Excellence in Teaching is bestowed by the Office of the Chancellor and the Teaching Council of the Faculty Senate to honor outstanding work in the classroom.
Miroslav Hristov
A native of Bulgaria, Miroslav Hristov is a professor of violin in the School of Music. His recent teaching awards include the Tennessee Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year, the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher Award, and the UT School of Music’s Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award.
What does this award mean to you?
I learn a great deal from teaching my students. The more I give to them, the more I get in return. This award is very special to me since teaching is the most rewarding part of my professional career. Seeing my students every day and watching them develop into formidable young artists is what gets me up in the morning and gives me hope for the future.
Beauvais Lyons
Beauvais Lyons, Chancellor’s Professor of printmaking, has been at UT since 1985. His one-person exhibitions have been presented at more than 80 galleries and museums across the US. He has been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in Poland, the Santo Foundation Artist Award, and the Southeastern College Art Conference Distinguished Teaching of Art Award. The MFA printmaking program under his direction was ranked third in the country this year among public universities by U.S. News & World Report.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you?
My artistic practice and teaching are guided by a commitment to service and public engagement. In teaching I strive to convey my firsthand knowledge of and enthusiasm for the printed arts and to encourage students to develop a personal relationship with their discipline and see the ways it can have meaning in the world. In this context, I approach teaching as community process that involves the students as fellow co-creators as we push each other into new territories of knowing.
Max Schuchard
Max Schuchard is a professor of computer science. His teaching and research focus on cyber security. He is known for his seamless integration of theory and practice in his courses, establishing foundational knowledge and preparing students equally well for academic and applied work, and for incorporating a variety of perspectives to ensure that students fully understand the topic at hand.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you?
Being a Vol means being curious and engaged in the world around us. Our ability to impact our society for the better is directly proportional to our drive.
Mark Tabone
Mark Tabone is a lecturer in the Department of English, where he teaches courses in academic and business writing as well as American and African American literature. Among the hallmarks of his teaching is his ability to tie literature to current events and tensions, helping his students understand and navigate complex issues.
What does this award mean to you?
It means a great deal. I have devoted my life and career to higher education. I put so much energy and so much of myself into my teaching, and it’s heartwarming to hear from others that it is working.