FastTraCS' Devin Hubbard wins William C. Friday Award for Excellence in Teaching
Devin Hubbard, PhD has won the 2022 William C. Friday Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Hubbard is an associate professor with the UNC-Chapel Hill & NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, lead design engineer at FastTraCS, and UNC faculty member since 2014.
Who was the best teacher you had and why?
I've had a number of "best teachers" — the common threads between them all are that they were:
- Passionate about (learning) their subject.
- Enthusiastic about teaching their subject.
- Able to challenge and empower me (and others) in a way that made me grow and realize my potential.
- Unabashed in allowing their passion and personality to create a contagious enthusiasm for their subject.
The people who have influenced me the most as teachers are: Ms. Louetta Helfrich, Dr. Lillie Doty and Dr. Annie Ross.
What does it take to be a good professor in 2022?
In my humble opinion: empathy. I teach design, and empathy is the core of design, but I also believe it is the core of being a good person, professor and student. I also believe that to be a good professor you have to be a good student — learn from others to pass on that wisdom!
What's something creative you've done to engage your students?
Perhaps not "creative" in the traditional sense, but I feel it's very important for my students to feel comfortable in my classroom, with public speaking and with providing feedback. On the first day of senior design lab, my students participate in what I would characterize as public speaking boot camp: The goal and promise I make is that all of them will leave my class as confident public speakers. Everyone prepares a 30-second "pitch" about themselves and then delivers it in front of the class. I only give 15 minutes to prepare a single slide and presentation because it is meant to feel impromptu and somewhat ridiculous (i.e. "perfection" is impossible). After each presentation, the class provides constructive feedback in a specific format: all the things they liked followed by the constructive SUGGESTIONS (no criticisms allowed!). Importantly: I do the activity with them, and I stand up and go first.
I find the activity serves 4 major functions:
- Sets the expectation that my students can and should give ME feedback & suggestions.
- Turns the classroom into a place where students encourage and learn from each other, celebrate everyone's wins and help each other grow.
- Defines the way feedback is given in the classroom going forward.
- Shows everyone that we are all capable of good public speaking.
The William C. Friday Award was created by members of the 1986 graduating class to recognize members of the faculty who have exemplified excellence in inspirational teaching and is named in honor of William C. Friday, who devoted a lifetime of service to the University as president of the University of North Carolina System. The winner receives a stipend of $5,000 and a framed citation.
Originally posted at thewell.unc.edu.
