Smith, Avni Recognized for Teaching Excellence

AUSTIN, Texas – Jan. 10, 2007 – Assistant professor Rachel Smith and graduate instructor Assaf Avni have been recognized with Texas Exes Teaching Awards.

Each year the Texas Exes give voice to the students of The University of Texas at Austin and allows them to choose the best professors and teaching assistants on campus. This year, the students have chosen 28 teachers as the recipients of the Texas Exes Teaching Award.

Smith, a member of the Communication Studies faculty, teaches undergraduate and graduate students in courses covering persuasion, health communication, intercultural communication and social science research methods. In 2005, she received the “Eyes of Texas” award for excellence.

Avni, a graduate instructor in the Department of Advertising, is a third-year doctorate student focusing on nurturing creativity in teams and organizational innovation. He teaches undergraduate courses on creativity and American culture, and advertising and popular culture, which explores the ways advertising shapes our culture and vise-versa.

Since 1982, the Texas Exes have honored a faculty member and graduate instructor in each school and college who has had a positive influence on the educational experience of university students. After accepting nominations from all students, a committee from each school pores over the nomination forms and selects that school’s recipients.

The other professor honorees are: Ulrich Dangel, Architecture; Anitesh Barua, Business; James Patton, Education; Mack Grady, Engineering; Tim High, Fine Arts; Chris Bell, Geosciences; Gary Geisler, Information; Mechele Dickerson, Law; David Oshinsky, Liberal Arts; John Batterton, Natural Sciences; Janis Carelock, Nursing; Renee Acosta, Pharmacy; Christopher King, Public Affairs; and, Rowena Fong, Social Work.

The other graduate instructors recognized are: Hillary Collins, Architecture; Laura Catania, Business; Shelly Nicholson, Education; John Porterfield, Engineering; Simon Provan, Fine Arts; Miriam Barquero-Molina, Geosciences; Haley Richardson, Information; Bonnie Rust, Liberal Arts; Suborna Sikder, Pharmacy; Meghan Murphey, Nursing; Michael Meyer, Public Affairs; and, Liliane Windsor, Social Work.

The 2007 Texas Exes Teaching Awards will be presented Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. William Powers, president of the university, and John Adkins, president of the Texas Exes will speak at the event. Each professor will receive a $1,000 award and graduate instructors will receive $500 awards.

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Contacts: Erin Crook

(512) 471-3805

crook@alumni.utexas.edu

Erin Geisler

(512) 475-8071

erin.geisler@austin.utexas.edu