Aug. 29, 1997

Charlene L. Muehlenhard, associate professor of psychology and of women's studies looks as if she's doing a "high five" after receiving her Kemper Fellowship Aug. 21. In the background are two members of the "surprise patrol," James B. Martin, president of the KU Endowment Association, and Sally Frost Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Later that day, Frost Mason was surprised to receive her own Kemper Fellowship.

Kemper surprise patrol marches again

Each Kemper winner receives $5,000

For the second year, KU's surprise patrol paid surprise visits to classrooms to present faculty members with W.T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence.

Sixteen faculty members received awards on the Lawrence campus Aug. 21, 22 and 25 and four at the KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., this week.

The effort is part of a five-year project to recognize outstanding teachers and advisers at KU.

Each of the honored teachers received $5,000. The William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, established a $250,000 fund to help finance the program. The KU Endowment Association provided $250,000 in matching funds.

"This is just one way in which KU is recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching and student advising," KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "These Kemper awardees exemplify what it takes to be a great research university dedicated to student learning.

A seven-member selection committee, comprising KU faculty members and students and a KU alumnus, chose the Kemper fellows after reviewing nomination materials prepared and submitted by colleagues and students.

The William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee was established in 1989 after Mr. Kemper's death.

Award recipients were

For teaching and advising at the freshman-sophomore level

• Sally Frost Mason, professor of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Robert H. Goldstein, professor of geology
• K. Barbara Schowen, professor of chemistry and director of the University Honors Program
• Tim Shaftel, Jordan L. Haines teaching professor of business

• Jeff Aube; professor of medicinal chemistry

For teaching and advising in the academic major

• Helen Alexander, associate professor of botany and of systematics and ecology
• Dennis Quinn, professor of English
• Chris Segrin, associate professor of communication studies
• David Norman Smith, associate professor of sociology

For teaching and advising at the graduate level

• Charlene L. Muehlenhard, associate professor of psychology and of women's studies
• Donn W. Parson, professor of communication studies
• Charles R. Snyder, professor of psychology
• Annette L. Stanton, associate professor of psychology

For teaching and advising in public outreach

• James M. Higdon Jr., professor of organ
• Ted Wilson, professor of history
• Akira Yamamoto, professor of anthropology and linguistics

Faculty members receiving awards at the Medical Center were

• Mary A. Carpenter, associate professor of hearing and speech
• Dr. Daniel R. Hinthorn, professor of medicine
• Peter G. Smith, professor of molecular and integrative physiology
• Roma Lee Taunton, professor of nursing