Two geography TAs are awarded Green Chalk Teaching Award

When you "teach big," you "reach big."

At least that appears to be the case for geography alumnus Brad Hanson and graduate student James Kaemmerer who each recently won the prestigious Green Chalk Teaching Award for their outstanding teaching assistantships (TAs) in geography through the College of Arts and Science (A&S) for the spring 2019 and fall 2019 semesters, respectively.

“It’s truly impressive that geography has won the Green Chalk Award two semesters in a row!” says Soren Larsen, department chair. “It really shows just how excellent our teaching assistants are in this department.”

Nicole Monnier, associate dean for undergraduate studies, A&S, agrees: “I think the chalk awards are among the most meaningful recognition our faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and advisors can receive because they're truly driven by our undergraduate students. It's A&S undergraduates who write the nomination letters, and our undergraduate A&S council members who make the final selection.” 

Even the dean of A&S, Patricia Okker, has kind words of encouragement and accomplishment: “I am thrilled that the Department of Geography has had Green Chalk Award winners two years in a row. This recognition attests to the tremendous contributions of James Kaemmerer and Brad Hanson and to the overall commitment to teaching excellence in the Department of Geography.”

“There are many ways to be a TA,” Kaemmerer says. “And the responsibilities necessarily extend beyond the classroom.” He says it’s been wonderful to experience students who are bright, capable and interested in the subjects he teaches.

Hanson says the best part of being a TA was the earned freedom geography professors provided to him to organize and conduct discussions in nuanced, place-based ways: for example, leading a classroom to a nearby cemetery to discuss genocide and racism in the Congo region of Africa, and how those issues touched home as well, in Missouri and Columbia.

The class also discussed the Eastern Asian region and had conversations with international students from the Asian Affairs Center. “Even if we can’t travel, we have thousands of students who lived there and live over here now,” Bradford says.

Both Bradford and Kaemmerer stress a good mentor/student relationship.

“Any success that I have achieved is because of amazing students,” Kaemmerer says. “As well as a supportive faculty and an inspiring peer group of fellow TAs.” He says when he learned he received the award he felt “surprised and undeserving.”

Bradford says the award “humbles me and fills me with joy. My first couple of semesters had me really working hard to transition from outdoor education to the formal setting. So much was different and I was not sure if I was going to experience the success I desired. Receiving the award provides feedback that we had success.”

And as for Kaemmerer, he jokes: “To those anonymous person(s) involved in this nomination: Don’t think this gets you off the hook (smiles). Keep up the good work! There is still much to be done before the semester is over.”