McKendree University Recognizes Two Associate Faculty Members for Excellence in Teaching

(LEBANON, Ill., May 23, 2024) – Two associate faculty members were recently recognized for their excellence in teaching at McKendree University. Alan Woodruff, adjunct instructor of anatomy and physiology, received the 2024 McKendree University Associate Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. Tami Spellman, adjunct instructor of cyber defense, was the recipient of the 2024 McKendree University Associate Graduate Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Woodruff has been teaching biology at McKendree University since 2019. According to his peers, he showed extreme adaptability in pivoting the lab classes virtually in the spring of 2020 and teaching labs in the hybrid and hy-flex model that fall. In the fall of 2021, he was able to begin teaching a biology class for his students, who gave him high praise. He consistently works with his students throughout lab exercises and also meets with them outside of class time should they have any questions. His patience, understanding, and abundant energy toward the topic he’s teaching regularly leaves students with many good things to say about him, often rearranging their schedules to get into the lab courses he teaches.

Spellman has been teaching cyber defense at McKendree since 2020, contributing significantly to the Master of Business Administration in Cyber Defense program through her courses in Cyber System Administration and Analysis. She is also the Director of Security Operations at Equifax Workforce Solutions and brings a wealth of experience from the field of cybersecurity and strategic security operations to her teaching roles. Her professional role also provides her students with invaluable insights into the real-world challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity. A 2001 alumna of McKendree, Spellman is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), further highlighting her expertise and commitment to the field of cybersecurity.

 

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