Dr. Ron Haas named 2019 Teaching Award of Honor recipient by Alumni Association

The Texas State Alumni Association has selected Dr. Ron Haas, senior lecturer in the Honors College, as the 2019 Teaching Award of Honor recipient. This award pays homage to Texas State University’s, founding as a teaching college, and is designed to recognize, encourage, and reward superior Texas State classroom teachers. 

In additional to his role as senior lecturer, Dr. Haas also serves as an instructor for the Honors thesis, director of Undergraduate Research Fellowships, faculty supervisor for The Texas State Undergraduate Research Journal and head of the Honors Peer Writing Mentors. 

Each year, Texas State faculty and staff nominate their peers, explaining why their candidate is an outstanding teacher. This year, Dr. Haas was unanimously chosen as the 2019 recipient by the Alumni Association Awards Selection Committee. 

“I remember my excitement my first semester at Texas State University when I was lucky enough to get into [Dr. Haas’] class,” said Kathryn McDaniel, an Honors Student and former student of Dr. Haas’. “He motivated me to see my potential as a writer. As his student, I learned that I can develop any skill and that I am not limited to any natural talents I may have.” 

Dr. Heather C. Galloway, Dean of the Honors College and a Professor in the Department of Physics, put forth the nomination stating, “His version of the [America in the] 60s course has become the most highly sought-after class in our schedule…and Ron has become one of the most popular and highly-evaluated professors in Honors’ 50-year history.” 

With his ever-growing popularity, this is not the first award Dr. Haas has received. He also received several Alpha Chi Favorite Professor awards, and he was the 2016-17 John R. Hood Honors Professor of the Year. 

“The lessons I have learned from him have made a profound impact on my educational experience as well as my personal life,” said McDaniel. “If anyone deserves the Teaching Award of Honor, it would be Dr. Haas.” 

The award is formally presented during Faculty Convocation in the fall.