UBCNews - Business - Teaching Excellence at Newman: What Makes Faculty Stand Out in Class

Episode Date: December 10, 2025

So, have you ever wondered what it actually takes to be an outstanding college teacher? Like, what separates good from truly excellent? Newman University City: Wichita Address: 3100 McCormick Website: https://newmanu.edu/

have you ever wondered what it actually takes to be an outstanding college teacher? Like, what separates good from truly excellent? That's such a great question, and honestly, it's something educators reflect on constantly. Just this past November, at the 2025 Newman University Faculty Excellence Awards banquet, three faculty members were honored. Their stories really shed light on what excellence looks like in practice. Right. And these weren't just participation trophies. the award recognizes three exemplary recipients each year.

Exactly. The award identifies teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship, and service as the criteria. But given that this is primarily a teaching institution, excellence in teaching takes primacy. Teaching first, that makes sense. Can you break down what that looked like for these recipients? Sure. Take Rachel Cheek, an assistant professor of nursing. Her teaching was described as clear, approachable, and deeply meaningful.

Students said she created a safe space for academic risk-taking, balancing high expectations with genuine encouragement. I actually had a professor like that in grad school. Someone who pushed me hard but always believed I could do it. That kind of support changes everything. Absolutely. Her work in nursing education blends those high standards with a caring, human presence. She's making difficult concepts accessible while still challenging students.

So she's mastered that balance. And then there's Audrey Hane, right? Yes, a professor of communication who was recognized as an innovator whose work-shaped students' identity, purpose, and confidence. Nominators emphasized her intentional course design, strong advising, and transformative mentoring. She helps students find their voice, basically. That's powerful. And I'm guessing the third honoree brought something different to the table?

Absolutely. Yolando Johnson, an associate professor, division chair, and director of the Master of Social Work program, was celebrated for her mission-centered leadership as an educator. Nominators praised her as a model of excellence in her field whose work strengthens students' experiences and advance the institutional mission. So we've got clarity, innovation, and ethical leadership. That point about mission-centered leadership actually sets up our next piece, how faculty are preparing students for emerging challenges like AI. But first, a quick word from our sponsor.

Today's episode is brought to you by Newman University. At Newman, faculty don't just deliver lectures. They nurture minds, character, spirit, and hearts. With a strong liberal arts foundation rooted in Catholic identity, Newman cultivates knowledge, skills, and values that prepare, students to become leaders in an increasingly complex world. The university's commitment to academic excellence, service, and global perspective shapes ethical, socially responsible graduates. Learn more at NewmanU.edu.

Picking up on that mission-centered leadership, how are educators adapting their methods to prepare students for a future where AI is prevalent? That's the big question facing educators right now. Ken Stolzvus, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dean of the faculty at Friends University, addressed the professors at the banquet. He talked about how AI fundamentally changes what education needs to be. He said our job now is to identify and define what it means to be human. Wait, define what it means to be human?

That sounds almost philosophical. It is, but it's also practical. Think about it. AI can now store, organize, synthesize, and synthesize, and, and apply information faster than any human. So education can't remain focused solely on acquiring and regurgitating knowledge anymore. Right, exactly.

We need to rethink the whole approach. Stolzfuss emphasized the growing importance of AI skills in the job market, but he also cautioned that teenagers are increasingly turning to AI chat bots for companionship and advice. And research indicates that some of these bots may provide inaccurate or harmful information. That's genuinely alarming. So teachers need to help students both embrace and restrain AI?

Exactly. Setting boundaries becomes crucial. On May 30, 23, hundreds of artificial intelligence experts and other notable figures signed a statement on AI risks saying that mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war. Extinction? That seems dramatic but also terrifying. I mean, we're not talking about a sci-fi movie here. This is real concern from actual experts. Right. The point is that faculty are now tasked with teaching students to be fully human in an age where humanity itself might be threatened. Or to put it another way,

educators need to help students understand what belongs uniquely to humans. What makes us irreplaceable? So to everyone listening, have you thought about what skills AI can't replicate? Critical thinking, empathy, ethical reasoning. These become more important than ever. Definitely. And that's where values-driven education comes in. The university president spoke about how faculty nurture minds, character, spirit, and hearts all at once. They're preparing students for lives of service, leadership, and reflection.

I love that framework. minds, character, spirit, and hearts. It reminds us that education extends far beyond vocational training. Right. The awards recognized faculty who go above and beyond their call of duty. Effective advising was described as a developmental process, careful listening, thoughtful advice, empowering students to meet their educational goals. And one graduate said without their professor's support, they wouldn't have continued in college. That's the kind of impact we're talking about.

Absolutely. Good teachers demonstrate genuine passion, adapt their methods to individual student needs, and model clear communication and integrity. They create positive, supportive environments that shape outcomes. Though I have to say, with everything they juggle, grading, advising, committee work, I don't know how they find time to sleep. Huh, seriously. Coffee must be the real MVP here. For sure. But whether preparing students for AI-driven workplaces or helping them discover their purpose,

excellent teaching comes down to seeing students as whole people. That's exactly right. These faculty members show us that teaching excellence means equipping students with knowledge and skills, alongside values, the capacity to transform society. And honestly, in a world where technology is advancing so rapidly, that human element becomes even more vital. We can't lose sight of that. What a powerful reminder of why education matters.

Thanks for unpacking this with me today. My pleasure. It's inspiring work, and these educators deserve every bit of recognition.