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MSU professor awarded national teaching honor
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture honored Mississippi State University associate professor Michael Seymour with the national 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Seymour has taught in MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Department of Landscape Architecture for seven years. He has distinguished himself as an outstanding educator, researcher and colleague, said Sadik Artunc, head of the landscape architecture department.
“Michael has received numerous and significant awards and recognition at the department, college and university levels, including the Grisham Master Teacher Award, the highest teaching honor at MSU,” Artunc said. “His student evaluations always highlight his outstanding dedication and love for teaching, his ability to make knowledge, skills and abilities relevant and clear to students, his demand for excellence and his never-ending search for more effective teaching practices.”
Student recommendations contributed to Seymour’s recognition.
“Mr. Seymour’s insight and expertise on the subject matter and his approach to teaching keep the active attention of anyone in his audience. He always comes to class well prepared with clear expectations for his students and provides activities for students that fuel active and interesting discussions,” said Emily Overbey, a graduate student in the landscape architecture program.
In addition to teaching a wide range of courses, Seymour has authored numerous publications, participated in professional organizations and served as the coordinator of the landscape architecture department’s graduate program. He frequently tests the effectiveness of his own courses by assessing the outcomes of lectures and assignments in search of the best teaching approaches. He has presented at conferences around the world.
Seymour received his Bachelor of Arts degree in art from Centenary College of Louisiana and his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Louisiana State University.
CELA’s Excellence in Teaching award is designed to recognize excellence in creative, innovative and effective teaching methodologies and practice.
