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Teaching awards honor faculty excellence across the university

Bobbi Patterson accepts her Emory Williams Award for Distinguished Teaching, presented by senior associate dean of faculty Michael Elliott, at the Emory College of Arts and Sciences diploma ceremony on Commencement Day. Emory Photo/Video.

The Emory Williams Award for Distinguished Teaching is the University's most prestigious teaching award, established in 1972 by alumnus Emory Williams to honor faculty for fostering participation, inquiry and creative expression in the classroom; proving a model for teaching and scholarship; and serving as a mentor to students. 

Presented with Emory Williams Teaching awards at their school diploma ceremonies were: 

  • Kimberly R. Jacob Arriola, associate professor of behavioral sciences and health education, Rollins School of Public Health
  • Thomas C. Arthur, L.Q C. Lamar Professor of Law, School of Law
  • Thomas F. Dodson, associate chairman, professor of surgery and chief of division of vascular surgery, School of Medicine
  • Arri Eisen, professor of pedagogy in biology, Emory College
  • Gregory C. Ellison II, assistant professor of pastoral counseling, Candler School of Theology
  • David Gowler, Pierce Professor of Religion, Oxford College
  • JB Kurish, associate professor in the practice of finance, Goizueta Business School
  • Hugo Mialon, associate professor of economics, Emory College
  • Barbara (Bobbi) Patterson, professor of pedagogy in religion, Emory College
  • Tami Thomas, assistant professor of nursing, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

The following 2014 faculty teaching awards were presented at school diploma ceremonies:


Candler School of Theology

  • Faculty Person of the Year: Teresa Fry Brown, professor of homiletics and director of Black Church Studies.
  • On Eagle's Wings Excellence in Teaching Award: Luther E. Smith Jr., professor of church and community,

Goizueta Business School

  • The Marc F. Adler Prize for Excellence in Teaching: Allison Burdette, assistant professor in the practice of business law
  • Donald R. Keough Award for Excellence for faculty: Rick Gilkey, professor in the practice of organization and management
  • Donald R. Keough Award for Excellence for staff: Alicia Sierra, assistant dean of diversity and community initiatives
  • BBA Distinguished Educator Award: Emily Bianchi, assistant professor of organization and management
  • MBA Teaching Excellence Award – Classic Faculty: Ray Hill, senior lecturer in finance
  • MBA Teaching Excellence Award – Junior Faculty: David Schweidel, associate professor of marketing  
  • Evening MBA Distinguished Core Educator Award: Kathryn Kadous, professor of accounting
  • Evening MBA Distinguished Elective Educator Award: Patrick Noonan, professor in the practice of decision and information analysis
  • MEMBA Distinguished Educator Award: Jeffrey Rummel, associate professor in the practice of information systems & operations management           
  • WEMBA Distinguished Educator Award: Shehzad Mian, associate professor of finance

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

  • Faculty-Student Collaborative Research Award (BSN): Jennifer Foster, associate professor of nursing and academic program coordinator of international health
  • Faculty-Student Collaborative Research Award (MSN): Rebecca Gary, associate professor of nursing

Rollins School of Public Health

  • Thomas F. Sellers Jr. Award: Hannah L. F. Cooper, associate professor, behavioral sciences and health
  • Student Government Associated Professor of the Year Award: Victoria Phillips, associate professor, health policy and management
  • Student Government Association Staff Person Member of the Year Award: Emily Lakemaker, assistant director, admissions

School of Law

  • Most Outstanding Professor:  Frank Alexander, Sam Nunn Professor of Law and founding director, Center for the Study of Law and Religion

School of Medicine

  • Evangeline Papageorge Teaching Award: Nicolas Krawiecki, professor of pediatric neurology
  • Dean's Distinguished Faculty Lecture and Award: Kerry Ressler, investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, affiliate scientist in the division of neuroscience at Yerkes National Primate Research Center and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences

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