The Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina has selected UNC Associate Professor Terry Sullivan, for a 2015 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Sullivan is one of 17 recipients, nominated by special committees on their home campuses and selected by the Board of Governors’ Committee on Personnel and Tenure.
“Terry Sullivan’s commitment to excellence in the classroom exemplifies Carolina’s leadership in research, scholarship and creativity,” commented Chancellor Carol Folt. “Students and faculty consider him a great story teller, provocateur, and a breath of fresh air. I agree and congratulate him on bringing this recognition to Chapel Hill.”
Sullivan earned his B.A. and Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas and completed his postdoctoral studies at Carnegie-Mellon University Graduate School of Industrial Administration. A UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Political Science faculty member for 26 years, he is being recognized for his passion, commitment to students, consistently high standards and for bringing research to life for undergraduates.
Students also attest to the learning environment that Sullivan creates. One student wrote: “Professor Sullivan creates a dynamic, intellectual environment, which allows his students to think critically about politics.”
A faculty colleague noted that “he devotes considerable attention to writing and gives students hands-on opportunities to engage in research design.”
In response to receiving this award, Sullivan said “I’m honored, of course. This recognition reflects on my students. They want an education that challenges them to learn through doing something complicated and challenging – and maybe a bit scary. And while they hope an education will help them start their careers, they also want to lead and not follow and they want to create and not simply fit into a cubicle. My classes attempt to show them that learning about persuasion or how political leaders have accomplished great things teaches them about exciting things, un-mundane things, and things for which they enjoy discovering .”
Sullivan will receive his award during UNC’s spring commencement ceremony.