Friday is the final day to submit nominations for the Elsie M. Hood Award for Excellence in Teaching. Students are encouraged to continue nominating their favorite professors until the March 1 submission deadline. The award, which was proposed to Chancellor J.D. Williams in 1965, recognizes excellence in teaching at the University of Mississippi and is an immense honor for those who receive it.
“One thing that I think is absolutely vital about the Hood Award is that there is an organic element to the nomination process. It is not driven by university administrators or departmental awards committees, but by the students themselves,” Robert Brown, professor of political science said.
Brown is a member of the selection committee and a previous winner of the award. He emphasized the variety of factors that are taken into consideration when selecting a winner.
“We look to students to take the lead and tell us about teachers that have impacted them and created meaningful classroom experiences,” he said. “To receive the Hood Award, you must be nominated by students, and that is something that makes the award incredibly important to the recipient.”
Students can nominate their professors through a form on the award’s website or by emailing their submissions to chancellor@olemiss.edu. Any associate, assistant or full professor who has not previously won the award can be nominated, and students should consider those who have truly made an impact on their experience at UM.
When it comes to selection, Brown considers a number of factors.
“(I look at) nomination letters and student comments on teaching evaluations that reveal that the professor has helped light a spark in a student,” Brown said. “Somebody who has inspired a student to learn more, dig deeper and consider things they thought they already knew from different perspectives. I also look for a sustained level of excellence, someone who has been nominated over several years and whose record reflects a commitment to high quality teaching over a period of time.”
Since the award is determined by professors’ connection to their students and making a difference in the life of a learner, many faculty consider it more personal than distinctions in research and administration. To win the award means that a member of UM’s faculty is going above and beyond in their role as a researcher and professor.
“I love seeing my students succeed, but I also really love it when I am able to reach a student who may be struggling and help them to become successful in my class,” Jason Ritchie, chemistry professor and last year’s Elise M. Hood Award recipient, said. “It’s really a great feeling to see struggling students learn to be able to connect the dots for themselves, and become successful in a college science class.”
The winner receives a call from the chancellor notifying them that they have won, and their name is engraved on a plaque with all previous winners in the chancellor’s office. They also receive a personal plaque and a cash prize of $10,000. For those who have won, like Brown and Ritchie, it is a massive honor.
“To me this award is very, very special, and receiving it is certainly the highlight of my career,” Brown said. “It’s important to me to be a good teacher, to challenge my students to tackle difficult issues and think more complexly about things … and be challenged by them in return. I have a lot of respect for those who have received this award and to be considered among them means a great deal.”
