UW-River Falls Professor Receives Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence

Aug. 27, 2012 –Joy Benson, associate professor of management and assistant dean in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, was recognized as a recipient of one of two 2012 Dr. Keith G. Wurtz Awards for Teaching Excellence at the university's opening meeting on Aug. 27.

The award recognizes outstanding and innovative teachers who have made exceptional contributions to the university and to the community. Recipients have displayed innovative approaches to teaching, demonstrated scholarship of teaching and learning, innovative use of technology, curriculum development, assessment approaches and outreach and partnerships with collaborators on or off campus.   

"I enjoy creating engaged learning environments that encourage students to apply course concepts in creative and meaningful ways that stretch their thinking," said Benson. "For more than 20 years, I have been a strong advocate of integrated assurance of learning that focuses on professional critical thinking and advanced application ability. I am extremely honored to have received this award and look forward to continuing to 'live' the values that it represents."   

Benson, of Spring Valley, joined the College of Business and Economics faculty at UW-River Falls in 2006. She holds a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She has authored numerous articles on management, organizational behavior and decision-making that have appeared in numerous professional journals. In 2009, Benson was awarded a Faculty Research Award by the College for her research in the areas of learning dynamics and decision-making.