Biological Sciences Student Named Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant

Britney Phippen, a doctoral student in biological sciences, and Rahul Upadhyay, who is pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, are the 2015-16 recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards.

The Graduate School and the Center for Graduate Life present the awards each year. Each award winner receives a $500 prize and a plaque.

“The professoriate looks to you going forward,” Joan Lorden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said at a presentation of the awards. “We have a very diverse student population here not unlike what might be representative of the kind of institution where you would teach in the future. You have great people to learn from and great opportunity to do it at UNC Charlotte.”

Phippen, the award recipient at the doctoral level, was nominated by Tonya Bates and Michelle Pass of the Biological Sciences Department. They noted how much students appreciate Phippen’s passion and zest for biology, as well as her ability to explain things in a way that makes biology accessible for non-science majors.

“I know that the majority of my students will only be exposed to science in my classroom, as most will go on to major in other fields,” Phippen said. “However, these same students will have to make decisions in their lives that directly relate to biological principles, and they should be educated in their decisions.”

In addition to teaching the principles of biology lab and the genetics lab courses, she updated the a lab manual for a biology course, developed new lab activities and created innovative assignments.

Graduate teaching assistants assist faculty in teaching courses, preparing assignments, meeting with students, grading and other activities. All assistants receive training through the Graduate Teaching Initiative. Judith Krauss, faculty associate for the Center for Graduate Life and leader of the Graduate Teaching Initiative, hosted the awards ceremony.

This year’s judges were Scott Fitzgerald, sociology; Eric Heggestad, psychology; and Barry Wilkinson, computer science.

Nominees submitted applications with original classroom materials, undergraduate students’ evaluations, letters of recommendation from faculty supervisors, a teaching philosophy statement and other evidence of their skill in the craft of teaching and their commitment to improving student learning.

Words and Image: Karla Stanchina