Three NIU faculty have been named recipients of the 2012 Presidential Teaching Professorships.

According to a press release, recipients instill interest in the subject and motivate students as well as a commitment to their students. Developing and trying to better instructional methods and technologies and working to improve the undergraduate and/ or graduate departments at NIU are also considered.

Professor of psychology Anne Britt, professor of finance James Johnson, and professor of communication Joseph Scudder were selected for the award after applying last fall.

The recipients are already making plans.

“I was thinking of implementing clickers in my larger 200 class,” Scudder said. “Not everyone can afford clickers so I’m thinking … everyone can have one.”

Johnson, who has worked in the Finance department for 25 years also has some ideas for his money and time off to come.

“I’ll probably look for ways to innovate technology in the classroom,” Johnson said. “And maybe go to one or two conferences and talk about teaching innovations.”

Britt says she hopes to work with faculty in her department to see how and if students in the department’s lab classes struggle with argumentation.

All recipients said they felt honored to be selected.

“Because the quality of teaching at NIU is so high, the selection committee had a difficult task before them,” said Vice Provost Anne Birberick . “Their deliberations involved a thoughtful and extensive review of candidates’ materials and student feedback. The individuals selected had a profound impact on their students, their colleagues and this university during many years of exceptional teaching.”