Professor Dean Winward Receives USDA Teaching Award

Published: November 30, 2021 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 2 minutes

For the past thirty-one years, Dean Winward has taught and influenced thousands of Southern Utah University students in the agriculture program. This past week his efforts were honored and celebrated as he received the United States Department of Agriculture Excellence in College and University Teaching in Food and Agricultural Sciences Award.

“We are thrilled about Dr. Winward receiving the USDA Teaching Award for Food and Agricultural Sciences,” said Camille Thomas, dean of the College of Health Sciences at SUU. “His outstanding student-centered and experiential approach to teaching and learning enriches the students' lives and encourages life-long learners. It is a model we can all aspire to achieve in the classroom. The College of Health Sciences faculty, staff, and students are excited for Dr. Winward and this honor.”

Winward was chosen as the western regional winner out of a large spectrum of exemplary educators in this highly competitive nomination process. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the USDA National Awards for Excellence in College and University Teaching in Food and Agricultural Sciences select nominees from colleges and universities across the country in several categories; agriculture, natural resources, veterinary science, and human sciences. Teachers are nominated by fellow staff members and colleagues, and are deemed a winner by a committee from the awards program. Nominees are evaluated based on their teaching abilities in a classroom setting, the use of unique and creative teaching methods, service to their students and to agriculture, and overall scholarship.

While receiving the award, Winward gave several heartfelt remarks. He thanked his family for their support, especially his father, who instilled in him a love of agriculture and the outdoors while growing up on the family farm in northern Utah and southern Idaho. He offered his gratitude to his students, colleagues, administration and friends in the agriculture industry. He said he was grateful for a career where he was continually learning and has the opportunity to share that knowledge. His love for learning has inspired many at SUU and his beyond meritorious teaching methods have led to the continued success of his past and present students at SUU.

“Congratulations from all of us in southern Utah,” said Lee Wood, department chair of Agricultural and Nutrition Science at SUU. “You have been a great influence on thousands of students in the rural west for many years.”

Winward has received several other teaching awards throughout his career, including another highly competitive North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teaching Scholar Award back in 2019, and the NACTA Teacher Fellow Award in 2010. He has also been a member of NACTA since 2006. Winward continues to teach SUU students in the agriculture field through just under 20 course options on campus. He looks forward to more hands-on teaching in agriculture and watching his students go on to succeed in their own careers.

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Tags: College of Health Sciences Agriculture

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