Cherry Award Finalists Lecture on Campus

Teresa Balser, professor of soil and ecology at the University of Curtin in Australia, presented “The Ground Beneath Our Feet (and Other Things We Take for Granted),” on Oct. 6. She shared how soil can be discussed within educational settings in a relevant and engaging way. During her lecture, Balser encouraged listeners to approach the mundane with curiosity, seeing even “the ground beneath their feet” in fresh and unexpected ways.

Michelle Hebl, professor of psychology at Rice University, presented “Mindbugs and Gorillas and White Bears, Oh MY” on Oct. 19. Hebl discussed research from social and organizational psychology, demonstrating how all people, even well-intentioned and highly educated individuals, hold subtle biases, possess often positively skewed beliefs about themselves and express prejudice and discrimination toward others.

Lisa Spaar, professor of English at the University of Virginia, presented “Golden Laboratory: Poetry in the Classroom and Why We Need It” on Oct. 26. She discussed why poetry is worthy of study in colleges and universities, the value of poetry in American culture, as well as the benefits of studying poetry in a classroom and how it can connect with everyday life.

The Cherry Award Committee, chaired by Dr. Michael W. Thompson has selected Michelle Hebl to receive the 2016 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. Hebl will be presented with a $250,000 teaching award and will teach in residence at Baylor for one semester during the 2016-2017 school year.

The Cherry Award, honoring outstanding professors, is designed to stimulate discussion in the academy about the value of teaching and to encourage departments and institutions to value their own great teachers.

Full videos of the lectures can be viewed at https://www.baylor.edu/cherry_awards .