Furness receives award for teaching excellence 

September 12, 2019 – University of Wisconsin-River Falls Associate Professor Stacy Furness has been named the recipient of the 2019 Dr. Keith G. Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence.

The Wurtz Award recognizes outstanding and innovative teachers who have made exceptional contributions to the university and to the community. Recipients demonstrate “trailblazing” innovative approaches to teaching, display scholarship of teaching and learning, innovative use of technology, curriculum development, assessment approaches and outreach and partnerships with collaborators on or off campus.   

Peers describe Furness’ record as an educator as “beyond outstanding.”

“Stacy is fully-committed and involved, a highly skilled advisor and an accomplished researcher,” one peer wrote. “She has never lost her focus on high-quality teaching.”

Students supporting Furness’ nomination expressed appreciation of her support of their academic journey.

“Having Dr. Furness as my professor within the Health and Human Performance Department has been a true blessing,” a student wrote. “Her teaching brings clarity through her challenging and engaging style. The manner she uses to present the material equates to student success.”

Furniss is an associate professor in the UWRF department of health and human performance. She holds an education doctorate in leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

In congratulating Furness on her award, UW-River Falls Provost David Travis emphasized comments from colleagues who described her as a student-centered educator, a mentor, a trailblazer in the use of instructional strategies and an innovator in her approaches to assessment.

“I appreciate the tremendous energy, creativity and thought Associate Professor Furness has invested in her work as a teacher and scholar at UW-River Falls,” said Travis. “She is making a significant difference in the academic trajectory of our students.”

For more information about the Wurtz Award, email wes.chapin@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-0629.