Highest teaching award at the University of Arkansas. Recognizes a teacher who excels at teaching and mentoring undergraduates.
The Teaching Academy consists of faculty members recognized by peers for their excellence in teaching and in building rapport with students.
Only eight faculty members are inducted to join each year.
Highest teaching award given from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Highest distinction given to a graduate of the program
Earned the commendation for engaging in significant faculty development programs
This award is named after Wally Cordes, a masterful professor who was committed to student's well-being. Six times a year a faculty member is chosen for the award because they are recognized by colleagues as being student-centered. The award comes with two things. First, the winner gets to keep the rocking chair in their office for a month, and second, they get to give a talk on any teaching topic that matters to them.
I decided to talk about all the things that I learned from my students. I told stories of things that my students did that taught me how to be a good teacher. Teaching is about transaction and transformation. As I teach, I grow. As they learn, they grow.
2015
One of few chosen to attend football practice
2019
2009
Alumni of Distinction, May 2022
Lynn Meade is an instructor in the U of A's Communication Department, where she has taught since 2003. As a result of her dedication to students, she earned the Imhoff Teaching and Mentoring Award in 2018 and the Fulbright Master Teacher Award in 2022. She was nominated three times for teaching honors by the Student Alumni Association and Associated Student Government. Student-athletes voted her the Game Day Professor in 2009 and 2015. She was inducted into the Teaching Academy in 2019.
Meade currently serves as a co-director for the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, where she helps design programs to assist the faculty with their scholarship of teaching. She conducts teaching seminars for the Department of Communication, the Graduate School and the Teaching and Faculty Support Center. She recently wrote an open resource advanced public speaking textbook for the university.
Lynn Meade, instructor in the Department of Communication, whom her colleague and nominator Margaret Butcher describes as "the kind of teacher that students will remember long after they graduate … for the way she cared about them and the way that she challenged them." Butcher said Meade has taught 38 classes from 2018-2021, previously won the Imhoff Award for Teaching and Mentoring, was inducted into the U of A Teaching Academy, was a Wally Cordes Chair speaker and received the TFSC Faculty Commendation, which led her to become a co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. "Dr. Meade seeks out creative and highly relevant teaching methods while providing rigorous content. She teaches using traditional pedagogical methods, but also tries new technologies, engages students with the community and provides learning opportunities where students can grow personally, professionally and intellectually," Butcher said. Meade also created a study abroad program in Ireland and is one of the 33 teachers from Fulbright College who are participating in the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) microcredential in Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment. "Dr. Meade exemplifies what it is to be a master teacher."
Inducted into the Teaching Academy. December 2019.
The Teaching Academy consists of faculty members who have been recognized by their peers, colleges and the university for their excellence in teaching, including excellence in classroom teaching. Other criteria for being selected to the Academy include a professor’s ability to establish a special rapport with students, to instill in them a love for learning, and to encourage them to go beyond the expectations of the classroom and to explore their disciplines for themselves. The Academy’s mission is to advocate and represent teaching interests, promote, and stimulate an environment of teaching and learning excellence, and encourage recognition and reward for exceptional teaching.
Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring, December 2018.
The Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship recognizes faculty members at the University of Arkansas who have demonstrated consistent and committed excellence in teaching, instruction and mentoring, all qualities central to the mission of a student-centered institution. Nominees must: instruct an introductory or entry-level course that introduces students to their discipline or acquaints students with a discipline; demonstrate excellence in classroom teaching; demonstrate excellence in student advising and mentoring, including formal academic advising, informal advising, student group or club advising, special project or research instruction and advising, and professional mentorship.
Faculty Commendation, 2019. Teaching and Faculty Support Center. University of Arkansas.
Game Day Professor. University of Arkansas, October 2009 and 2015.
Senior athletes nominate and vote on the top two professors to receive the distinction of “Game Day Professor.”
Teaching Award Finalist. University of Arkansas 2008.
Student Alumni Board and Associated Student Government 9th Annual Faculty Appreciation Banquet. Limited number of invitations based on student nominations.
Teaching Award Finalist. University of Arkansas, 2007.
Student Alumni Board and Associated Student Government 8th Annual Faculty Appreciation Banquet.
Halls of Excellence Teaching Award. Northwest Arkansas Community College, 2003.
Alumni of Distinction, May 2022
Lynn Meade is an instructor in the U of A's Communication Department, where she has taught since 2003. As a result of her dedication to students, she earned the Imhoff Teaching and Mentoring Award in 2018 and the Fulbright Master Teacher Award in 2022. She was nominated three times for teaching honors by the Student Alumni Association and Associated Student Government. Student-athletes voted her the Game Day Professor in 2009 and 2015. She was inducted into the Teaching Academy in 2019.
Meade currently serves as a co-director for the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, where she helps design programs to assist the faculty with their scholarship of teaching. She conducts teaching seminars for the Department of Communication, the Graduate School and the Teaching and Faculty Support Center. She recently wrote an open resource advanced public speaking textbook for the university.
Lynn Meade, instructor in the Department of Communication, whom her colleague and nominator Margaret Butcher describes as "the kind of teacher that students will remember long after they graduate … for the way she cared about them and the way that she challenged them." Butcher said Meade has taught 38 classes from 2018-2021, previously won the Imhoff Award for Teaching and Mentoring, was inducted into the U of A Teaching Academy, was a Wally Cordes Chair speaker and received the TFSC Faculty Commendation, which led her to become a co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. "Dr. Meade seeks out creative and highly relevant teaching methods while providing rigorous content. She teaches using traditional pedagogical methods, but also tries new technologies, engages students with the community and provides learning opportunities where students can grow personally, professionally and intellectually," Butcher said. Meade also created a study abroad program in Ireland and is one of the 33 teachers from Fulbright College who are participating in the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) microcredential in Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment. "Dr. Meade exemplifies what it is to be a master teacher."
Inducted into the Teaching Academy. December 2019.
The Teaching Academy consists of faculty members who have been recognized by their peers, colleges and the university for their excellence in teaching, including excellence in classroom teaching. Other criteria for being selected to the Academy include a professor’s ability to establish a special rapport with students, to instill in them a love for learning, and to encourage them to go beyond the expectations of the classroom and to explore their disciplines for themselves. The Academy’s mission is to advocate and represent teaching interests, promote, and stimulate an environment of teaching and learning excellence, and encourage recognition and reward for exceptional teaching.
Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring, December 2018.
The Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship recognizes faculty members at the University of Arkansas who have demonstrated consistent and committed excellence in teaching, instruction and mentoring, all qualities central to the mission of a student-centered institution. Nominees must: instruct an introductory or entry-level course that introduces students to their discipline or acquaints students with a discipline; demonstrate excellence in classroom teaching; demonstrate excellence in student advising and mentoring, including formal academic advising, informal advising, student group or club advising, special project or research instruction and advising, and professional mentorship.
Faculty Commendation, 2019. Teaching and Faculty Support Center. University of Arkansas.
Game Day Professor. University of Arkansas, October 2009 and 2015.
Senior athletes nominate and vote on the top two professors to receive the distinction of “Game Day Professor.”
Teaching Award Finalist. University of Arkansas 2008.
Student Alumni Board and Associated Student Government 9th Annual Faculty Appreciation Banquet. Limited number of invitations based on student nominations.
Teaching Award Finalist. University of Arkansas, 2007.
Student Alumni Board and Associated Student Government 8th Annual Faculty Appreciation Banquet.
Halls of Excellence Teaching Award. Northwest Arkansas Community College, 2003.