UW-L lecturer recognized by Board of Regents
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — A University of Wisconsin — La Crosse senior lecturer is one of two educators honored Monday by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
Renee Redman of the UW-L biology department received a Teaching Excellence Award for her work.
“These dedicated, gifted UW educators inspire students and colleagues alike,” said Regent Edmund Manydeeds III, chair of the selection committee. “We celebrate their creative approaches to teaching and learning, including their commendable adaptability to circumstances arising from the pandemic.”
Redman, who has taught biology of all levels since 2005, said her favorite part of her job is watching her students grow.
“Making a connection with them, watching them grow as critical thinkers, helping them understand a difficult concept and then watching the ‘aha moment’ when they figure it out is the reason I do this job,” said Redman in a statement. “The confidence they have as seniors compared to where they were as first-year students makes me smile. I’m so proud of how hard they work and what they achieve.”
She has taught more than 13,000 students over her career.
The UW System recognized REdman for her work to develop a high-quality biology course with seven other instructors to help ensure core materials are covered regardless of instructor or format.
She was instrumental in implementing three grant-supported course redesigns during the COVID-19 pandemic; all three courses are part of UW-La Crosse’s core curriculum, affecting thousands of students each year. She uses interactive polling technology, small group projects, in-class discussions, and creative art projects to teach complex biology concepts in a way that connects with her students. She developed weekly “knowledge checks” to help students apply course material through problem sets. In 2018, she received the Eagle Teaching Excellence Award, a student-driven recognition of teaching excellence.
UW-Green Bay professor of political science and global studies Ekaterina Levintova also received the Teaching Excellence Award. UW-Green Bay’s Nutrition Sciences program was also honored.
The committee also recognizes the important contributions of this year’s other nominees:
Individual nominees included Kristopher Presler, UW-Eau Claire; Dr. Emily Auerbach, UW-Madison; Dr. Carmen Heider, UW Oshkosh; Dr. Robert Barber, UW-Parkside; Dr. George Krueger, UW-Platteville; Dr. Claire McCarty, UW-River Falls; Dr. Michael Demchik, UW-Stevens Point; Dr. Lopa Basu, UW-Stout; and Dr. Carol Scovotti, UW-Whitewater.
Program nominees included the Department of Biology, UW-Eau Claire; the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, UW-La Crosse; the Flexible Option B.S. in Business Administration, UW-Parkside; the School Counseling Program, UW-River Falls; and the Early Childhood Education Program, UW-Whitewater.
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