MSU chemistry professor, Dr. Ricky Cox, named 2008 Kentucky Professor of the Year
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Dr. Ricky Cox, chemistry professor at Murray State University the 2008 Kentucky Professor of the Year. Cox was selected from nearly 300 top professors in the United States.
Students who work in Cox’s lab are exposed to a broad range of research experiences and techniques, including protein purification, enzyme kinetics and computational biochemistry.
His research interests are focused in two major areas. The first involves studying various aspects of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. These enzymes are largely responsible for the loss of antibacterial activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, formerly clinically important agents against pathogenic bacteria. Projects shed light on the recognition of the aminoglycosides by the enzymes and lay a foundation for recapturing the clinical effectiveness of these antibiotics.
The second area that students find themselves studying in Cox’s lab pertains to p-interactions in proteins. One project in this area includes site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme kinetics to quantitate the energetics of p-interactions in proteins. A project in the area of computational biochemistry investigates the electrostatic nature of a variety of p-interactions.
Murray State University’s efforts toward using technology to improve student learning was recognized in 2007 by Hewlett Packard, when the school was one of only 10 colleges and universities nationwide to receive an HP Technology for Higher Education Leadership Grant. As co-director of the project, Cox was instrumental in the establishment of a program that had more than 20 faculty members across campus using tablet-PCs to enhance student learning in small and large classes, as well as field and clinical situations. Faculty also used tablet technology for distance learning and with undergraduates as they conducted independent research projects. The tablet-PC technology has gone on to play a major role in teaching at Murray State.
Cox’s teaching skills have been recognized in the past when he was the 2007 Kentucky Academy of Science Superlative Award winner for Outstanding College or University Teacher.
CASE and the Carnegie Foundation have been partners in offering Professors of the Year since 1981. TIAA-CREF, one of America’s leading financial services organizations and higher education’s premier retirement system, became the primary sponsor for the awards ceremony in 2000. Additional support for the program is received from a number of higher education associations, including Phi Beta Kappa.
In 2008, there are winners in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges to select finalists. The Carnegie Foundation then convened the third and final panel, which selected four national winners. CASE and Carnegie select state winners from top entries resulting from the judging process. Cox was selected from faculty members nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie “to do all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of teaching.” The foundation is the only advanced-study center for teachers in the world and the third-oldest foundation in the nation. Its nonprofit research activities are conducted by a small group of distinguished scholars.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the largest international association of education institutions, serving more than 3,400 universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in 61 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of educational fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.
