May 1, 2015
The Teaching Fellow Award, new this year, recognizes a YSPH PhD student who demonstrates outstanding performance as a Teaching Fellow and promise as a future teacher. Excellent Teaching Fellows 1) convey their passion for public health and for their specific field of study; 2) demonstrate outstanding effort in supporting the course instructor and assisting students; 3) explain difficult concepts in innovative and creative ways; 4) are sensitive to students’ needs and concerns; and 5) treat students with fairness and respect.
Steve Whittaker, PhD candidate ’19 was jointly nominated by two YSPH professors as his “enthusiasm, dedication, compassion, and intelligence exemplify the traits of a successful and effective educator.” Steve was a Teaching Fellow for the classes, Introduction to Environmental Health and Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health. Both the students and professors praised him for his passion and mastery of the material, his initiative in providing suggestions and feedback on topics, teaching strategies, assignments, exam questions, etc., serving as a professional, devoted scholar and mentor to students and other teaching fellows, and always with a positive attitude, “felt the pulse of the students.”