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.
Neeraj Bharadwaj
Neeraj Bharadwaj is a professor of marketing who joined the University of Tennessee in 2013. He designs his marketing courses so that his students can learn key concepts, frameworks, and analytical tools, apply what they are learning, and have some fun along the way. He has received numerous teaching awards and is often recognized for his research, which is currently focused on branding, innovation, and sustainability. He is also a founding member of the Sustainability Research Network.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
My department, college, and university administrators are adept at establishing a clear set of goals, communicating how faculty can contribute to achieving those goals, providing needed resources, and fostering a culture that rewards excellence. Thus, I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my research, teaching, and service activities at UT—the leadership has created a welcoming, vibrant environment that makes it enriching to be a Vol and inspires my fellow Vols to also give UT their all.
Sherrie Bruner
Sherrie is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Counselor Training Clinic in the Educational Psychology and Counseling Department. She is passionate about training counselors who embody values of care, respect, and advocacy for all people. Her teaching is focused on creating spaces where relationship is a catalyst for learning and growth and where every student knows their voice is important.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
Being a Volunteer means investing in those around me and building communities where people can thrive and grow. I have been so thankful to be able to create such a space through the extra teaching and clinical work my job at UT involves. A job where I am able to serve the UT community through provision of mental health services and develop counselors in the classroom is a dream job I didn’t know existed until it was mine.
Will Schleter
Will Schleter has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and an MS in instructional technology from UT. He has 20+ years teaching in the Engineering Fundamentals Program. Over those 20 years, he has taught over 20,000 students and developed many Web-based tools to effectively and efficiently manage the large EF classes, including a comprehensive customized learning management system and “the grading machine.”
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
I have been very fortunate to work in a position where I’ve had the opportunity and flexibility to make an impact on a very significant number of students. One of the greatest rewards is that I’ve been able to help transition the traditionally large, impersonal classes into classes that prioritize success and support for all students.
Hemant Sharma
Hemant Sharma is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and a member of the coaching staff for the SEC Champion Lady Vols soccer team. He is a graduate of Cornell University, where he earned a BA in English, was a recipient of the James E. Rice Writing Prize, and played goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team. He holds a PhD in political science from UT. He has co-authored four textbooks and written more than a dozen published articles for journals related to the study of law and courts.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
Being a Vol means being a part of a special family. Working at UT has enabled me to interact with exceptional teachers, teaching assistants, and students. Having a chance to learn from all these talented and hard-working individuals has challenged me to improve my teaching on a daily basis. Ultimately, it is the freedom to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue that makes all of us better. I accept this award on behalf of the many great teachers at UT who are equally deserving of recognition.