Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award: Jennifer Freeman
April 17, 2014
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Jennifer Freeman, assistant professor of health sciences. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) |
In recognition of outstanding undergraduate teaching, two pre-tenure professors recently received the new Exceptional Early Career Award for tenure-track faculty. Purdue Today will feature profiles on both 2014 recipients today. This profile focuses on Jennifer Freeman, assistant professor of health sciences.
For Jennifer Freeman, assistant professor of health sciences and a recipient of the Exceptional Early Career Award, interacting with students is the most enjoyable part of her job.
"I get my energy from the bright ideas and enthusiasm from the students," Freeman says.
Since 2007, Freeman has taught and mentored undergraduates in all health sciences majors, although her specialty is toxicology. During her time at Purdue, she has developed two new courses within the college: an undergraduate course, Essentials of Environmental, Occupational and Radiological Health Sciences, and a graduate course, Advanced Techniques in Molecular Toxicology.
In addition to creating new classes, Freeman also has created an undergraduate toxicology research laboratory experience and an undergraduate teaching assistant experience for her students.
Freeman also created and implemented the School of Health Sciences Undergraduate Honors Program and now serves as its director. As director, she has the opportunity to interact with students in another capacity and serve as a mentor to them as they conduct research.
"I encourage the students to participate in research learning experiences, including research poster sessions here at Purdue, and if possible, try to get an opportunity to travel to regional and national scientific meetings to broaden their educational experiences to better prepare them for their next steps once they graduate," she says.
Freeman also mentors undergraduate students in her research laboratory. Since coming to Purdue, she has mentored 12 undergraduate students, all of whom attended either graduate, medical, veterinary or professional school or earned research positions at companies in industry.
Through her teaching and mentoring, Freeman hopes that her students learn one very important lesson: Never give up on your goals.
"Along their educational journey, they will encounter many bumps and roadblocks, but I encourage them to continue to work hard toward their goals," she says. "The journey might not be the exact plan they had thought, and it will require a lot of hard work, but it will definitely be worth it."
In addition to the Exceptional Early Teaching Award, Freeman received the school's Robert R. Landolt Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2010.
"I look forward to many more years of interacting with students and aim to provide unique opportunities during their educational experience that will assist them as they work toward achieving their educational goals," she says.
Writer: Hannah Harper, harper4@purdue.edu