Each year, the University of Kentucky chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture, recognizes one faculty member with the Master Teacher Award. The award recognizes excellence in teaching. Dr. Tammy Stephenson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, received this prestigious recognition this year at the Gamma Sigma Delta Awards Celebration held March 20th.
Dr. Stephenson joined the faculty in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science in 2001. She was promoted to the rank of senior lecturer in 2010. For the past five years, she has received the recognition within the School of Human Environmental Sciences for her outstanding student evaluations of teaching. She is well-known as a student-focused faculty member who is willing to go above and beyond to nurture and support student learning. A current undergraduate student shared the following, "Dr. Stephenson has attained a wonderful level of balance between being a professional mentor and a sincere friend. As my professor, she taught me the importance of professionalism and excellence. She is well known among dietetics and human nutrition students for the ease with which she teaches difficult classes."
Within the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Dr. Stephenson serves as the director of undergraduate studies. She has been instrumental in the development and enhancement of new courses, and has been recognized at the university level for her work as an undergraduate research mentor. In addition, Dr. Stephenson serves as the lead faculty member for the Plate It Up, Kentucky Proud Project. Funded through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the project engages students in recipe development, modification and testing in support of Extension outreach to increase consumer awareness in the fresh flavor and availability of Kentucky produce and specialty products. Through her instruction, mentorship and encouragement, seventy-five recipes have been developed, thirty-four recipes have been transformed into recipe cards and two student posters resulting from the project have been presented at national conferences.
A current graduate student in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science reflected upon Dr. Stephenson's excellence. "As a student, I appreciate her professional, yet relaxed teaching style. She is dedicated to her career and genuinely cares about her students. She respects students and makes it easy for students to understand material. She engages students in classroom discussions and encourages questions. She goes above and beyond the call of duty to help student in any way possible."
The School of Human Environmental Sciences congratulates Dr. Tammy Stephenson for her recognition as the 2012 Gamma Sigma Delta Master Teacher.