Gainesville, Fla. — During the annual College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) awards banquet, held April 12, faculty and staff were recognized for their outstanding teacher and advising accomplishments.
“The college has a tradition of teaching and advising excellence because of our faculty and staff’s commitment to student success,” said CALS Dean Elaine Turner. “Our award winners this year continue that tradition by providing high-quality classroom instruction, implementing innovative teaching practices, and supporting and advising students through their challenges and triumphs.”
This year’s award winners included the following:
Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award
The award for early career excellence in teaching is given to faculty members who have excelled in employing innovative teaching methods early in their career.
- Miguel Acevedo, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Adam Watson, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Undergraduate Advisor of the Year Award
Faculty and staff recognized as undergraduate advisors of the year have been effective in engaging undergraduate students through advising, mentoring and supporting students through their collegiate experience.
- Kate Fletcher, Family, Youth and Community Sciences
- Allyson Trimble, Animal Sciences
Undergraduate Teacher of the Year
Faculty members recognized as undergraduate teachers of the year exemplify excellence, innovation and effectiveness through undergraduate courses.
- Jamie Loizzo, Agricultural Education and Communication
- William Pelletier, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Graduate Teacher/Advisor of the Year
Graduate teachers/advisors of the year are faculty members who excel in teaching, advising and mentoring graduate students through coursework and the students’ individual research projects.
- Amr Abd-Elrahman, Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Zhifeng Gao, Food and Resource Economics
CALS Excellence in Graduate Program Support Award
This award recognizes a staff member who provided outstanding graduate student program support, from recruitment to commencement. This year’s winner has transitioned to another position at the University of Florida since the award period concluded.
- Gregg Henderschiedt, Family, Youth and Community Sciences
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The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) administers the degree programs of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The mission of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is to deliver unsurpassed educational programs that prepare students to address the world’s critical challenges related to agriculture, food systems, human wellbeing, natural resources and sustainable communities. The college has received more total (national and regional combined) USDA teaching awards than any other institution.