Congratulations to Dr. Ronald A. Yaros and to Dr. David A. Crocker, Winners of the 2012 UGST Teaching Awards.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s UGST teaching awards.  Two teaching awards are given annually at the end of the academic year. One award is for teachers in General Education/CORE courses, and the other is for teachers in an Undergraduate Studies program course.  These awards recognize our outstanding teachers, the best of the best. Those teachers who changed the lives of their students, influenced their career directions, set the bar high, and helped students leap over it. The awards are based on nominations by students who have taken courses with these gifted teachers and are thus best able to tell us about their qualities. Congratulations to these teachers and others who are here for your commitment to excellence in teaching.

General Education/CORE Teaching Award:  The General Education/CORE Teaching Award goes to Dr. Ronald A. Yaros, Assistant Professor in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.  Dr. Yaros teaches courses including “Introduction to Mass Communication,” and “Information 3.0.” He was nominated by Lynda Ostermann, a former student. In describing Dr. Yaros’ teaching, his nomination included observations that:

A. His courses engage students through the use of discussion, electronic consultation and innovative pedagogy; for instance, his Introduction to Mass Communication includes interviews of journalists and tours of news stations using Wimba Classroom Live, a real-time virtual classroom environment.
B. His pedagogy improves student writing with real-world assignments and detailed, personalized feedback. In fact, one nominator says that a blog she created in his class helped her to be hired for an internship.
C. His teaching has impact outside the classroom, for example, an alumnus of Information 3.0 is now using techniques from Information 3.0 to document medical procedures in Bolivia.

Undergraduate Studies Program Course Teaching Award: The Undergraduate Studies Course Award goes to Dr. David A. Crocker, Director, Public Leadership Program, College Park Scholars, and Director, International Development Specialization, School of Public Policy. Dr. Crocker teaches courses including “Leadership and Social Change” and “Leadership for the Common Good.”
Dr. Crocker’s nomination commented that:

A. His teaching engages students with open discussions that encourage opposing viewpoints and equal treatment of all contributors (including Dr. Crocker).
B. His courses create understanding of leadership, citizenship, and community through a careful combination of theory with practical examples and life experience. In “Leadership for the Common Good,” for example, students get to participate in a Community Based Learning Project that actualizes their understanding of civic engagement and community citizenship.