Baylor professors of the year represent sciences and literature

Each spring, Baylor honors professors with three major awards based on slightly different criteria.

The first to be announced is the Collins Outstanding Professor Award, voted on each year by the outgoing senior class. Past Collins Professors include Dr. Randall O’Brien (1996), Dr. Tom Hanks (1998), Rachel Moore (1999) and Dr. Robert Packard (2002).

This year’s recipient is Dr. Devan Jonklaas, PhD ’03, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Jonklaas is the ninth Baylor graduate to win in the award in the last 12 years. A popular teacher of CHE 4341, “General Biochemistry,” Jonklaas might also be recognized by fans of HGTV’s Fixer Upper; he and wife Hannah, BSFCS ’04, were featured in season one of the show.

The Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year award honors a professor who “makes a superlative contribution to the learning environment at Baylor,” based on teaching, research and service. Past recipients include Dr. Robert Baird, BA ’59, Dr. Kevin Pinney, and Dr. Bill Hillis, BS ’53.

Dr. David Lyle Jeffrey has been named the award’s 2015 recipient. A Distinguished Professor of Literature and Humanities at Baylor since 2000, Jeffrey’s areas of expertise include medieval literature and biblical tradition in the arts. In a nice touch, Jeffrey donated the cash award that comes with this prize to an Honors College scholarship fund.

Funded by the Centennial Class of 1945, the Baylor Centennial Professor annually provides financial support to aide one professor with a specific project. Past honorees include Robert Darden, BSED ’76, Dr. Greg Garrett, and Dr. Richard Russell.

For the first time, two Centennial Professors were honored this spring: Dr. Jay Pulliam (geology) and Dr. Kevin Gutzwiller (biology). Pulliam will join a delegation to Cuba that will work with local seismologists to improve understanding of earthquake hazards in the region, while Gutzwiller will study the decline of the whitepine bark in the northern Rocky Mountains and its effects on animals that depend on it for food (including the grizzly bear).

Eleven other Baylor professors received Outstanding Professor recognition during Spring Commencement ceremonies: for teaching, Rita Abercrombie (German), Dr. Michael Alexander (music), Dr. Kevin Dougherty (sociology), Dr. Trent Dougherty (philosophy), Dr. David Lyle Jeffrey (Honors College) and Dr. Jana Millar, BM ’75 (music); for scholarship, Dr. Kevin Chambliss (chemistry), Dr. Kent Eshelman (music), Dr. James Roberts (marketing) and Dr. Jason Whitlark, PhD ’06 (Honors College); and for contributions to the academic community, Dr. Georgia Green (music).

Sic ’em, Baylor professors!