Recent OUSTA Winners

The 2007 winner of the Society for College Science Teachers (SCST) Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award (OUSTA) is Dr. Murray Jensen.
Dr. Jensen serves as Associate Professor of Biology in the General College of the University of Minnesota. He is described by his colleagues as an outstanding teacher and innovator; one who uses his classroom as a laboratory for defining ever better methods of classroom instruction. He has received numerous teaching awards, including the Horace T. Moses University of Minnesota Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education.

Murray Jensen has been involved in developing technology-enhanced products for student learning for many years. His WebAnatomy has been used by students around the world, and has helped an untold number of students master the subject of human anatomy. Other digital efforts have included MacMicroscope and The Human Body. Murray has published articles about these innovations and many other areas of teaching/learning pedagogy in journals such as the Journal of College Science Teaching, The American Biology Teacher, HAPS Educator, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, BioScience, and Journal of Developmental Education.

Murray’s teaching strategies include the use of cooperative quizzes and an assignment called “Do Something Cool”, where students are allowed to express themselves and their learning by utilizing their own strengths and creativities both in the classroom and beyond. Such teaching/learning strategies make Murray Jensen a teacher who is much sought after by students on campus.

The 2006 winner of the Society for College Science Teachers (SCST) Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award (OUSTA) is Dr. Kenneth Sajwan. Dr. Sajwan serves as Professor and Director of the Environmental Science Program in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Savannah State University (GA). In addition to numerous teaching awards, Dr. Sajwan has an outstanding research and publication record in environmental science, and involves undergraduate students in a variety of research projects. His teaching has extended into the community through summer workshops for high school teachers and mentoring high school students in environmental science. Dr. Sajwan received the award at the SCST Luncheon during the NSTA/SCST National Convention in Anaheim on April 8, 2006.

The 2005 winner of the Society for College Science Teachers (SCST)/Kendall-Hunt Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award (OUSTA) is Dr. Claire Cronmiller. Dr. Cronmiller is currently Associate Professor of Biology and the Cavalier's Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Virginia. In addition to numerous teaching awards, Dr. Cronmiller has an outstanding research and publication record as well as an impressive service background. Her teaching innovations include the use of “skits” as demonstrations and self-authored songs on topics such as mapping genetic loci and complementation. Dr. Cronmiller received the award at the SCST Luncheon during the NSTA/SCST National Convention in Dallas on April 2, 2005.

The 2008 winner of the Society for College Science Teachers (SCST) Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award (OUSTA) is Dr. Nancy Elwess.

Dr. Elwess is currently Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University New York at Plattsburg. In addition to numerous teaching awards, she has an outstanding research and publication record in molecular biology as well as an impressive service background, including extensive work with local high school teachers and students. Her teaching program is dynamic and incorporates inquiry based lab activities with state-of-the-art equipment, much of which was funded through grants which she authored.