By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
Ronald D. Simpson, known as a “teacher of teachers” for his work over the past 20 years to  strengthen instruction at UGA and in other Georgia colleges and universities, is a recipient of this year’s Regents Teaching Excellence Award.
Presented by the University System of Georgia, the award recognizes faculty members and academic programs at system schools for a “superlative teaching record” and a commitment to helping students achieve academic success.
Simpson, acting director of UGA’s Institute of Higher Education and former director of the Office of Instructional Support and Development, received the award at the March meeting of the University System Board of Regents in Atlanta. Also receiving the award, which includes a $5,000 prize, were professors at Floyd College and Armstrong Atlantic State University and academic programs at Kennesaw State University and Valdosta State University.
Winners are chosen from among nominees submitted by the 34 colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia.
Simpson joined the Institute of Higher Education full-time in 1996 after serving 15 years as founding director of the Office of Instructional Support and Development. He has been acting director of the institute for two years.
Under Simpson’s leadership, ISD started or supported more than 30 programs and activities that have dramatically improved the quality of instruction in UGA’s classrooms and laboratories, and helped faculty at other institutions become better teachers.
Among those programs are two specifically cited by the award judges: the Lilly Teaching Fellows Program, which has given guidance in improving teaching skills to more than 150 young UGA faculty members, and the Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program, which has helped 160 faculty members from 37 Georgia colleges and universities learn new methods to improve teaching.
“In my judgment, Ron Simpson has done more than anyone else during the past 20 years to improve teaching and strengthen instructional practice at the university,” says Tom Dyer, vice president for instruction. “I would also argue that he has done as much as any other person in Georgia to improve collegiate teaching in our state. I don’t believe there is a more deserving recipient of this award.” |
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