Two CLAS professors named Distinguished Teaching Scholars
Jonathan Martin and Selman Hershfield recognized for innovative teaching and exemplary research
Two professors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida have been named Distinguished Teaching Scholars by the Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars, an advisory board that aims to elevate teaching excellence and celebrate faculty who go above and beyond for their students.
The 2024 inductees — Jonathan Martin, in the Department of Geological Sciences, and Selman Hershfield, in the Department of Physics — will serve for three years on the advisory board for the Provost’s Office, assisting in developing programs and promoting policies that enhance the professional careers and experiences of faculty. However, the designation as Distinguished Teaching Scholars will follow them throughout their careers as they continue to be part of the Academy.
Martin, professor and associate chair of the Geological Sciences, first came to UF in 1994, and has since served many roles in teaching, research, and administration. His research and teaching focuses on groundwater: how it interacts with the world around us, a field known as hydrogeochemistry. Recent research projects include how saltwater intrusions affect coastal aquifers and how both the carbon cycle and the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheets affect the chemistry and scope of greenhouse gasses.
In the classroom, Martin uses a teaching method called Team-Based Learning, or TBL in all of his classes. He describes this approach as a “flipped classroom,” where students study assigned materials before lectures and take low-stakes tests in class. After individuals complete their tests, students re-take the test as a team, which are fixed for the entire semester, sharing information and perspective amongst themselves in order to understand the material on a deeper level. Tests are graded on the spot so the results can guide lectures and further discussions.
“I’ve found this method provides students with a deeper understanding of the material and improves comradery and engagement in the class,” Martin explained. “I’d like to thank one of my former colleagues, Rachel Walters, for introducing me to TBL and guiding me through my first few efforts at using it.”
Hershfield, professor and undergraduate coordinator, joined the Department of Physics in 1992 as an assistant professor. He has served many roles for the college over the last three decades. His interest in theoretical condensed matter physics made him a great fit for the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory initiative, and his research since has earned him several awards, such as the Cottrell Scholars award, an NSF National Young Investigator award, and a College Teacher of the Year award.
Like Martin, Hershfield believes that the key to keeping students interested is to engage them directly. He is a huge proponent of active learning, an approach he has cultivated through years of teaching undergraduate students, graduate students, and, in one instance, K-12 teachers as part of a collaboration with the UF College of Education. He engages students by encouraging collaboration on projects in and outside the classroom, and provides hands-on learning activities whenever possible.
“It is an honor to join the Academy, especially when you look at the people who received it in the past,” Hershfield said. “There are many people I’d like to thank for helping me along the way, including Rose Pringle, Kevin Ingersent, Amlan Biswas, Angela Lindner, and Trysh Travis and the rest of the UF Quest leadership team.”
Learn more about the Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars and previous honorees here.
