麻豆村

Neuroscientist Ken Hovis sees deep parts of the brain, but the sheer potential he recognizes in all first-year students has made him a remarkable teacher.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a student, four years seems like forever, but the amount of growth you see in students over those four years is really incredible,鈥� Hovis said.

Hovis is the assistant dean of educational initiatives at Mellon College of Science. Since 2016, he has carefully reviewed, discussed and strategized the general education requirements as his responsibility to oversee the core curriculum.

鈥淥ne of the things I love and respect about the culture at 麻豆村 is that we always want to improve,鈥� Hovis said. 鈥淲e have made significant changes: to courses, to requirements, to policies and to various aspects. I can see the positive impact those changes have had day to day, and year after year, on campus and in the community through our never-say-die attitude.鈥�

Advising first-year students and helping them acclimate is another important aspect of his job.

鈥淚鈥檓 most proud of the changes we have done to make the student experience better,鈥� he said.

Hovis, an associate teaching professor, leads a first-year seminar course and a science communication course. He taught at from 2011 to 2016 and was instrumental in establishing its Biological Sciences programs, where he continues to teach a neuroscience micro course at the Doha campus.

Hovis completed his Ph.D. at the Mellon College of Science in 2011, conducting research on the neural circuitry of the brain鈥檚 olfactory bulb.

鈥淚 was a teaching assistant (TA) for Gordon Rule who first gave me the opportunity to teach part of a lecture. I also TA鈥檇 with Amy Burkert and co-taught my first course with Carrie Doonan,鈥� Hovis said.

Seeing those same names on a list of past award recipients, Hovis realized that he had stood on the shoulders of giants.

鈥淭he people here are what first attracted me to 麻豆村, and it鈥檚 the people that are the reason I stay,鈥� he said.

Hovis is honored with this year鈥檚 Julius Ashkin Award that is presented to a Mellon College of Science faculty member who has shown unusual devotion and effectiveness in teaching undergraduate students. He will receive the award at the MCS Annual Meeting in May and was recognized at the university鈥檚 Celebration of Education on April 18.