UT System Board of Regents Honors Associate Professor Michael Mackert for Outstanding Teaching

By Hannah Macha

In late August, The University of Texas System Board of Regents presented recently tenured associate professor Michael Mackert with their highest honor, the Outstanding Teaching Award.

Established in 2008, the Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards program recognizes educators who demonstrate a clear commitment to teaching and sustained ability to deliver excellence to the undergraduate learning experience. There are 65 recipients of the 2012 award from across the UT System.

Mackert was nominated by the Advertising and Public Relations department, and underwent a series of rigorous evaluations by students, peer faculty and external reviewers. The Board of Regents considers a range of activities and criteria when evaluating performance, including classroom expertise, curricula quality, innovative course development and student learning outcomes.

“The two things I try to focus on the most is remembering what I like or didn’t like as a student and trying to do the things I really liked,” Mackert said. “Secondly I try to avoid talking a lot. I am very hands-on.”

The 2012 awards ceremony took place Aug. 22 and honored 27 recipients from the University of Texas at Austin campus. In addition to the recognition, recipients also get a $25,000 check.

“It’s an amazing honor,” Mackert said.  “The people I know who have won it before are people that I really admire. So to be a part of that group is really exciting.”