KU News Release

Kemper fellowships handed out to four more KU professors

• See video, photos of the winners

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas “surprise patrol” handed out $5,000 Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to four unsuspecting professors last night and today.

The Kemper fellowships recognize outstanding teachers and advisers at KU as determined by a seven-member selection committee. Now in their 13th year, the awards are supported by $650,000 in gifts from the William T. Kemper Foundation (Commerce Bank, trustee) and $650,000 in matching funds from KU Endowment.

Winners announced last night and today are: Michael Detamore, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering; Hossein Saiedian, professor and associate chair of electrical engineering and computer science; Ward Thompson, associate professor of chemistry; and Jon Tunge, associate professor of chemistry.

In all, 20 professors will be honored and $100,000 distributed this year as part of the Kemper tradition. Presentations for Lawrence campus faculty members will continue through Tuesday, Sept. 2. Four professors at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., also will be honored.

The William T. Kemper Foundation was established in 1989 after the death of the Kansas City, Mo., banking executive and civic leader. The foundation supports Midwest communities and concentrates on initiatives in education, health and human services, civic improvements and the arts.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

More about today’s winners:

Michael Detamore
Assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering
Michael Detamore describes himself as “always … a teacher at heart.” He traces the beginnings of his academic career to tutoring of elementary school friends as well as to his mother and grandmother, both teachers. His love for teaching is reflected in his students’ appreciation for him: “If there was a ‘University of Detamore,’ I would definitely enroll. Other professors should observe Dr. Detamore’s teaching methods as a model of how to improve their own.” Detamore was instrumental in developing KU’s new graduate degree program in bioengineering. Says Laurence Weatherley, professor and chair of chemical and petroleum engineering: “I am amazed at Michael’s rapid development, consistent improvement and visible productivity.”

Hossein Saiedian
Professor and associate chair of electrical engineering and computer science
Even a casual user of computer technology knows how quickly the field changes — and Hossein Saidedian is no casual user. “His courses are cutting edge, which is needed in the fast-paced science of software engineering and management,” says Costas Tsatsoulis, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. In 2004, Saiedian led the development of a new master’s degree in information technology. Says Tsatsoulis: “He clearly spends a lot of time refining his classes, and making them continuously relevant to a changing information technology landscape.”

Ward Thompson
Associate professor of chemistry
Ward Thompson’s passion for teaching and good humor can win over even the students most reluctant to embrace quantum mechanics and electronic structure of molecules. Joseph Heppert, professor and chair of chemistry, describes him as an outstanding communicator and a patient, caring teacher. In fact, Thompson’s efforts have changed the way KU teaches physical chemistry by updating the content and organization to reflect a modern outlook and practice. “Professor Thompson has been a major driving force in one of the most remarkable curriculum realignments I have witnessed during my professional career,” says Heppert.

Jon Tunge
Associate professor of chemistry
Jon Tunge frequently teaches the honors organic chemistry sequence or advanced-level graduate synthesis courses — classes that the chair of the Department of Chemistry describes as “extremely challenging.” Yet Tunge’s students rave: “Jon is awesome. Make him teach as often as possible. My favorite class ever.” Joseph Heppert, professor and chair of chemistry, thinks he knows why Tunge’s evaluations are so positive. “He approaches the teaching of organic chemistry with great passion and a penchant for accuracy. I believe that his stellar student evaluations stem from his high standards for both his students as learners and himself as an instructor.” Tunge’s teaching does not stop when the whistle blows. His office is always open to students, and he holds informal discussion sessions — on Saturday afternoons.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.