Creative Teaching Inspires Tomorrow's Innovators
As a national leader in academic excellence, the University of Kansas trains the next generation of skilled professionals to tackle today’s greatest challenges.
Scroll on to see how KU’s award-winning teachers infuse spirit into classrooms, research labs, and medical facilities, shaping a workforce determined to better your world.
These teachers do more than present lessons and lectures. They cultivate critical thinking, ignite curiosity, and help students discover their potential. The result is a generation of problem-solvers, inventors, healers, and leaders ready to improve lives across the globe.
The videos below illustrate how KU’s faculty transform and inspire through teaching, showing what it means to learn deeply, think boldly, and make a meaningful difference
Insight focused
David Mai instills mindfulness and curiosity behind the camera lens, reminding students that asking “Why?” and sharing ideas with one another is crucial for creativity.
David Mai
Assistant Professor
Department of Film & Media Studies
David Mai
Assistant Professor
Department of Film & Media Studies
Empathy in practice
Kelsie Kelly recognizes that the emotional side of education is crucial for residents and medical students to learn how to develop strong patient relationships.
Kelsie Kelly, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
Kelsie Kelly, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
Creative sparks
When Giselle Anatol sees her students light up with inspiration, she encourages them to expand on their ideas, cultivating pride in their work while strengthening KU’s literary community.
Giselle Anatol
Professor
Department of English
Giselle Anatol
Professor
Department of English
Built different
Brian Lines teaches his students as if they’re his future colleagues, confident that KU trains an engineering workforce that will shape generations to come.
Brian Lines
Associate Professor
Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Brian Lines
Associate Professor
Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Cross-cultural play
Students in Sean Gullickson’s class create role-playing games entirely in Spanish, which is just one example of his interdisciplinary approach to developing responsible global citizens.
Sean Gullickson
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Spanish & Portuguese
Sean Gullickson
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Spanish & Portuguese
AN EXCELLENT, ENGAGED ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
1 of 38
public institutions with Association of American University membership
48
academic programs in the top 50 among public universities — U.S. News & World Report
93%
graduates who are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation
400,000+
alumni worldwide
Legal edge
Practice drives progress: Pamela Keller leads by example and continuously sharpens her skills to enhance her law students’ communication prowess.
Pamela Keller
Clinical Professor
School of Law
Pamela Keller
Clinical Professor
School of Law
Cosmic confidence
Building resiliency in students is key to Jennifer Delgado’s teaching style, allowing them to grasp challenging physics theories and deepen their understanding of our universe.
Jennifer Delgado
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Jennifer Delgado
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Driven by growth
Future physicians have the freedom to explore their own paths under the guidance of Jessica Newman, who provides dedicated academic mentorship and warmhearted support along the way.
Jessica Newman
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Jessica Newman
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Spirited ingredients
Drawing on his fascination with the chemistry of everyday objects, Stevin Gehrke motivates his students to tackle challenges to improve their lives and the world every day.
Stevin Gehrke
Professor
Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Stevin Gehrke
Professor
Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Setting the pace
During her meditative runs, Sarah LeGresley Rush often finds inspiration for new and creative ways to help students understand complex physics concepts in the classroom.
Sarah LeGresley Rush
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Sarah LeGresley Rush
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Daring ideas
Kapila Silva builds students’ confidence in their design ideas and encourages them to create architectural experiences that enrich people’s lives.
Kapila Silva
Professor
Department of Architecture
Kapila Silva
Professor
Department of Architecture
Brain food
A classroom snack locker is just one way Denise Zwahlen nurtures and nourishes students so they are ready to learn and grow into confident physicians.
Denise Zwahlen, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
Denise Zwahlen, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
Vital skills
Patricia M. Kluding coaches the next generation of physical therapists with dedication and empathy, leading them to take the same approach to patient care.
Patricia M. Kluding
Professor
Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science & Athletic Training
Patricia M. Kluding
Professor
Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science & Athletic Training
KU GRADUATE PROGRAMS RANK AT THE TOP AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
#1
Palentology
#1
Local Government Management
#1
Special Education
#5
Physical Therapy
Risk and reward
Eileen Hotze translates challenging STEM concepts into terms students can understand, allowing them to take risks in their research and make discoveries.
Eileen Hotze
Associate Teaching Professor
Undergraduate Biology Program
Eileen Hotze
Associate Teaching Professor
Undergraduate Biology Program
Hands-on revelations
The medieval world comes alive for students when Misty Schieberle brings them to KU’s Spencer Research Library to interact with old manuscripts and better understand historical contexts.
Misty Schieberle
Professor
Department of English
Misty Schieberle
Professor
Department of English
Wellness boost
Jeannine Goetz shares her excitement with students to foster curiosity and passion for a profession that will create healthier communities across the nation.
Jeannine Goetz
Associate Professor
Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
Jeannine Goetz
Associate Professor
Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
Guiding narratives
Laura Mielke’s goal is to show students that storytelling and language are pathways to understanding and navigating life’s complexities.
Laura Mielke
Professor
Department of English
Laura Mielke
Professor
Department of English
These educators demonstrate how creative teaching reaches far beyond KU’s five campuses and into your community. KU faculty have guided more than 400,000 alumni to share knowledge, imagination, and compassion around the world as doctors, teachers, engineers, artists, scientists, and more. Through this dedication to exceptional teaching, KU continues to shape a skilled and thoughtful workforce of Jayhawks ready to make a meaningful difference in your life.
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Training tomorrow's workforce
The University of Kansas spans five campuses across Kansas, offers top-ranking academic programs, trains first responders and medical professionals, and provides the creative space to pursue limitless possibilities.
KU Points of Distinction
As one of the nation's leading research universities and Kansas’ only member of the Association of American Universities, KU conducts that research sets the bar higher. Learn how Jayhawks envision a better world and make it happen.