Awards & Recognitions

▼ QEP Educators of Distinction

This award is intended to distinguish those QEP faculty members who exhibit an exceptional conviction for the instruction and success of their students and colleagues. These award recipients express a commendable enthusiasm for the implementation of TBL as well as its impact on the quality of education it provides. Additionally, they motivate both students and faculty members inside and out of the classroom. Without a doubt, they demonstrate an admirable passion for the improvement of learning and collaboration here at the University of South Alabama and beyond.

2017 Recipient

Dr. Ron Styron, Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education and Educational Leadership Program Coordinator, has shown exemplary commitment and enthusiasm in educating students and guiding faculty through the process of implementing Team-Based Learning methods. Colleague Suzanne Bihan states, "Dr. Styron has established an effective trajectory of pedagogy and education to build substantive contributions to enhance and improve effective teaching modalities" and that his "interests lie in the success of students and their outcomes."

2016 Recipients

Dr. Laura White, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Department of Physical Therapy, has made an outstanding impact on both faculty and students alike. Having witnessed Dr. White’s influence firsthand, colleague Dr. Jeremy Fletcher claims, “Her students consistently report that her ability to motivate, lead, and inspire exceed their expectations leading to enhanced knowledge retention and critical inquiry.” Dr. White is undoubtedly focused on the future success of her students, as she writes, “I plan to continue to develop my teaching skills in [team-based learning] to continue to improve student learning outcomes.”

Dr. T.J. Hundley, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is dedicated to improving student learning through the implementation of team-based learning strategies. Colleague Dr. Benjamin Estrada describes Dr. Hundley as a visionary, stating “His vision has resulted in significant education innovations not only in the Internal Medicine Clerkship for which he is responsible, but also across multiple courses within the four years of our undergraduate medical education curriculum.” Dr. Hundley believes “the best learning occurs when it is focused on the needs of the individual,” and when the style of teaching “is interactive, engaging, and, when possible, deviates from the learners’ expectations.”

2015 Recipients

Dr. Susan Gordon-Hickey is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Audiology. In response to her nomination, Dr. Gordon-Hickey stated, “I was inspired by the QEP and have found great benefits of applying the Team-Based Learning (TBL) model in my classroom.” Her colleague Dr. Samuel Fisher admires her “strong interest in providing the best instructional and intellectual environment for students.”

Dr. Jennifer Styron, Assistant Professor & Director of Special Projects and Evaluation in the Department of Community/Mental Health Nursing claims she “whole-heartedly believes TBL provides students with the opportunity to improve communication and collaboration, problem solving skills, and provides the opportunity to transfer content to real life application.” It comes as no surprise that she is described by her colleague Dr. Bridget Moore as “a special person and a wonderful educator, dedicated to the success of our students.”

2014 Recipient

Dr. Srinivas Palanki, Professor and Chair for the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has most of his time committed to his duties as Department Chair and research obligations. Yet, he maintains an enthusiastic role in the implementation of TBL, which his colleague Dr. Silas Leavesley says reflects Palanki's "life-long passion for improving the quality of education, incorporating technology in the classroom, and designing interactive and team-based assignments to improve student learning."

▼ TBL Pedagogy Recipients

Recipients of the Certificate of Pedagogy have completed a minimum of five QEP Professional Development sessions, have submitted no less than three application activities, and have submitted a peer-reviewed manuscript, professional conference presentation, or grant proposal.

2017 Certificate of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning III
Karen Peterson

2017 Certificates of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning
Tracy O'Connor, OTD, OTR/L
Kimberly Smith, Ph.D.

2016 Certificates of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning
Benjamin Estrada, M.D.
T.J. Hundley, M.D.
Zoya Khan, Ph.D.

2015 Certificate of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning II
Jennifer L. Styron, Ph.D.

2015 Certificates of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning
Angelia Bendolph
Glen Borchert, Ph.D.
Charles Brown, Ph.D.
David Chang, Ed.D.
Sharrie Cranford, LGSW
Elizabeth Kennedy, Ph.D.
Kristina Miller, MSN, RN
Bridget Moore, DNP
Phil Norrell, Ph.D.
Mike Odom
Laura White, DScPT

2014 Certificate of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning II
Karen Peterson

2014 Certificates of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning
Phil Carr, Ph.D.
Amanda Creel, RN, NRP
Mimi Fearn, Ph.D.
Heather Horton
Jeff Landry, Ph.D.
Pam Johnson, DNP, RN
Robert Moore, Ph.D.
Jennifer Styron, Ph.D.
Alice Younce, DNP

2013 Certificates of Pedagogy in Team-Based Learning
Mary Anne Connors
Julie Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Susan Gordon-Hickey, Au.D., Ph.D.
Nancy Howell, Ph.D.
Coral Gubler, Ph.D., PT, ATC
Jeff Landry, Ph.D.
Dawn McKinney, MS
Srinivas Palanki, Ph.D.
Karen Peterson

▼ Professional Development Fellows

The faculty members who receive this award have shown initiative for implementing TBL by attending multiple QEP Professional Development sessions.

2017 Fellows
Elizabeth Allison, Ph.D.	Bridget Moore, DNP
Suzanne Bihan, RN, MSN	Tracy O'Connor, OTD, OTR/L
Ellen Broach, Ed.D., CTRS	Mike Odom
Philip Carr, Ph.D.	Karen Peterson
Steven Clontz, Ph.D.	Bettina Riley, Ph.D.
Sharrie Cranford, Ph.D.	Sylvia Rogers, Ph.D.
Sam Fisher, Ph.D.	Kimberly Smith, Ph.D.
Stephanie Jett, Ph.D.	Jennifer Styron, Ph.D.
Kyre Lahtinen, Ph.D.	Candra Taylor, MS, OTR/L
Drew Lewis, Ph.D.	Mitchell Woltring, Ph.D.
Kimberly Littlefield, Ph.D.	Alice Younce, DNP

2016 Fellows
Benjamin Estrada, M.D.	Nicole Meyer, Ph.D.
Jeremy Fletcher, DPT, OCS, CSCS	Sylvia Rogers, Ph.D.
Joan Holland	Kimberly Smith, Ph.D.
Delwar Hossain, Ph.D.	Jennifer Styron, Ph.D.
T.J. Hundley, M.D.	Ron Styron, Ed.D.
Jeff Landry, Ph.D.

2015 Fellows
Christina Baugh, MSN, RN	Hosik Min, Ph.D.
Angelia Bendolph	T. J. Hundley, M.D.
Charles Brown, Ph.D.	Kristina Miller, MSN, RN
David Chang, Ph.D.	Bridget Moore, DNP
John Coker, Ph.D.	Mike Odom
Sharrie Cranford, LGSW	Sylvia Rogers, Ph.D.
Genevieve Dardeau, MA	Jennifer L. Styron, Ph.D.
Heather Stanley, MA	Laura White, DScPT

2014 Fellows
Jim Aucoin, Ph.D.	Jeff Landry, Ph.D.
Carol Case, MA	Bob Moore, Ph.D.
David Chang, Ph.D.	Karen Peterson
Amanda Creel, RN, NRP	Bettina Riley, Ph.D.
Chimene Gecewicz, MA	Jennifer Styron, Ph.D.
Heather Horton	Bin Wang, Ph.D.
Pam Johnson, DNP, RN	Alice Younce, DNP

2013 Fellows
Philip Carr, Ph.D.	Jeff Landry, Ph.D.
Mary Anne Connors	Arnold Luterman, M.D.
Julie Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP	Jeanne Maes, Ph.D.
Mimi Fearn, Ph.D.	Dawn McKinney, MS
Sam Fisher, Ph.D.	Hattie Myles, Ph.D.
Rob Gray, Ph.D.	Philip Norrell, Ed.D., CSCS, RCEP
Coral Gubler, Ph.D., PT, ATC	Karen Peterson
Jennie Gunn, Ph.D., CFNP, CTN-A	Bettina Riley, Ph.D.
Susan Gordon-Hickey, Au.D., Ph.D.	Laura Rogers
Nancy Howell, Ph.D.	Cindy Stanfield, Ph.D.

▼ Certificates of Collegial Coaching

"Team USA - Team-based Learning at the University of South Alabama"

2014 Certificate of Collegial Coaching
Carol Case, MA
Julie Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Susan Gordon-Hickey, Au.D., Ph.D.
Coral Gubler, Ph.D., PT, ATC
Cindy Stanfield, Ph.D.