USU Honors Undergraduate Teaching Fellows of the Year

It’s often said that if you really want to understand a subject, try teaching it. Utah State University recently recognized six undergraduates who have taken that adage to heart and demonstrated outstanding effort in sharing their knowledge with peers.

USU honored Ben Abbott, Chad Dallon, Andrew Hall, Diane Lewis, Jennifer Nielson and Autumn Newson as 2007 Undergraduate Teaching Fellows of the Year at an April 10 luncheon and ceremony hosted by Executive Vice President and Provost Raymond T. Coward.

 

“We’re grateful to these students and applaud their efforts in enriching the learning environment for everyone at Utah State University,” says Coward. “Their leadership and examples of perseverance strengthen our academic mission.”

 

Each Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year represents one of the university’s seven colleges.

 

Abbott is the honoree from the College of Natural Resources. A junior Watershed Sciences major, he is recognized for his work in the oceanography class of faculty mentor Anne Knowlton. Abbott serves as Watershed Sciences representative on the college’s student council and is a member of the USU Cycling Club and Aggie Recyclers.

 

Abbott plans a career that combines his interests in natural resources issues and journalism.

 

Dallon represents the College of Science and is recognized for his work in human dissection and anatomy courses taught by Biology faculty member Andy Anderson.

He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in biology and plans to attend medical school.

 

Dallon has been involved in research of the Bluetongue virus in Joseph Li’s lab and is employed as a certified nurse aide with Community Nursing Services Home Health and Hospice.

 

Hall is the honoree from the College of Engineering. He is recognized for his work in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Laboratory and in public health laboratory classes taught by faculty members Laurie McNeill and Sonia Manuel-Dupont.

 

Hall graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and plans to pursue graduate study. He volunteers with Engineers Without Borders and traveled with the group to Peru last summer to build safe drinking water systems in several communities.

 

Lewis represents the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She is recognized for her work in the media smarts course taught by faculty mentors Jeremy Gordon and Ted Pease.

 

A junior print journalism major, Lewis will pursue a summer internship with Ogden’s Standard-Examiner newspaper before traveling to Denmark next fall as part of USU’s study abroad program.

 

Newson is the honoree from the College of Education and Human Services. She is recognized for her work in Manuel-Dupont’s developmental phonology course. A student leader in the Mortar Board society, Newson graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders and deaf education.

 

During the past nine summers, Newson worked with the Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles program, where she trained teenagers in life skills and occupational opportunities. Following graduation, she plans to pursue graduate study.

 

Nielson represents the College of Agriculture. She is recognized for her work in the advanced clothing construction class taught by faculty mentor Betti Murri.

 

In 2002, Nielson returned to USU following a 10-year absence to complete her degree in family and consumer sciences education. Despite a near-fatal automobile accident in 2003, she continued her studies and graduates this spring with cum laude honors. Nielsen begins graduate studies next fall.

 

About 350 students currently serve in USU’s undergraduate teaching fellows program, which is administered by associate deans in each college. Fellows, usually juniors or seniors, are selected to assist a faculty mentor in the design and delivery of an undergraduate course and receive a financial stipend for their services.

 

“Participants gain greater appreciation for the complexity involved in teaching a course and have the opportunity to ‘try on’ an academic career,” says Steven Hanks, vice provost. “Both students and faculty say the experience is rewarding.”

 

Contact: Steven Hanks [steven.hanks@usu.edu], 435-797-2373