Woodward recognized with University Professorship

Dr. Jay Woodward’s teaching excellence is once again being recognized by Texas A&M University. Woodward was selected for a Thaman Professorship in Undergraduate Teaching Excellence.

The University Professorships in Undergraduate Teaching Excellence are conferred upon the most distinguished teachers of undergraduates. Honorees have exhibited uncommon excellence and devotion to the education and undergraduate students at Texas A&M.

Woodward, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, was recognized for not only being an exceptional classroom teacher, but also an innovator in pedagogy, exploring new teaching methods and seeking engagement with other educators in pursuit of excellence.

“From the implementation of project-based learning into my courses, integration of divergent-thinking into my assignments, and incorporation of field trips and global learning into my curriculum, I have sought to be both innovative and intentional in course design, putting these principles into practice in my own courses but also leading workshops through the Center for Teaching Excellence on how faculty at Texas A&M can mirror these efforts,” said Woodward. “The application of these strategies has allowed me to be recognized both by students and by colleagues for my work in the classroom, winning numerous teaching awards at the departmental, college, and University level.”

The UPUTE are for a period of three years and carry a $5,000 annual salary supplement during the term of the professorship and an annual discretionary bursary of $5,000 to support teaching programs and related professional development.

“I see the University Professor for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence not as a personal gain, but as a professional platform that I can use to extend the reach of my research, teaching, and service initiatives while simultaneously, by the very mission of the College of Education and Human Development in which I’m housed, transforming the lives of the students that I’m charged with the task of educating here at this University,” said Woodward.

Through this professorship, Woodward will remain committed to contributing to the ongoing professional development in teaching for colleagues at Texas A&M.

To learn more about the professorships and previous honorees, visit the Dean of Faculties site.