Mumford Excellence in Extraordinary Teaching Awards
This award is named in the memory of Dr. James E. Mumford (1936-2019), who built an esteemed career first as the Director of the IU Soul Revue and later as the longtime Director of the African American Choral Ensemble. These ensembles, which are part of the African American Arts Institute (AAAI) and administered by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA), firmly established Mumford as an icon on the Bloomington campus and brought prominence to the university through the performances of his students. Dr. Mumford earned his doctorate in music education from the IU Jacobs School of Music and was an active member of FACET. A documentary featuring Dr. Mumford’s teaching can be found here.
On an annual bases, FACET invites nominations for the Dr. James E. Mumford Teaching Excellence for Empowering Students Award. This award honors a faculty colleague whose teaching reflects Dr. Mumford’s extraordinary empathy, his unwavering commitment to students, and his deep belief in the power of teaching to change lives.
Dr. Mumford was known for his ability to meet students where they were and help them see what they could become. He paired intellectual rigor with genuine care, recognizing that students arrive in our classrooms with varied experiences, challenges, and strengths. His teaching empowered students, not by lowering expectations, but by helping them build the confidence, skills, and sense of belonging needed to meet those expectations and succeed.
The inaugural year of this award took place during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when faculty across campuses demonstrated remarkable compassion and adaptability in support of students during a period of disruption and uncertainty. In the years since, the award has intentionally evolved to be highly selective. It now recognizes teaching characterized by the spirit and ability Dr. Mumford brought to his teaching.
Both depth and breadth of a nominee’s teaching efforts and impact on empowering student success are considered. Strong nominees will demonstrate a record of innovative, reflective, and empathetic teaching that actively supports student learning and persistence. Evidence of excellence may include thoughtful course design, mentoring that meaningfully shapes student trajectories, pedagogical practices that engage and motivate learners, or leadership that strengthens teaching and learning communities. What matters most is a demonstrated ability to empower students from a wide range of backgrounds to learn, grow, and achieve.
FACET encourages nominations of faculty whose teaching embodies empathy, high standards, and a lasting commitment to student success—and whose work reflects the enduring legacy of Dr. James E. Mumford and the highest ideals of teaching excellence.