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Patrick Kain
College of Liberal ArtsTransformation is more than a curriculum title for Patrick Kain, associate professor of philosophy and Cornerstone faculty fellow, and College of Liberal Arts Murphy nominee.
Kain, a national leader in philosophy curriculum design and innovation, was an inaugural Cornerstone faculty fellow, has served several years on the Cornerstone faculty steering committee, and continues to help orient and train new Cornerstone faculty fellows.
The former director of undergraduate studies in philosophy works with students across disciplines to engage with “transformative texts,” while refining their written and oral communications skills. Students supporting his nomination for the Murphy spoke of him as “an exceptionally engaging, innovative, and reflective teacher.” They also reported that the pivot to remote instruction in spring 2020 went well because of his reliability and flexibility, and how he “was also very understanding of the many new situations” students were facing.
How has your teaching evolved over the last five years?
What changes to your teaching during the pandemic did you take with you going forward?
What suggestions do you have to Purdue instructors who want to improve their teaching and/or their students’ learning?
What motivates you to do your best work in a student-centered learning environment?
The Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award is Purdue West Lafayette’s highest undergraduate teaching honor and awarded annually in the spring semester. Each College selects and advances its own nominee the previous fall as a model in excellent undergraduate education and includes input from its students. For other nominee interviews, see the Insights webpage. Further details on the award and selection procedure and university awardees are available on the Office of the Provost website.