By Ryan Girves 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2026) — The University of Kentucky honored exceptional faculty and graduate teaching assistants with Outstanding Teaching Awards during the 2026 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony, April 30 on campus.

The Outstanding Teaching Awards annually honor faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate excellence as instructors across all learning environments. Selected through a nomination process, candidates and finalists are reviewed by faculty-driven committees empaneled by the Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT).

The winners of the 2026 Outstanding Teaching Awards are:

Faculty

• Brent Harrison, Ph.D., Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
• Shelita Jackson, D.S.W., College of Social Work.
• Yeonjung Kang, Ph.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
• Darshak Patel, Ph.D., Gatton College of Business and Economics.
• Savannah Robin, Ed.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
• Ryan Voogt, Ph.D., Lewis Honors College.

Graduate teaching assistants

• Alex Farone, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Edgar Garcia-Velozo, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Faith Hensley, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Clara Mitchinson, College of Education.