Jun 2, 2022
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 2, 2022) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students.
To receive the award, a candidate must:
- Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK.
- Have superior knowledge of the subject matter.
- Have original and innovative classroom presentations.
- Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
- Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years.
A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted.
This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the 2022 Great Teacher Award winners. Beth Barnes, from the UK College of Communication and Information, is a professor and the director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication. She leads the international studies programs for the college and represents it on the university’s International Advisory Council. She has taught in Cape Town, South Africa and London, England. Her specialty areas include international education, media audience measurement, curriculum development and non-profit strategic communication. She worked in both advertising and public relations prior to teaching. Barnes teaches the introductory course in the ISC major as well as courses in account management, public relations and sales promotion, and sponsorship. For 13 years she was director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. Barnes earned her bachelor’s degree from The College of William & Mary and her master’s in advertising and her doctorate in communication studies from Northwestern University.
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