About the award and Michael Tansey

The department annually recognizes an Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) who is nominated for exceptional work. The 2017 award honored mycologist Michael Tansey, who is known for his dedicated teaching and his mentoring of undergraduates. Tansey joined the IUB Department of Biology faculty in 1971, and by the time he retired in 2017, he had taught over 22,000 students. He has received departmental, campus, and national awards for his service to students.