Ginger V. Shultz, associate professor and associate chair of chemistry; associate professor in the Honors Program, LSA, has been named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor.
Shultz has been nationally recognized as a leader in chemistry education and writing-to-learn pedagogies.
She has earned glowing student evaluations for courses that range from introductory organic chemistry lectures and labs to an LSA Honors course where students learn about scientists from groups historically marginalized in science.
Shultz redirected her own lab course from traditional recipe-based experiments to problem-based learning, and she integrates cooperative activities into her teaching to help students master difficult concepts and build transferable skills.
Since 2016, she has directly mentored more than 50 undergraduate researchers, four of whom have published first-author papers, while 16 others have been co-authors.
Her efforts have also improved the teaching of other instructors. Her course, CHEM 550/EDUC 554: Chemistry Education Research and Practice, helps prepare graduate students to engage in high-quality teaching.
As a co-leader of the M-Write initiative, Shultz helps faculty implement writing-to-learn strategies into their large-enrollment courses.
To become a Thurnau professor, faculty members must demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and learning, excellence and innovation in teaching, and dedication to working effectively with a diverse student body.
They also must have made an impact on students’ intellectual or artistic development and on their lives, and contributed to undergraduate education in ways that extend beyond the classroom, studio or lab.
The Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships were established in 1988. They are named after Thurnau, a U-M student from 1902-04. The Thurnau Charitable Trust, which was established through Thurnau’s will, provides support for the award.
Five U-M professors received this honor for 2025. Provost Laurie McCauley presented recommendations for the professorships and descriptions of each professor’s work and achievements to the Board of Regents. This summary is taken from the provost’s recommendations and appeared in the University Record.
