Since 1966, the Elsie M. Hood award has been given out yearly to the University’s most valuable teacher. This year’s teacher nomination process is moving to its final stages.
The first award was presented to German Professor William Eickhorst under Chancellor J.D. Williams. This year’s recipient will be the University’s 50th.
Ken Sufka won the award in 1996 and has been on the selection committee since the year after he was awarded. The committee consists of the last eight recipients of the award, the director of the Alumni Association and the ASB president. Sufka said this committee makeup is ordered by the chancellor’s office.
“Every nominee is discussed and repeat nominations are delved into in much greater detail. Usually, a round of voting narrows the pool to two to three finalists and then final voting is placed,” Sufka said.
The award’s recipients are expected to receive nominations time and time again over several years, showcasing a long-term track record of great teaching and quality student influence. The committee not only compares candidates’ nomination letters to their competition’s letters, but also to all nominees of the past.
“Great advisors tell their students to take great teachers, not classes,” Sufka said.
This award gives students the chance to give greater consideration to teachers recognized for their excellence, whose courses they may not have taken otherwise.
According to Sufka, the award’s intensive review process ensures it is given out to the most deserving teacher. Since he joined the committee in 1997, he said there has always been a majority consensus on the year’s recipient.
The recipient professor in 2015, political science professor Robert Brown, said the award continues to bring him benefits. Brown said the award has given him a sense of greater responsibility in the classroom and across campus. He said he wants to continue to earn his award. Brown said the interaction between students and teachers is the lifeblood of a university and he certainly exemplifies this belief.
The award’s recipients often find more reward than just the $5,000 cash prize alone.
“I’ve been teaching at Ole Miss a long time, and receiving this award is very, very special to me — most certainly the highlight of my teaching career,” Brown said. “The Elsie M. Hood award is a way to remind everyone that our work with students represents the foundation of the University, and I’m grateful to work for a university that values teaching as much as we do at Ole Miss.”
The nomination process is still open and students may submit their letters through the end of February. Voting will begin in March. Brown said students who have had a rewarding and effective experience in class should submit a nomination detailing how specific teachers have influenced them individually.
