Kent academic wins inaugural ‘inspirational’ teaching award

Teaching award won.

Academic Dr Julie Anderson of the University of Kent is the first winner of a new national prize recognizing excellence in the teaching of history.

Dr Anderson, a Reader in the University’s School of History, has won the inaugural Jinty Nelson Award for Inspirational Teaching and Supervision in History.

Awarded by the Royal Historical Society, judges said the prize to Dr Anderson recognized her ‘outstanding’ teaching of history at undergraduate level and ‘creative and highly effective’ supervision of postgraduate historians in her field.

‘The collaborative and supportive atmosphere she has established – combined with her sensitivity to the mental, and emotional struggles of postgraduate work – is much appreciated by her students and colleagues and will be an inspiration to others. In sum, her work provides a template of excellent supervision and teaching,’ said the judges.

Professor April McMahon, University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said the award highlighted Kent’s excellence in education.

‘I’m delighted that Dr Anderson is the first winner of this prestigious national award. It shows the high value we place on both undergraduate teaching and postgraduate supervision here at Kent.’

Named in honour of the Royal Historical Society’s first female President, the prize acknowledges that the ‘continuing strength of history as a discipline depends on the enthusiasm, passion, and creativity of University teachers’.  The winner receives an award of £1,000.