Educators Honored at Annual Celebration of Teaching
Saint Louis University celebrated teaching on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the SLU community gathered in the Sinquefield Stateroom in DuBourg Hall for the third annual Celebration of Teaching. The event honors educators who won institution-level awards this academic year.
This year’s event recognized:
- Sean Goretzke, M.D. (Neurology) and Melissa Ochoa, Ph.D. (Women’s and Gender Studies): Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award recipients
- Marcea Walter (Health Management and Policy): Alpha Sigma Nu’s Nancy McNeir Ring Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Amanda Barton, Ph.D. (RISE Counselor), and Carolyn O'Laughlin, Ph.D. (Education): University Core Ignite Instructor of the Year Award
- Aidan Ruth, Ph.D. (Center for Anatomical Science and Education): The Reinert Center’s James H. Korn Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award
In recorded remarks, Provost Mike Lewis, Ph.D., reflected on the significance of the ceremony. Lewis said teaching was his passion and should be celebrated. He praised all the educators at SLU who fulfilled the University's mission.
Each year, the ceremony features a brief TED-style talk by the honorees on a shared topic. With Goretzke unable to attend, the other five educators shared their thoughts on teaching, their journey to the profession, and offered encouragement to their colleagues.
A common theme from many of the speakers was the value of mentors. Ochoa said it was a college teacher who first planted the seed that maybe she should consider teaching. Walter shared a similar story while Barton talked about the importance of mentoring the next generation.
All the speakers shared their passion for teaching and educating. Ruth explained how she tries to teach a complex subject, anatomy, in ways that students can understand. O'Laughlin noted that her enthusiasm for her work and actual caring are noticed by students. If you care, she said, they will, too.