what faculty members write when they apply for funding from government agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn most science courses, students don\u2019t write as much, but I feel that writing is important for any career,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cIt may be a proposal for funding, or it may be pitching an idea to your boss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Underwood said she was honored to receive the Distinguished Teacher Award and noted her appreciation for colleagues who have shared tips and tricks of the profession. She has learned particularly from discussions with Associate Professor Alice Winn and others in the Department of Biological Science Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and from informal \u201ccoffee hour\u201d discussions among Biology faculty hosted by Professor Tom Miller. He puts on a pot of coffee in the faculty lounge and invites professors to share challenges and solutions in their research, service and teaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking to other teachers and collaborating is so important,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Underwood also received a Graduate Faculty Mentor Award for the 2021-22 academic year.<\/p>\n
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sam Huckaba said the college, which includes the Department of Biological Sciences, prides itself on its teaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a college that teaches, literally, every undergraduate student at one time or another, Arts and Sciences faculty place high expectations on themselves to deliver excellence in the classroom,\u201d he said. \u201cNora Underwood is an outstanding teacher and a shining example of that commitment. I am so pleased to see that she has been recognized with this award.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other outstanding FSU faculty members recognized at this year\u2019s faculty awards were:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH PROFESSOR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Amy Ai, College of Social Work<\/p>\n Igor Alabugin, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry<\/p>\n William Dewar, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science<\/p>\n Stephen Hill, Department of Physics<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n DEVELOPING SCHOLAR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Sonia Cabell, School of Teacher Education<\/p>\n Mariana Fuentes, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science<\/p>\n Daniel Hallinan, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering<\/p>\n Jeremy Owens, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science<\/p>\n Lingjiong Zhu, Department of Mathematics<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRADUATE FACULTY MENTOR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Jonathan H. Dennis, Department of Biological Science<\/p>\n Elizabeth Slate, Department of Statistics<\/p>\n Hedi Mattoussi, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry<\/p>\n Nora Underwood, Department of Biological Science<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH MENTOR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Michael Franklin, Honors Program<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n HONORS THESIS MENTOR AWARD\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n Debra Fadool, Department of Biological Science<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Mia Hines, College of Education<\/p>\n Korey Lowry, College of Health and Human Sciences<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n OUTSTANDING GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Dawn Carr, Department of Sociology<\/p>\n Phil Hiver, School of Teacher Education<\/p>\n Therese Kemper, Department of Psychology<\/p>\n Alexandria Meyer, Department of Psychology<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n OUTSTANDING TEACHING IN THE MAJOR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Malia Bruker, School of Communication<\/p>\n Elizabeth Cecil, Department of Religion<\/p>\n Jeffrey Chagnon, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science<\/p>\n Jim Dawkins, Department of Interior Architecture and Design<\/p>\n Keith Ferguson, Department of Marketing<\/p>\n Lisa Griffiths, Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology<\/p>\n Patricia Homan, Department of Sociology<\/p>\n Brendan Lantz, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice<\/p>\n Yelena McLane, Department of Interior Architecture and Design<\/p>\n Onsurang Norrbin, Department of Economics<\/p>\n Teresa Roach, Department of Sociology<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n FOUNDATIONAL COURSE EXCELLENCE AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Kristina Bowers, Department of Mathematics<\/p>\n Joe Calhoun, Department of Economics<\/p>\n Michael Hammock, Department of Economics<\/p>\n Stephanie Sickler, Department of Interior Architecture and Design<\/p>\n Geoffrey Thomas, Department of Anthropology<\/p>\n Yaineli Vald\u00e9s, Department of Mathematics<\/p>\n Chuck Viosca, Department of Marketing<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n COMMUNITY ENGAGED TEACHING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Tisha Holmes, Department of Urban and Regional Planning (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Laura McTighe, Department of Religion (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n Darby Scott, College of Law (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n INCLUSIVE TEACHING AND MENTORING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Jaclyn Fiscus-Cannaday, Department of English (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Azat Gundogan, Honors Program (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n Lara Perez-Felkner, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Gregory Springer, College of Music (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Geoffrey Strouse, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n INNOVATION IN TEACHING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Erin Ryan, College of Law (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Jeff Whalen, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE TEACHING AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n Lisa B. Johnson, College of Social Work (Graduate Award)<\/p>\n Charla Perdue, College of Applied Studies (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n Svetoslava Slaveva-Griffin, Department of Classics (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n Karen Works, College of Applied Studies (Undergraduate Award)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ROBERT O. LAWTON DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AWARD<\/u><\/p>\n 2022-2023, Maxine Montgomery, Department of English<\/p>\n<\/div>\n