FACET Bloomington is excited to recognize 87 awardees (out of 122 nominations) for the inaugural Dr. James E. Mumford Excellence in Extraordinary Teaching Awards. These awards recognize instructors who demonstrate notably innovative, creative, and compassionate teaching in response to extraordinary events. For this year, they specifically sought to highlight excellence in classroom teaching, course design, and instructor-student advising in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice developments, and other adverse and unexpected situations. All IU Bloomington full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty were eligible for nomination.
Last year was so challenging, and our IU faculty responded heroically. The Mumford Award recognizes faculty from all ranks, most schools, and more than 40 departments. These faculty stories are so varied, diverse, inspiring and represent the best of what we do at IU.
Dr. Clark Barwick, Associate Director for FACET Bloomington and Senior Lecturer in Communication at the Kelley School of Business
This award was 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. He was renowned as an extraordinary teaching and was an active member of FACET.
Doc [Dr. Mumford] dedicated his life to his work and his work was creating a better, stronger, and more unified world through music. He could teach anyone to love and value music and in so doing, he would teach you to love and value yourself. No one who met Doc walked away the same and everyone who knew him was better off for it. This award is a wonderful addition to his magnificent legacy.
Carmund White, Dr. Mumford's Executor, Associate Director of the IU Kelley School of Business Undergraduate Program, and Director of Kelley's Office for Diversity Initiatives
In the spirit of Dr. Mumford’s legacy and the accomplishments of the Mumford Award recipients, a significant donation was made in the awardees’ names to IU’s Crimson Cupboard Food Pantry, IU Bloomington’s on-campus resource available to all IU community members.
Crimson Cupboard Food Pantry is thankful for the donation on behalf of the FACET Mumford Awards. Crimson Cupboard strives to make sure that no one in the IU community goes without food. According to research by the Hope Center, close to 40% of US University students are food insecure. Food insecurity amongst students is known to cause disruptions in education including lower GPA, increased rates of reducing class load and dropping out. This donation will help the IU pantry to continue to fight against these disruptions by providing access to fresh and healthy food to those in need on the Bloomington campus.
Brandon Shurr, Assistant Director for Community Engagement, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, IU Bloomington
To learn more about this award program and read the awardees’ inspiring stories, click the button below.