Reminiscing with Simpson and Hutchinson

Oral Histories by a Beloved Former Director and Professor at IHE

Former IHE director Ronald Simpson and professor emerita Sylvia Hutchinson provided oral histories to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the University of Georgia’s Teaching Academy. Simpson and Hutchinson are much-admired colleagues and mentors to many in the IHE community, and they continue to teach through these interviews. In addition to their roles at IHE, Simpson and Hutchinson both received degrees at UGA and actively served across the university campus as faculty members and senior administrators.

In all, the Teaching Academy captured recollections from eight charter and early members of the organization. Taken as a whole, the interviews provide an image of teaching and learning at the University of Georgia during the second half of the twentieth century and collective wisdom from several of the university’s top instructors. Individually, each interview offers insight into the various colleges on campus and personal philosophies and growth as professors.

The University Archives houses the digitized oral histories, and they are publically available at https://tinyurl.com/UGA-TAhistories.  

Simpson arrived at the University in 1981 as the first director of the Office of Instructional Development (now, Center for Teaching and Learning). In 1996, he moved to the Institute and served as graduate coordinator and then as director of IHE. He helped to establish the Governor’s Teaching Fellows program and served as the editor of Innovative Higher Education for 13 years. In 2001, he received the Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award. 

Hutchinson formerly directed the Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows program at the Institute and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Her career includes seven years of service as associate dean of the College of Education, where she directed international education programs while continuing to teach and advise graduate students. She is the recipient of the 2019 University of Georgia's President's Medal.

The University of Georgia Teaching Academy charter was written in the conference room of Meigs Hall in 1999. Since the beginning, its mission has been “to promote and celebrate excellence in teaching.” Faculty are invited to join in recognition of their commitment and distinction as teachers. The Academy organizes annual faculty symposia, administers a fellows program to support early-career faculty, assist in selection of major university teaching awards (such as Meigs Professorships and Richard B. Russell Awards).

IHE graduate, Trish Kalivoda (EdD 1993), also was an active participate in the Teaching Academy and a charter member.