March 22, 2022

SEC Announces Dr. Karen McNeal Wins 2022 Faculty Achievement Award for Auburn University

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Dr. Karen McNeal, Professor in Geosciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, has been named winner of the 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Award for Auburn University, the SEC announced on Tuesday.

Dr. McNeal holds the William P. Molette Endowed Chair in the Department of Geosciences, and her research focuses on how students understand, assess, and cognitively rationalize critical environmental issues such as climate change. Her work has informed educators on how to enhance instructional strategies and improve geoscience learning while recruiting and retaining historically underrepresented students across geosciences. Dr. McNeal has secured more than $25 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and United States Geological Survey, among others. She has been the Editor of Research for the Journal of Geoscience Education, President of the National Association of Geoscience Teacher’s Geoscience Education Division and has served as a panelist on numerous federal proposal review panels.

“An accomplished scholar in the fields of geocognition and geoscience education, Dr. McNeal’s work continues to shape how students understand, assess, and rationalize critical environmental issues such as climate change,” said Dr. Vini Nathan, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Auburn. “Perhaps more impactful is her commitment to strengthening graduate training and ensuring diversity and inclusion remain core goals as she empowers the next generation of scientists and educators.”

To receive an SEC achievement award the faculty member must have achieved the rank of full professor; have a record of extraordinary teaching, particularly at the undergraduate level; and have a record of research that is recognized nationally and/or internationally. University winners will receive a $5,000 honorarium from the SEC and will become their campus nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award, which will be announced later this month.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Karen McNeal.