Jeannine Eddleton, an advanced instructor in the Department of Chemistry, has received the university’s 2018 Sporn Award for Teaching Introductory Subjects.

Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Virginia Tech Academy for Teaching Excellence, the Sporn Award for Teaching Introductory Subjects recognizes a Virginia Tech faculty member nominated and selected by undergraduate students.

Eddleton has continually been an asset to the Department of Chemistry, part of the College of Science. For the past 20 years, she has been the sole instructor of Chemistry in Context, the introductory chemistry course for non-science majors. She has modified the laboratory section of this course by producing a new laboratory manual with interesting experiments adapted to the needs and interests of her students. She has continued to modify the course by making it available online.

“Dr. Jeannine Eddleton has created a classroom where students find eager, enthusiasm, confidence and patience to actively participate in the challenging yet rewarding coursework. She is extremely skilled in bringing together multiple momentums to enhance the interactive learning process of students in General Chemistry, where students come in with diverse backgrounds,” wrote Feng Lin, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, in a letter of nomination.

Outside of the classroom, Eddleton has visited numerous public school classrooms and brought K-12 students to Virginia Tech, fascinating them with chemistry experiments. In recent years, other faculty members have become active in outreach programs, building upon the foundation that Eddleton laid. The department was awarded the 2014 University Exemplary Department Award as a result of her efforts.

She has participated in several projects and study groups for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, presented at several center events, served on the Pathways to General Education Committee and as a Pathways Scholar, and overseen the American Chemical Society-Hach Scholarship Program.

For the past nine years, students have recognized Eddleton with a “Faculty Member of the Year” award, a campus-wide honor. She received the Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2007,  as well as the W. E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008.

Written by Lindsey Grooms, Class of 2019

 

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