Even though he came to the UW as a graduate student focusing on research, Alex Coverdill has discovered that he also has an aptitude for teaching.  Last week he received a personal phone call from the UW Provost, Phyllis Wise, notifying him that he had received the University of Washington Award for Excellence in Teaching.  The award will be acknowledged at a special honors ceremony this June, providing Coverdill with a $5,000 award, enrollment in the UW Teaching Academy, and lots of praise from his colleagues. 

Coverdill is the first graduate student from the Department of Biology to win this award since 1994 when it was awarded to Jon Herron from the former zoology department, who later became the co-author, with Scott Freeman, of the text book called, Evolutionary Analysis, currently used for BIO 300 classes.
           
"I love what I do, it's about making a difference," describes Coverdill, who also received The Elizabeth C. Crary Endowed Award for Teaching Assistants last Spring, from the Department of Biology (photo above).  His Crary Award nomination came from students in the TriBeta Biology Honors Society.   Of five recipients that receive this TA award each year, only one is chosen exclusively by student recommendation. 

What is it that makes Coverdill stand out as such an exceptional teacher?  Perhaps it's because he takes such a real interest in each individual.  He keeps in regular contact with his students, and has developed lasting communication with many of the students whom he has taught over the last 11 quarters.  He tries to keep track of what they are all doing as they continue their education. 

 "I think I've had a lot of great students, many of which have taken the time to acknowledge me," adds Coverdill modestly.

The most crowning achievement for Coverdill is when a student that is having problems understanding the class material or has a lack of interest in the subject, is actually turned around after working with him.  That is what really makes a difference.

Coverdill's own research interest is studying migratory birds.  For the past few years he has worked in Prof. John Wingfield lab and has taken trips to Alaska and Greenland to monitor the life and behavior of the birds that choose to migrate to harsh cold environments in the far north.  Now he has plans for more northern exposure; Coverdill applied for and received the Leif Eriikson Foundation award to fund a three-month field research trip in Iceland where he can study the behavior of snow buntings and how their corticosterone levels affect behavior.  Then he will make his own migration back to warmer Seattle – to complete his dissertation at the Department of Biology.
           
After receiving his Ph.D., Coverdill hopes to incorporate both his love for research and his love for teaching into his future career – yes, he wants to become a college professor.

--Article and photograph by Liorah Wichser