Family and Consumer Sciences professor Karen Williams was recognized nationally for her excellence in teaching at the University of Wyoming.
Williams is one of six individuals to receive the regional Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences Award.
Starting as an instructor in the College of Education, Williams began her teaching career at UW in 1993. She became an assistant professor in 1995 in Family and Consumer Sciences, an associate professor in 2001 and professor in 2006. She was also head of the department from 2005 to 2010.
Williams was honored on Nov. 11 at the national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities meeting. Catherine Woteki, chief scientist and undersecretary for United States Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics, presented the award to Williams.
“This award is a great honor, but it is really a recognition of our college, its support for teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning, and of our students. I learn more from the children I work with and the college students I’m privileged to teach than they learn from me. I have the best job in the world,” Williams said in a news release.
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities meeting is an annual event where leaders in public universities gather to share opinions, gain professional development and interact with other university affiliated individuals throughout the country.
With the challenges that public universities face today, now more than ever is a time of great importance for the gathering of education officials. More than 1,100 university leaders met at the Denver conference to strategize, discuss and plan for the future of higher education.
The excellence award received by Williams is sponsored by both the United States Department of Agriculture and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
The association nominates individuals working in agriculture, natural resources, veterinary science and human sciences. In addition to six regional awards, two national recipients and two new teacher awards are given out by a selection committee of teachers and scholars.
The nominees are carefully selected and evaluated on their classroom teaching ability, innovative teaching methodology, service to students and their profession, and scholarship.
Donna Brown, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Academic and Student Programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was head of Family and Consumer Sciences when Williams was recommended.
Brown commended William’s leadership within the department and across the UW campus in teaching and assessing students for critical and creative thinking, professional skills and behaviors and global and multicultural awareness.
According to Brown, Williams was the main force in developing several degree programs at UW, specifically the distance degree option in professional child development. Williams also helped create, develop and direct the Bachelor of Applied Science degree program at UW.
