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.
Bob DuBois
Bob DuBois is a senior lecturer and associate director of undergraduate studies in psychology. Before joining UT, he served as the lead psychology instructor at Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin. DuBois earned his PhD in educational psychology at Marquette University. He also holds master’s degrees in industrial/organizational psychology and counseling psychology from Western Kentucky University and the University of Texas at Tyler, respectively.
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?
“As a Volunteer, I light the path and shadow myself to help transform our students into successful lifelong learners and our faculty and staff into successful learning facilitators. As a first-generation college graduate, I benefited from the light generously provided by others. UT has encouraged me to model and share evidence-based strategies for learning, staying motivated, being productive, navigating through difficulties, and flourishing with a university education.”
Xingli Giam
Xingli Giam is an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He completed his BSc (Hons I) and MSc in biology at National University of Singapore, and his PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University. His research focuses on examining anthropic impacts in tropical and freshwater ecosystems. Giam has taught classes at different levels in which he uses a variety of approaches, including role-playing exercises and case study discussions. He is also a UT Promise mentor.
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 that I’m fully invested in the community I am in. I believe that education can contribute to improving socioeconomic mobility and reduce inequities in society. I’m fortunate to be able to work with fellow faculty and administrative staff at UT who share my passion of education and mentorship. They, along with my students, inspire me to be the very best teacher and mentor I can be.”
Frances Harper
Frances K. Harper is an associate professor of STEM (mathematics) education in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education. Her research broadly focuses on issues of equity and justice in mathematics education, teacher education, and family and community engagement, particularly within urban contexts. She views research and teaching as transformative when done in collaboration with students and communities.
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 is characterized by a passion for promoting social change through conscientious service and leadership (not volunteerism or saviorism). Embodying this Volunteer spirit involves listening to and learning from the diverse perspectives of community partners to support and co-lead collaborative efforts that truly benefit communities. UT’s commitments to community engaged scholarship have allowed me to prioritize community collaboration and perspectives across everything I do.”
Wanessa Velloso
Wanessa Velloso is a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. She has been at UT since 2010 and teaches the lower-division Portuguese courses. She designs and updates the Canvas course sites that are used for content delivery. She is often in charge of organizing events for the Portuguese program; she is also the advisor of the student organization CLIP, the Portuguese Language Club.
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?
“Vol is a verb—in the active and passive voice: we are agents and recipients of all the actions that bring the Vol spirit to fruition. It means being immersed in a culture of collaboration, respect, and openness to what is new and different. I have met extraordinary people at UT who have contributed to my personal and professional growth. All this translates into a language learning experience that fosters independence, critical thinking, and intercultural communication.”