Published on January 24, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey  
MandyHoward

Amanda Howard, associate professor of psychology at Samford University, was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Award this week, the longest-standing honor bestowed by the Howard College of Arts and Sciences. This award recognizes faculty members for their excellence in teaching, dedication to students and contributions to the academic community.

Nominations for the award are submitted by Howard College faculty and senior students, with a committee of previous award winners carefully selecting the recipient.

“This award highlights teaching excellence based on nominations from HCAS faculty and seniors,” said Jennifer Speights-Binet, professor and chair of the geography and sociology department and chair of the selection committee. “Dr. Howard stood out for her exceptional mentoring, ability to inspire curiosity and talent for making complex ideas accessible.”

Howard’s colleagues and students praise her dynamic teaching style, dedication to academic curiosity and commitment to mentoring both students and younger faculty.

“She brings joy to the classroom and cares to invest in each and every student,” one student shared.

Howard is also celebrated for her innovative contributions beyond the classroom, including founding "Psych Week," an initiative tied to the psychology department’s senior seminar. This weeklong event engages the Samford community with activities such as debunking psychology myths, hosting public lectures and offering interactive events. It concludes with "Psych Friday," a program for high school AP psychology students held at the Hoover Public Library.

Howard joins a distinguished group of past recipients of the Outstanding Faculty Award:

  • 2004: William Collins
  • 2005: Charles Workman
  • 2006: Rhonda Parker
  • 2007: Ronald Jenkins
  • 2008: Ginger Frost
  • 2009: Penny Marler
  • 2010: Michael Janas
  • 2011: W. Jason Wallace
  • 2012: Frederick Shepherd
  • 2013: Millicent Bolden
  • 2014: Elizabeth Dobbins
  • 2015: Charlotte Brammer
  • 2016: Emily Hynds
  • 2017: Jack Berry
  • 2018: Jennifer Speights-Binet
  • 2019: Jeffery Leonard
  • 2020: Lisa Battaglia
  • 2021: Morgan Ponder
  • 2022: David Johnson
  • 2023: Gregory Kawell
  • 2024: David Bains
  • 2025: Amanda Howard

To support faculty members including Amanda Howard and strengthen the mission of Howard College, consider making a gift today.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.