Texas Border Business
By Vicky Brito
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – APRIL 14, 2017 – Dr. Art Brownlow, professor of music in the UTRGV Department of Music, is one of just four UT System faculty members inducted April 11 into The University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
The academy was created to recognize exceptional educators in The UT System’s eight academic institutions. It serves as a system-level advocacy group dedicated to enhancing teaching, fostering innovation in the classroom, and promoting interdisciplinary perspectives on education.
“When I first read the email notification, there was an immediate sense of astonishment and disbelief,” Brownlow said. “In fact, I had to re-read that first congratulatory sentence several times before it actually sank in.
“I am extremely humbled and, at the same time, honored to represent UTRGV in this esteemed group of accomplished educators,” he said.
Brownlow teaches music history and applied trumpet, and his research interests include brass instrument history, 19th century orchestral music, music educational technology and “flipped” learning. In addition, he serves as the deputy provost’s Fellow for Academic Innovation.
He is known for his use in the classroom of modern methodologies integrated with contemporary technologies like the iPad to teach music history and applied trumpet.
“We are extremely proud of Dr. Brownlow’s innovative approach to education,” said Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, UTRGV provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “We are pleased that The UT System has recognized his efforts to use every tool available to better help his students learn their craft, helping them stay current in a constantly evolving, increasingly competitive global environment. We congratulate Dr. Brownlow on this honor and look forward to more of his transformative approaches to music and education.”
Requirements for selection to the academy is highly competitive. Nominees must have previously been awarded aRegents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, and must be tenured or of an equivalent rank. Brownlow was one of five UTRGV recipients, and among 60 across the entire UT System, of the UT Regents’ Outstanding Teacher Award in 2016.
THE 2017 ACADEMY DESIGNEES
In addition to Brownlow, three other UT System educators were inducted into the academy:
- Kevin Cokley, professor of educational psychology and African diaspora studies at UT Austin.
- Susan Doty, senior lecturer in economics and director for Economic Education and Financial Literacy, CEEFL, at UT Tyler.
- Karen Huxtable, senior lecturer for the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at UT Dallas.
UT System Chancellor William McRaven congratulated the four recipients of this year’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers designations.
“The definition of noble is a teacher,” McRaven said. “And the noblest of teachers are here at UT institutions, revolutionizing the learning experience and inspiring thousands and thousands of minds.”
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS
The UT System’s Academic Affairs website says the Academy “is intended to be an elite organization, with membership based on excellence in teaching at the undergraduate or graduate levels combined with extraordinary contributions to the educational mission of the UT System. Membership in the Academy will be lifelong. The Academy expects the members to continue to perform educational effort, to promote educational excellence, and to participate actively in the activities that promote the Academy’s mission.”
