UNG Distinguished Teaching Award 2019

Posted: October 24, 2019

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.

Dr. Jonathan Miner, Professor of Political Science, graduated from Drake University Law School in 1994, where he specialized in International and Environmental Law. After passing the Illinois Bar in November of 1994, he became a staff attorney at Klafter & Burke, a small private firm in downtown Chicago run by 14th Ward Alderman Edward M. Burke, and at which he had been an intern during law school. After five years practicing law, Dr. Miner decided to follow his passions in international law and politics by attending graduate school and pursuing a career in teaching. He received his Masters in Political Science from the University of Iowa in 2001 and his Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of South Carolina-Columbia in 2007. He teaches International Law, Middle Eastern Politics, and various other courses in comparative and international politics in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. His research interests include foreign policy decision-making, Turkish politics, and U.S. national security strategy. Dr. Miner enjoys university life most when interacting with others.