Communication

A&S Distinguished Faculty Award for Part-Time Teaching

Nominated by Al Futrell
Chair of Communication

Prof. Sarah Miller has been a part-time lecturer at the University of Louisville for 10 years. During this time, she has taught several courses at the 100 and 300 levels, each multiple times. In her teaching philosophy, Prof. Miller emphasizes the importance of using active learning pedagogies in her classes.  Prof. Miller contends: “Communication is not a topic that can be taught through simple lectures and tests, but rather is a topic that must be taught through the act of doing.”  Prof. Miller’s intentional emphasis on garnering student learning through engagement practices and her creative approaches to teaching is noted by the Director of the Basic Communication courses, Prof. Katherine Taylor. According to Prof. Taylor: “Ms. Miller is an innovative, forward thinking instructor who is always willing to try new methods and approaches to class.”

In his nomination letter, Professor Al Futrell, the Chair of the Department of Communication, describes Prof. Miller as a “valuable asset” because of her academic versatility and willingness to develop and teach whatever courses are needed. According to Prof. Futrell, Prof. Miller has taught General Education courses, courses for majors, developed hybrid as well as totally online courses, and has begun teaching in the department’s Panama program, an international venue. Dr. Futrell continues to underscore Prof. Miller’s value to his department by observing that she stands out in a department that often has as many as 40 part-time lecturers teaching at a time. He describes Prof. Miller as “professional and enthusiastic” and observes that she has the remarkable talent of making things work even with the situation is less than ideal.

The department chair notes also: “Ms. Miller consistently receives high marks on her student evaluations and her students have excelled by securing positions in advertising agencies as well as other positions demanding the skills she teaches.”   Consistent with her outstanding student evaluations, Prof. Miller has been nominated for the Delphi Center’s Faculty Favorite Award for 4 consecutive academic years. In his endorsement of Prof. Miller for the Distinguished Teaching Award for part-time faculty, a recent University of Louisville graduate writes that Prof. Miller was his teacher and mentor in his freshman year.  He credits Prof. Miller with equipping him with the skills and confidence he needed to graduate early and to secure employment in a competitive field. He goes on to reflect, “Although I didn’t fully grasp it at the time, she was one of the best and most influential professors my entire college education.”  Another student writes, “Ms. Sarah Miller has been one of the best instructors I have had the opportunity to learn from in my college career.”