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UT System recognizes faculty earning national teaching credential

Great teachers never stop learning.

Twenty-two faculty members representing University of Texas academic institutions were honored for earning a national teaching credential through a UT System initiative to support student success.

Last summer, the educators agreed to participate in a pilot of the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) “Course in Effective Teaching Practices,” which leads to the nationally recognized Certificate in Effective College Instruction.

A pinning ceremony in Dallas Friday celebrated the educators’ achievement and personal commitment to encouraging student learning and success.

“We congratulate and thank these dedicated faculty members for completing this rigorous program,” UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said. “Each committed a significant amount of time and effort to learning how they could better teach, support and motivate students.

“As part of our combined efforts to support student success, we have been collaborating with UT institutions to provide impactful professional development and to honor and enhance the faculty’s role in those efforts,” Milliken added.

The Certificate in Effective College Instruction is the only nationally recognized teaching credential endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE). Participants continued teaching during the 25-week online course, implementing the strategies they were learning into their classes and then providing reflection and self-evaluation. The modules addressed more than 200 teaching methods aligned with the latest research in cognition and adult learning. 

The pilot was offered through a partnership between the UT System’s Faculty Advisory Council and Office of Academic Affairs. The purpose is to improve student outcomes for each participating faculty member as well as engage faculty more intentionally in high-impact and cutting-edge pedagogies.

"As a pre-tenure faculty member, I’m still learning what it means to be an excellent teacher. Participating in the ACUE course has given me the knowledge and tools to help transform my courses and my teaching style to be more successful in the classroom," said Danielle J.S. Bailey, assistant professor of criminal justice at UT Tyler. "I have implemented so many new things into my teaching as result of this course, and I already have seen positive changes in my students’ learning, engagement and motivation. I know that as I go forward, the skills I learned in the ACUE course will help me ensure a quality educational experience for me and for my students."

The following UT faculty members completed the ACUE Course in Effective Teaching Practices:

  • Yannick Atouba, Assistant Professor of Communication, UT El Paso
  • Danielle J.S. Bailey, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, UT Tyler
  • Gregory Bock, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, UT Tyler
  • Paul Conrad, Assistant Professor of History, UT Arlington
  • Susan Doty, Director of the Center for Economic Education & Literacy and Senior Lecturer in Economics, UT Tyler
  • Jessica Garrett, Associate Professor of Education, UT Permian Basin
  • Elena Izquierdo, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, UT El Paso
  • Sabiha Khan, Assistant Professor of Communication, UT El Paso
  • Imane Hijal-Moghrabi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UT Permian Basin
  • Arlett Lomeli, Assistant Professor of Sociology, UT Rio Grande Valley
  • Kathryn L. Lookadoo, Clinical Assistant Professor of Organizations, Strategy and International Management, UT Dallas
  • Donna Miller, Lecturer I in Sociology, UT San Antonio
  • Sarah E. Moore, Clinical Assistant Professor of Organizations, Strategy and International Management, UT Dallas
  • Mark Owens, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UT Tyler
  • Corrine Peschka, Lecturer in Developmental English, UT El Paso
  • Nicholas Pollock, Lecturer in Biology, UT Arlington
  • Adeeba Abdul Raheem, Clinical Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, UT El Paso
  • LesLeigh Ring, Lecturer II in Communication, UT San Antonio
  • Catherine Ross, Associate Professor of English, UT Tyler
  • Antoinette Sol, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Modern Languages, UT Arlington
  • Jacob White, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, UT Rio Grande Valley
  • Zaena Zamora, Lecturer I in Mathematics, UT Rio Grande Valley

About The University of Texas System
For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 14 institutions, an enrollment of nearly 240,000 students and an operating budget of $19.5 billion (FY 2019), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 60,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and almost two-thirds of its health professional degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 8.2 million outpatient visits and 1.6 million hospital days last year. Across UT institutions, research and development expenditures total $2.9 billion – the second highest among U.S. public higher education systems – and the UT System is regularly ranked among the top 10 most innovative universities in the world. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and more than 83,000 health care professionals, researchers and support staff.

News Contact Information

Karen Adler: kadler@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct) • 210-912-8055 (cell)