Thompson honored as WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher

James Thompson, professor of soil science, is one of six West Virginia University faculty members to be selected for the 2017 Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Established in 1985 by the WVU Foundation, the Outstanding Teaching award honors faculty who are particularly effective, inspiring teachers or who have established patterns of exceptional innovation in teaching methods, course and curriculum design and instructional tools.

Thompson takes his soil science teaching and research far afield (literally) in his role as coach of the WVU Soils Team, through which undergraduate students develop skills for description, analysis and interpretation of soils and landscapes in regional and national contests. As research and development coordinator for the Geospatial Research Unit of the National Soil Survey Center at WVU and as a professor in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Thompson emphasizes a better understanding of soil geography and how differences in soils affect land management decisions.

The other recipients include David Graham, associate professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; Kristina Hash, associate professor and director of the Gerontology Certificate Program; Lizzie Santiago, teaching associate professor of Fundamentals of Engineering; Lori Sherlock, associate professor of Exercise Physiology, and Joshua Weishart, associate professor of Law and Policy.

Each of the six honorees will receive a $5000 honorarium from the WVU Foundation and be recognized by President Gordon Gee and Provost McConnell at the upcoming faculty and staff awards dinner at Blaney House.