Student-centered teachers lead in law, medicine
While members of the class of 2015 are the rightful stars of Tulane University Commencement on Saturday (May 16), the annual ceremony also will honor the university"s brightest teachers. Receiving 2015 President"s Awards for Excellence in Professional and Graduate Teaching are Dr. Chad S. Miller, associate clinical professor of medicine, Tulane School of Medicine, and Keith Werhan, a professor who holds the Ashton Phelps Chair in Constitutional Law, Tulane Law School. These honors recognize faculty members with a compelling record of excellence in teaching, learning and research, and a commitment to educational excellence. Each receives a medal designed by the late professor emeritus Franklin Adams and $5,000.
An impressive candidate for the teaching award, Dr. Chad S. Miller receives universal praise from his students and colleagues, both in evaluations and letters of support. In fact, he has ranked in the top five of medical faculty for 2011, 2012 and 2013. He devotes many hours to classroom and ward education. He plays key leadership roles in medical education at multiple levels, and has been recognized by external teaching awards. He clearly has a passion for medicine and mentoring that he passes on to his students.
Keith Werhan has contributed much to the law school and university in his 30 years at Tulane. The letters of support from his students are glowing. A winner of multiple teaching awards, he revised the law school curriculum, has served as vice dean (1995â“98), and co-facilitates a program called Mindful Lawyering, to help students handle stress and improve learning. He believes that classroom teaching should be about “nourishing one"s students” as opposed to “feeding one"s ego.” Mentoring students and colleagues alike, he is frequently available outside the regular classroom or office hours and remains an active scholar of constitutional law.
The 2015 Commencement ceremony will be streamed live online. Follow us on social media at #tulane15.
