Palm Beach Atlantic presented its annual outstanding teaching award to , a Putnam County, New York, native who delights in pulling students deep into research.
An associate professor of health and human performance, Mitchell says he鈥檚 motivated not by the competitive pull of academic publishing, but by the remarkable learning tool that research provides. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 get research done through students,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e get students done through research.鈥�
In the past five years, Mitchell has successfully guided 55 seniors through research projects, meeting weekly with them to make sure they stay on track, said Provost Dr. Randy Richards. In announcing the winner of the Charles & Hazel Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching, Richards shared comments from students and faculty who nominated Mitchell for the honor:
鈥� 鈥淒r. Mitchell goes above and beyond what it means to be a faculty member at 海角在线. You can tell that he loves what he does and cares about students鈥� success.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淗e consistently strives to ensure that students are engaged and understand what is being taught in the classroom.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淗e always makes me feel that I can go to him with any questions, concerns, or even just seeking guidance, even though he is not my adviser.鈥�
Many of Mitchell鈥檚 students have made presentations at the University鈥檚 annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, after extensive research supervised by Mitchell. A recently-featured example was 鈥淐ardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in College-Aged Students.鈥�
Mitchell earned his Doctor of Philosophy in physiological sciences at the University of Florida. His bachelor鈥檚 degree is from Ohio Wesleyan University and his master鈥檚 from Wake Forest University. He joined the 海角在线 faculty in 2012.
He teaches courses in nutrition, physiology and research methods. He also oversees the Human Performance Laboratory and undergraduate research. He and his students have received 24 university Quality Initiative (QI) grants to perform research in areas including gait dynamics in autism, cancer-related fatigue and the biochemical effects of fasting.
Before becoming a professor he was a pastor and church planter. Now working with students in the lab, he retains his ministry mindset: 鈥淚t鈥檚 about people,鈥� engaging with them and helping them grow.
Mitchell lives in Wellington, Florida, with his wife and two children.
The Charles & Hazel Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching was established with an endowment from former 海角在线 President Dr. Paul R. Corts and his wife, Diane, in honor of his parents and in recognition of their commitment to higher education.
