The UNG Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes excellence in teaching by a faculty member over the course of a distinguished career. The awardee demonstrates a well-articulated teaching philosophy that has developed through methodical examination and improvement of teaching and learning. This faculty member has had a sustained and documented impact on student learning both in and out of the classroom. The nominee’s qualifications might include activities designed to advance the quality and practice of teaching and learning, to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and/or to increase global and multicultural understanding. The nominee’s qualifications might include effective teaching strategies to enhance student learning, such as active learning, student portfolios, and assessment. The awardee may demonstrate innovations that have influenced the methods and teaching effectiveness of other faculty. The recipient may apply to be the UNG nominee for the University System of Georgia Regents’ Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Cristian Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, is the Coordinator of the M.A. in International Affairs and the Peace Corps Preparatory Program. Harris has also been appointed a Master Faculty Advisor. Regularly adapting the format of his classes, Dr. Harris utilizes oral presentations, writing assignments, research papers, critical reviews of scholarly literature and other techniques to keep his classes interesting and relevant to students. Harris says, "Education should serve students by broadening their horizons, by fostering their skills and talents, and by providing them with the knowledge and experience to better understand the world in which they live. As educators, we have the responsibility to explain to our students how their knowledge, skills, and behaviors can affect the world."