UofL Celebration Highlights Teaching Innovation and Student Success

Overview of the Celebration

Numerous educators and leaders participated in the UofL Delphi Center's Celebration of Teaching and Learning Conference held in February 2025. This annual event focused on innovation, collaboration, and educating excellence, gathering faculty, staff, and leaders to explore effective teaching strategies and high-impact practices to bolster student success.

Keynote Speaker and Highlights

Michelle Miller, an author and educator from the University of Arizona, served as the keynote speaker, emphasizing the importance of viewing memory as a tool for achieving goals rather than merely storing information. Her presentation, titled “Learning at the Intersection of Cognition, Motivation, and Technology,” highlighted how cognitive and motivational research can enhance teaching. Miller also showcased technology-integrated activities for various learning environments, attended by select teachers from Jefferson County Public Schools in partnership with the J.B. Speed School of Engineering’s T2E program.

Acknowledging Exceptional Educators

One of the key features of the conference was the recognition of outstanding educators through the SGA's “Top 5 Faculty Favorites.” The honorees included:

• Khaldoun Almousily (College of Arts & Sciences)
• Tony Arnold (Brandeis School of Law)
• Kristie Ennis (College of Arts & Sciences)
• Elizabeth Gentry (Speed School of Engineering)
• Tony Okafor (College of Business)

The TILL Teaching Innovation Award was announced by Lucian Rothe, recognizing educators for their innovative teaching methods. The 2024 winners were:

• Angela Thompson and Campbell Bego (Speed School of Engineering)
• Michael Metz (School of Dentistry), Cynthia Metz and Jeff Falcone (School of Medicine)
• Ray Chastain (College of Business), David Johnson (School of Public Health and Information Sciences), Benne Holwerda and Breanna Ausbrooks (College of Arts & Sciences)

Reflections and Future Initiatives

Notable speakers during the event included former President Kim Schatzel and former Provost Gerry Bradley, who acknowledged the significance of the conference in fostering educational improvement. Bradley stated, “It was an enriching and inspiring day... This is a journey – we are always continuing to be better.”

The University of Louisville is committed to nurturing an environment that promotes educational excellence and collaboration for the benefit of student success. More information about the conference can be found on the Delphi Center’s website, along with upcoming events and opportunities for educators to engage in discussions about effective teaching strategies.