Among the highest forms of recognition that The University of Tulsa can bestow upon a member of the faculty is the Outstanding Teacher Award. Initiated in 1980, it is limited to three faculty members per year – less than 1% of the resident faculty. The winners are nominated by students, and the selection is made by the elected Faculty Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate. Thus, the award represents recognition by both students and fellow faculty.
The winners of this prestigious award are honored at the 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony with a monetary award and a medallion. Past winners can be recognized by this medallion worn on a ribbon about the neck as part of their academic regalia. Honorees may receive the award only once in a lifetime.
Mohamed K. Fakhr, Professor of Biological Science
Mohamed Fakhr joined UTulsa’s Department of Biological Science in 2008 via South Dakota State University, where he began his post-doc after receiving his doctorate from Oklahoma State University in microbiology, cell, and molecular biology in 2002. Fakhr views teachers as “performers on a stage.” Once the classroom door is closed, he forgets “everything about the outside world.” As a teacher his focus is on educating his student audience, while they are being entertained, so as to keep them alert and attentive throughout his lectures. He aims to “transfer his interest and passion about the subject to the students so they get hooked.” He seeks to “make a difference in his students’ lives and [their] future success” and goes beyond just enhancing their knowledge of a particular subject. This is Fakhr’s teaching goal and what he finds most gratifying and rewarding.
Selected student comments:
Students note that Fakhr’s classes are interesting and he is both supportive and encouraging. “Dr. Fakhr is the most valuable professor at The University of Tulsa,” one student said. “He is extremely knowledgeable about the course material and makes his lectures interesting, which isn’t always easy when you’re lecturing about some of the smallest living things on the planet. Dr. Fakhr truly cares about every single one of his students. UTulsa is lucky to have Dr. Fakhr as a professor.” Another student added, “He is always willing to answer questions and is very approachable, which makes students more enthusiastic about learning.”
Michael J. Futch, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Michael J. Futch has been a member of UTulsa’s Department of Philosophy & Religion faculty for 22 years. He received his doctorate in philosophy from Emory University in 2001 and joined The University of Tulsa in 2003. Futch believes philosophy “aims to educate free persons” and his pedagogy is “designed to help students become deep and rigorous thinkers with capacious intellects, actively engaged with and transformed by challenging ideas.” He aims to cultivate ways of knowing and thinking that will remain with students forever and that will inform many aspects of their lives. A statement among Futch’s teaching excellence nominations demonstrates the outcome of his approach to teaching: “the best that TU has to offer.” Another nominator noted that Futch possesses an “unwavering dedication to the pursuit of knowledge” along with a “genuine care for each one of his students.”
Selected student comments:
“Dr. Futch is very knowledgeable about the subject matter and lectures about the material in a clear and concise manner,” one student noted. “Despite this, he manages to maintain a light-hearted tone during his lectures, thus making it easier for students to participate. Dr. Futch is one of my favorite professors.” Other students echoed this, with one adding that “I appreciate Dr. Futch’s sense of humor and commitment to engaging with students. The lectures were very enjoyable.” Another said, he “made lectures very engaging with his style of lecture and applied humor when appropriate to enhance the experience of learning dense topics in philosophy.”
Anila Madhan, Applied Associate Professor of Finance
Anila Madhan began teaching finance at UTulsa in 2009, shortly after receiving her doctorate from the University of Pune (India) in 2007. She was promoted to the rank of applied associate professor in 2024. Madhan views teaching as a “great gift” which she uses, not only to instruct, but to inspire students and help them imagine and investigate. Her primary goal is to help students love and enjoy the subject just as much as she does. For Madhan, teaching is a process of igniting a passion for the subject; a view to which she refers as the “bringing out” process. Once students have gained a passion for the subject matter, she serves as a guide to help them explore the subject in depth on their own. This exploration and learning process involves a regular regiment of student participation which, in turn, is central to her outstanding classroom performance. She has been recognized multiple times as one of Collins College of Business’ outstanding teachers.
Selected student comments:
“Professor Madhan makes everything really interesting and applicable to real life. She also frequently asks for student input which is really engaging,” one student noted. Another student said, “Professor Madhan is the best professor at this university. She changes students’ lives for the better and really cares about her students. I have also learned more from her than from any other professor.” Other students praised her teaching style, noting that she “added real-world context as needed, humor and personality to keep the lectures engaging, and comprehensive walkthroughs with thorough explanations for all topics we covered.”