Andrea Taliaferro, associate professor, Coaching and Teaching Studies, is one of six West Virginia University faculty members who have been recognized with the University’s 2019 Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award honors exceptional professors who go above and beyond to inspire their students.
Established in 1985 by the WVU Foundation, the Outstanding Teaching Award honors faculty who are particularly effective and inspiring teachers, as well as faculty who have established patterns of exceptional innovation in their teaching methods, course and curriculum design and instructional tools.
“Dr. Taliaferro is an exceptional teacher. Her passion for teaching and compassion for her students is immeasurable,” said Valerie Wayda, associate professor and chair, Coaching and Teaching Studies and Sport Sciences departments.
“Dr. Taliaferro is one of the best teachers at WVU. Having spoken with several students in her classes, it’s clear that her passion for the subject matter is contagious, making the content covered in her classes come to life. She promotes a great deal of hands-on learning opportunities to expand what students are learning in the classroom. We are fortunate to have faculty like Dr. Taliaferro within CPASS,” said Jack Watson, professor and interim associate dean.
Taliaferro holds a joint appointment in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design. She directs the Friday Adapted Physical Education Practicum Program, a partnership with Monongalia County Public Schools.
The program provides weekly developmentally-appropriate physical activity programming to nearly 100 school-aged children with disabilities while also providing hands-on experience for three WVU majors - Physical Education and Kinesiology, Athletic Coaching Education and Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources students.
She has contributed to several local, county and statewide initiatives, including McDowell CHOICES and the partnership between the National Inclusion Project and Lifetime Activities programs.
“This year’s Outstanding Teachers all teach in different academic disciplines, but they share the core qualities of exceptional teachers. They all approach their course content creatively, seek to engage their students at all levels in hands-on, engaging learning activities,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joyce McConnell.
“They passionately believe in the power of innovative teaching to train our next generation of experts and change young people’s lives. We are so proud to count them among our faculty and to honor them with this award,” she added.
The full list of honorees includes: Manal Al Natour, associate professor of Arabic Studies; Dana Huebert Lima, teaching associate professor of Biology and director of the Honors Experiential and Community Engaged Learning Program; Kimberly Meigh, assistant professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Joshua Osbourn, teaching associate professor of Chemistry; Audra Slocum, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies and Andrea Taliaferro, associate professor of Physical Education Teacher Education.
Each of the six honorees will receive $5,000 in professional development monies from the WVU Foundation and were recognized by McConnell and President Gordon Gee at during a faculty and staff awards dinner at Blaney House.