“Teaching is my passion, with the hopes that in some small way I make a difference for our students. The students are my pride and joy. Every year at graduation, I find myself feeling like a proud parent, full of excitement for their accomplishments and future careers. It is an extraordinary honor to teach at Auburn University, and it is very special to be recognized for something you love to do.”

Elaine S. Coleman is an associate professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a native of West Virginia, received her undergraduate training at West Virginia University, and obtained a DVM from Ohio State University in 1984. Coleman moved to Auburn in 1984 with her husband, Dale, where she completed a small animal internship followed by a clinical residency in small animal neurology/neurosurgery. She then pursued graduate studies in biomedical sciences with Jim Sartin and received her doctoral degree from Auburn University in 1992. Following postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Marie Wooten, she took a faculty teaching position at Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She returned to Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001, where she currently teaches small animal anatomy and neuroscience. Coleman integrates both clinical and basic sciences in classroom interactions with her students as an endeavor to facilitate learning. She passionately enjoys teaching and has received numerous teaching awards over the years.

“My proudest academic moments at Auburn have been hooding the graduate students I have mentored as they receive their doctorates and engaging with their families at graduation.”

Jeffrey S. Katz teaches classes in comparative cognition, cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and sensation and perception. His research focuses on the comparative mechanism of learning and cognition. Katz has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and is on three editorial boards. Since joining the faculty at Auburn in 2000, Katz has been honored with the American Psychological Association’s Division 3 Young Investigator Award in 2001; the Outstanding Professor Award from the Auburn University Panhellenic Council in 2003; Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2002, 2004, and 2005; College of Liberal Arts Early Career Teaching Award for 2004-05; APA Fellow Status in Experimental Psychology in 2007; APA Fellow Status in Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology in 2008; Alumni Professor Award from Auburn University each year from 2006-11; College of Liberal Arts Academy of Teaching and Outstanding Teachers induction in 2012; Psi Chi Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the Department of Psychology for 2001-02 and 2012-13, and Comparative Cognition Society Recognition of Service in 2014.