The University of North Texas College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) Advisory Board has named nine finalists to be honored at its annual award ceremony. The advisory board established the awards to recognize full-time CLASS faculty members for excellence in specific areas at UNT.

From the college, a total of 32 faculty were nominated for the three categories: Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Excellence in Graduate Teaching, and Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. The field was narrowed to the nine finalists chosen by a committee.

The finalists in the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching category include Matthew Heard, Department of English and Megan Morrissey, Department of Communication Studies, while in the Excellence in Graduate Teaching group Tracy Everbach, Mayborn School of Journalism, Myungsup Kim, Department of Economics, Brian Richardson, Department of Communication Studies emerged, and rounding out the field Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and / or Creative Activity are Thorne Anderson, Mayborn School of Journalism, Jacqueline Foertsch, Department of English, William Scarborough, Department of Sociology, and Jacqueline Vickery, Department of Media Arts.

"CLASS has an amazing group of hard-working and dedicated faculty members", said Interim Executive Dean Dr. Jim Meernik. "I am incredibly grateful to be affiliated with all the nominees who represent the college and the university", said Meernik.

Last year's recipients, Dr. Nora Gilbert was bestowed the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching nod, while Michael Leggiere received the Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Alexandra Ponette-González was tabbed as the Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity honoree.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at UNT Union Jade Ballroom 333. It is free and open to the public.

For more information on the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, at UNT visit class.unt.edu.

About the CLASS Advisory Board. The Advisory Board provides guidance and support to CLASS in its mission of transforming the lives of its students, advancing the boundaries of knowledge and supporting the economic development of Texas.