Two in CNS Receive President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award

Astronomer Keely Finkelstein and data scientist Kristin Harvey are among eight University of Texas at Austin faculty members named as recipients of the 2018-19 President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award. The award recognizes the university's educational innovators who demonstrate exceptional undergraduate teaching in the core curriculum, including signature courses, and engage with curriculum reform and educational innovation.

Keely Finkelstein, an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Astronomy and a STEM instruction consultant with the Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science, joined the faculty in 2012. Her outstanding teaching was previously recognized by a McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors Teaching Excellence Award in 2017.

Kristin Harvey, an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, joined the faculty in 2013. Her dedication to education earned her two earlier awards, a 2016 College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award and a 2017-18 Dads' Association Centennial Teaching Fellowship.

"These eight faculty members have dedicated themselves to teaching and mentoring," said Gregory L. Fenves, president of UT Austin. "They build connections with their students and strive to unlock their potential with knowledge and creativity."

The awards are made possible by contributions from the President's Associates — friends of the university who are committed to advancing education and research at UT Austin. Each recipient will receive a monetary award of $5,000 and will be honored at a dinner during the spring semester.

A full list of past President's Associates award recipients in the college is here, and a full list of the 2018-19 recipients can be found here.