Five University of Michigan lecturers have been honored for their exceptional contributions to instruction and inclusive teaching.
Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, named Patrick Boland, Jennifer Metsker, Maria Rodriguez, and Ellen Poteet as 2024-25 Collegiate Lecturers and awarded Kelsey McLendon the 2024 Lecturer Excellence in Inclusive Teaching Award.
Up to four Collegiate Lecturer titles are awarded annually to lecturers II and IV who exhibit a sustained record of excellence in teaching, learning, service, or other contributions to the university. One lecturer annually receives the LEIT Award, recognizing excellence in inclusive teaching practices.
Summaries from support letters for each honoree:
Patrick Boland
Lecturer II in LSA’s Department of Mathematics
Boland is celebrated for his innovative approach to course development, including the Introduction to Cryptography, and his commitment to making mathematics accessible and enjoyable. He has been nominated for multiple Golden Apple teaching awards and received the Michigan Housing Honored Instructor award in 2019 and 2020. Boland’s teaching methods foster critical thinking and real-world application of mathematical concepts.
Jennifer Metsker
Lecturer IV in Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
Metsker is a committed educator who has enriched the Stamps School curriculum with innovative teaching methods. She redesigned the Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis-writing assignments during the pandemic to better prepare students for their careers. Metsker has received multiple awards, including the Avery Hopwood award and the Moscow Prize for Excellence in Teaching Composition. Her teaching is marked by empathy and the ability to connect with students effectively.
Maria (Mabel) Rodriguez
Lecturer IV in LSA’s Residential College
Rodriguez founded and redesigned the Migrant Outreach and Education course, aligning it with the needs of migrant students. She has co-authored a textbook on advanced Spanish composition and written articles reflecting her work with the Michigan migrant community. Her flexible pedagogical approach has improved student scores by 10%-15% in certain language skills. Rodriguez has received several awards, including the LSA Excellence in Education award.
Ellen Poteet
Lecturer II in LSA’s Department of History
Poteet was recognized posthumously for her commitment to teaching history and language education. She taught a wide range of courses at U-M and was honored with the Undergraduate Teaching award in 2018. Poteet’s dynamic teaching methods left a lasting impact on her students. She passed away on April 3, 2024, in Batouri, Cameroon.
Kelsey McLendon
Lecturer III in College of Engineering Technical Communication
McLendon is committed to inclusive teaching practices, organizing workshops and speaker series to enhance faculty skills in this area. She has revamped the technical communication modules in her Engineering 100 course to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. McLendon has received multiple awards, including the department faculty award for technical communication, and promotes a supportive classroom atmosphere to enhance student learning.
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