2020 COS Teaching and Advising Awards

July 15, 2020
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photo of the koffler building

Photo credit: UArizona Alumni Association

 

Every year the College of Science recognizes outstanding faculty and advisors for their noteworthy participation in representing and contributing to the teaching and advising mission of the University. There are five different award categories to recognize these outstanding faculty members. This year we are happy to announce that we have four winners of such distinguished awards.

Bruce Bayly, Associate Professor, Mathematics

Distinguished Career Teaching Award

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image of Bruce Bayly doing a demo at graduation

Bruce Bayly

Firstly, a round of applause for Bruce Bayly, Associate Professor, Mathematics, on receiving the 2020 Distinguished Career Teaching Award! Each year this award is given in recognition of a long career as an outstanding classroom teacher and mentor of students at different levels and in diverse settings. "Bruce is well known in the mathematics department for his booming voice, his tireless energy, and his boundless enthusiasm. This energy and enthusiasm have led to his remarkable success as a teacher and to his equally remarkable outreach program. Bruce has inspired not only the thousands of students that he has taught, but through those that have themselves become teachers, he is inspiring many more.” (Doug Ulmer, PhD, Professor and Department Head Mathematics) Congrats Bruce!

Aditya Adiredja, Assistant Professor, Mathematics

Distinguished Early-Career Teaching Award

Next we have Aditya Adiredja, Assistant Professor, Mathematics, who has been chosen for the Distinguished Early-Career Teaching Award. This award is in recognition of outstanding classroom teaching, for less than 10 years, at the undergraduate or graduate levels. "Dr. Aditya Adiredja has engaged, empowered, and inspired numerous students, as well as more than a few of his colleagues. Specifically Adi advocates for approaches that enable students to thrive despite circumstances presenting challenges of various kinds. His early teaching career is already distinguished and we hope to see amazing things from him in the future." (Doug Ulmer, PhD, Professor and Department Head Mathematics) Way to go Aditya!

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Photo of Aditya Adiredja

Aditya Adiredja

Andrea Palacio, Academic Advisor II,  Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Distinguished Academic Advising Award

The next award is the Distinguished Academic Advising Award. Congratulations are in order to Andrea Palacio, Academic Advisor II,  Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The award is given annually by the College of Science to recognize one advisor from the college who demonstrates outstanding, extensive, and continuous involvement in undergraduate advising. "Ms. Palacio joined the department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as Academic Advisor in 2017, and it was quickly apparent that she was highly devoted to providing excellent advising and support to our undergraduate students. Over the ensuing years, Palacio has worked to advance the support of students in a programmatic manner to complement her one-on-one advising and mentoring. This includes the creation and implementation of a Freshman seminar to promote academic success, involvement in student groups, and her active role in support of the development of student leaders." (Pélagie M. Beeson, PhD, Professor and Department Head, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) Congrats Andrea!

Molly Bolger, Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Distinguished Achievement in Science Education Award

Finally, congratulations to Molly Bolger, Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology, on being given the Distinguished Achievement in Science Education Award! Dr. Bolger is being recognized for outstanding contributions directed toward systematic improvement of science and mathematics education beyond the classroom. "Dr. Bolger has made enormous contributions to science education at the University and beyond. These contributions began with reforming her own class, continued with leading the  reform  of our major service course, and culminated in taking the initiative to completely redesign our introductory laboratory course. The new lab course has quantifiably improved learning and retention across our diverse range of students. I am thus confident that it will become a model for similar courses across the nation. Together, these activities demonstrate that Dr. Bolger exemplifies the goals of the Distinguished Achievement in Science Education award." (Joyce Schroeder, PhD, Professor and Department, Head, Molecular and Cellular Biology) Congrats again Molly!

 

The College of Science is proud of the accomplishments of the 2020 Teaching and Advising Award winners, Bruce Bayly, Aditya Adiredja, Molly Bolger, and Andrea Palacio. We celebrate their dedication to educating our students and perfecting their craft of teaching and advising.