Courtney Willis
UNC Professor Courtney Willis of the College of Natural and Health Sciences is recipient of the 2009 M. Lucile Harrison Award, the university’s top faculty honor. The annual award recognizes a faculty member with a distinguished career in teaching, professional activity and service. Willis has been with the Physics program at UNC since 1991, teaching introductory and advanced physics courses, general science courses and teacher education content and methods courses.
He was honored earlier this year with a 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Science Teachers. His many UNC awards include Housing and Residence Life Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006, 2007; Favorite Professor Award, UNC Mortar Board, 2006; UNC Excellence in Service Award, 2005; College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Service and Advising Award, 2004; and College of Arts and Sciences Departmental Teaching Award, Physics Department, 2000.
His writing has been published in a variety of professional journals including "The Physics Teacher," "Computers in Physics" and numerous American Association of Physics Teachers publications. He has participated in 11 funded research projects, including serving as principal investigator for a four-year, $700,000 National Science Foundation Teacher Enhancement grant: "Chemistry and Physics Fundamentals for Pre-High School Teachers."
Willis received his Ph.D. in curriculum instruction and science education from the University of Wyoming and his master’s in teaching with a physics major and chemistry minor from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He graduated from UNC with bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics. Prior to becoming a UNC faculty member, he taught high school physics, chemistry and math for 23 years.