Interim Provost Scott Smith (left) presents John Thelin with his award

John R. Thelin, professor in the Department of Education Policy Studies and Evaluation, was one of the six University faculty singled out for a Provost Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award was presented at a special ceremony on April 20.

Colleagues and former students offered their enthusiastic support of Thelin’s nomination for the Provost Award. “His love of the history of higher education made the subject come alive for me, as he shared his expertise with his students in an involving manner – adding that touch of humor for which he is well-known…Dr. Thelin’s classes are designed to demonstrate…the value of historical research, teamwork, and especially the importance of recognizing how the past always connects with the present,” wrote a nominator.

Thelin was also invited to make a statement regarding his philosophy on teaching. In that statement he wrote, “Teaching holds for me the perpetual prospect of excitement and trepidation. It is the activity to which I most look forward.”

During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, Thelin has received the UK Alumni Association’s Great Teacher Award and was named a University of Kentucky Research Professor.

Other Provost Teaching Award honorees include:
• Suketu P. Bhavsar, director of the Honors Program and associate professor of physics and astronomy.
• William C. Robertson, Jr., a neurologist and professor in the departments of Neurology and Pediatrics.
• Czarena Crofcheck, assistant professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering.
• Mami Hayashida, teaching assistant in the School of Music.
• Gilbert Lepadatu, teaching assistant in the Department of Philosophy.

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