Breadcrumbs

Main page content

UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers inducts four new members

Four outstanding educators were inducted into The UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers Wednesday night.

Created to recognize exceptional educators at UT’s nine academic institutions, the Academy serves as a System-level advocacy group dedicated to enhancing teaching, fostering innovation in the classroom, and promoting interdisciplinary perspectives on education.

“You have changed the trajectory of thousands and thousands of lives for the better,” Chancellor William H. McRaven told inductees at the ceremony. “In my eyes, spending your time and energy on other people, sharing your talents and expertise with them so that they might improve their minds and their lives, makes you a hero.”

Earlier this month, members of the Academy released The Little Orange Book, a compilation of expert teaching tips and thoughtful reflections on classroom learning.

“The Academy provides an opportunity for our most outstanding faculty to come together, share best practices, and find ways to enhance excellence throughout the UT System,” said Pedro Reyes, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Excellence in teaching is the foundation to student success, and we are extremely fortunate that our institutions are home to some of the best educators in the world.”

The 2015 inductees to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers are:

  • Diana Dominguez is an associate professor of English at UT Brownsville, where she teaches primarily ancient to medieval literature, women's literature, sophomore introduction to literature and creative writing.
  • Mary McNaughton-Cassill is a professor of psychology at UT San Antonio. In her 20 years at UTSA, she has also served as the associate dean of Undergraduate Affairs, the interim director of the Teaching and Learning Center and is currently the co-chair of the UTSA Distinguished Teaching Academy.
  • Juan Noveron is a professor of chemistry at UT El Paso. Juan, who is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, is also the Provost’s Faculty Fellow-In-Residence at UTEP’s Office of Undergraduate Studies.
  • Larry Speck is the W. L. Moody, Jr. Centennial Professor in Architecture and a Distinguished Teaching Professor at UT Austin. Over the last 25 years his design work has won over 100 national, regional and local design awards.

For more information, visit the Academy of Distinguished Teachers website.