Fine Arts

Distinguished Faculty Award for Full-Time Teaching

Nominated by Scott Massey
Chair of Fine Arts

In his 32 years at UofL, Prof. Ying Kit Chan has been a remarkably passionate, innovative, and responsive teacher. He has taught over 35 courses, renewing course content each semester to include new technologies, accommodate student needs, and reflect emerging pedagogical theories. He has directed 95 independent studies, one undergraduate student’s CODRE/EVPR-sponsored research project, and four Honors theses, one of which was designated “Best College Honors Thesis Project.” Prof. Chan has also served on ten Ph.D. committees. Moreover, he has played an important role in shaping the curriculum in Fine Arts. He drafted the M.F.A. curriculum in Art & Design and shepherded the degree proposal through the approval process. He has worked diligently with national organizations on issues of pedagogy, curricular standards, and foundational courses. His efforts in all these areas indicate his great devotion to teaching.

Prof. Chan’s teaching philosophy is founded on the Aristotelian idea of Eudaimonia, which encompasses fostering students’ understanding that any educational pursuit is part of a holistic achievement of self-development and self-expression. “This ethic,” he explains, “motivates students to attain a fulfilled life while at the same time contribut[ing] to a better world.” At the core of his teaching is a concern with fostering students’ intellectual growth, creative capabilities, and engagement with the world. Prof. Chan encourages students to think critically about their choices as artists, their opinions as readers and spectators, and their actions in society. He establishes a safe classroom space in which an airing of different ideas can occur, with critiques and class discussions directed at a weighing of multiple positions. Prof. Chan sees artistic achievement as dependent on clear thinking and preparation, as well as implementation, and his teaching is informed by this vision. As Jelly Helm, the 2013 College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Fellow, puts it, Prof. Chan, “[l]ike the best teachers, embodied the values he was teaching us. No baloney. Ideas, creative thinking, focus, craft, standards, details – it all matters. Perform at the highest level. No half-hearted solutions. No excuses. No cop-outs.”

An acclaimed artist and revered teacher, Prof. Chan models a way of life that encompasses creativity, social engagement, and continued learning.