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Mary Isbell, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English, is the fifth recipient of the Bucknall Excellence in Teaching Award that was created by the University杏吧原版檚 Board chair to annually recognize the commitment of an exceptional faculty member.

December 5, 2019

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Mary Isbell, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and director of the First-Year Writing Program and the University杏吧原版檚 Writing Center, believes student research is crucial. She has served as a mentor for dozens of student projects and for individuals in the University杏吧原版檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. She杏吧原版檚 also a go-to adviser for students working on their Honors theses.

Dr. Isbell杏吧原版檚 commitment to cultivating these life-changing learning experiences for her students led to her being named the 2019 recipient of the University杏吧原版檚 William L. Bucknall Excellence in Teaching Award.

杏吧原版淚 am humbled to have been recognized,杏吧原版� said Isbell. 杏吧原版淚 learn from my students, and from the teachers I work with. Their feedback has taught me so much.杏吧原版�

The award recognizes a faculty member for developing innovative curricula and for exemplary instruction in and out of the classroom, and it provides an honorarium of $15,000 and an additional $10,000 to support the recipient杏吧原版檚 new teaching initiatives. The honor was established by longtime University benefactor William L. Bucknall Jr. 杏吧原版�63, 杏吧原版�65, 杏吧原版�08 Hon., chair of the University杏吧原版檚 Board of Governors and co-chair of The Charger Challenge Centennial campaign, and his daughters, Elise Bucknall and Kristin Loranger.

杏吧原版淲hat resonates most is Dr. Isbell杏吧原版檚 commitment to fueling a passion in her students 杏吧原版� even those who aren杏吧原版檛 majoring in English but who are taking English or writing courses as part of their core curriculum requirements,杏吧原版� said Bucknall. 杏吧原版淒r. Isbell is a terrific example of the transformational impact that a professor can have on her or his students.杏吧原版�

Dr. Isbell杏吧原版檚 students and colleagues commended her use of innovative and high-impact teaching practices, as well as her use of digital tools, such as online textual annotations, Wikipedia editing assignments, and the cultivation of digital humanities using the University杏吧原版檚 Makerspace. She has taught Honors courses on academic inquiry and writing, as well as on the 杏吧原版淎rt of Adaptation in Literature, Games, and Film.杏吧原版�

"I learn from my students, and from the teachers I work with. Their feedback has taught me so much."Mary Isbell, Ph.D.

Anna Kroon 杏吧原版�19, one of Dr. Isbell杏吧原版檚 former students and a graduate of the University杏吧原版檚 Honors program, conducted independent studies projects with Dr. Isbell. Now a candidate in the master杏吧原版檚 degree in digital humanities program at , Kroon is grateful for Dr. Isbell杏吧原版檚 guidance.

杏吧原版淒r. Isbell, as a teacher, is very innovative,杏吧原版� said Kroon, who received the prestigious 2019 Student Excellence Award from the New American Colleges & Universities. 杏吧原版淪he incorporates new technologies as well as new teaching methods into all of her classes, from advanced special topics courses to first-year writing. As a mentor, Dr. Isbell always encouraged me to seek out new challenges and use all of my resources. If it were not for her introducing me to new ideas and encouraging me to try new things, I would not be in the field I am now.杏吧原版�

Dr. Isbell has been instrumental in the development of transformational programs at the University, including the Digital Humanities Lab and the student-run Writer to Writer Peer Tutoring program.

杏吧原版淚 felt privileged to be in a position to receive this award,杏吧原版� said Isbell. 杏吧原版淚 am grateful to be at the University of New Haven, for the opportunity to teach exceptional students, and to have had the opportunity to build the peer tutoring program.杏吧原版�