Salute to 2014 Silver Circle Award winners

Biology professor Joel Brown wins a second Silver Circle this year. Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin/UIC Photo Services

Since 1966, the Silver Circle Award has been presented to some of UIC’s best teachers. Winners, who are honored at their college commencements, receive $500 and their names join a long list of distinguished colleagues. But what makes the award especially meaningful is its selection committee: the graduating seniors.

Some of this year’s winners are veteran teachers and multi-Silver Circle winners like Joel Brown, professor of biological sciences, who says winning the undergraduate award “means a lot more than simply us faculty congratulating ourselves.”

Others are new to campus, like Mitchel Hendrickson, assistant professor of anthropology. “I think I’ll be a very good teacher in about 10 years,” he says.

No matter what subject they teach, they have several things in common: energy, respect for their students, a passion for their subject and a fondness for UIC.

“It’s just a great place to teach,” says three-time winner Karrie Hamstra-Wright, clinical associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition.

This year’s winners:

Joel Brown, professor of biological sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

John D’Emilio, professor of gender & women’s studies and history, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Lori Felker, visiting assistant professor of moving image, College of Architecture, Design, & the Arts

Karrie Hamstra-Wright, clinical associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences

Mitchel Hendrickson, assistant professor of anthropology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Krista Jones, clinical instructor of health systems science, College of Nursing

Sam (Sung-Han) Lee, assistant professor of accounting, College of Business Administration

Lindsey McQuade, clinical assistant professor of chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Daniel Miltner, clinical assistant professor of curriculum & instruction, College of Education and mathematics, statistics & computer science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Katherine Noll, lecturer in psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Nan Ratisoontorn, lecturer in mechanical and industrial engineering, College of Engineering

Alfred Thomas, professor of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences