Priti R. Shah is named a Arthur F. Thurnau Professor by U-M Board of Regents
The Thurnau professorship recognizes Shah’s extraordinary contributions to undergraduate education.
Priti R. Shah, professor of educational psychology, School of Education; of psychology, LSA; and of information, School of Information, is one of five U-M faculty to receive the prestigious Arthur F. Thurnau professorship in 2022, reports The University Record. Shah will hold the title for the duration of her career at the university, and will receive $20,000 to support activities that further enhance her teaching.
To become a Thurnau professor, faculty members must demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and learning, excellence and innovation in teaching, and dedication to working effectively with a diverse student body.
Shah has earned several accolades for her teaching and mentoring. Her course Psychological Perspectives on the College Experience introduces first-year students to different methods of social science research. Students read empirical studies and review articles about topics that will help them make the most of their years at U-M, such as the effect of sleep on grades.
None of Shah’s courses use textbooks. Instead, she selects scholarly and popular publications that showcase current work and support deeper thinking about material.
“Her students are always actively engaged in learning, whether responding to clicker questions in large lectures or developing presentation skills in smaller seminars,” her work description reads.
After observing a lack of diversity among students while directing the psychology honors program, Shah created the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) program. STAR acquaints 28-30 students each year with the real-world impact of psychology research. This includes workshops and tools that involve undergraduates in the research process, as well as one-on-one mentoring from doctoral students.
The Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships were established in 1988. They are named after Thurnau, a U-M student from 1902-04. The Thurnau Charitable Trust, which was established through Thurnau’s will, provides support for the award.
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