Two College of Health & Human Sciences faculty members are among the 2026 inductees into the Texas Tech Teaching Academy.
Michelle Alcorn, Ph.D., and Melanie Schmitt, Ph.D., of the College of Health & Human Sciences are among the 14 faculty members welcomed into the Texas Tech Teaching Academy this year. The new members were inducted on Sept. 24 during a ceremony at the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC).
Alcorn is an associate professor in the Department of Hospitality and Retail Management. Schmitt is an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Interdisciplinary Human Sciences, where she teaches in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program.
Each year, the Teaching Academy asks its newest members one question: What inspires you to teach? The question invites them to reflect on their accomplishments and reconnect with what drew them to the profession.
For Alcorn, the answer begins with her own love of learning.
"Lifelong learning is my primary inspiration. Learning should never stop," she said. "Teaching gives me the privilege of engaging with curious minds every day, turning every question into an opportunity to explore, adapt, and grow together. Education is never a one-way street."
Schmitt is inspired by how far a single lesson can travel.
"What inspires me most about teaching is the ripple effect—the idea that what we share with one student can reach far beyond the classroom," she said. "I love sharing my passion for Family and Consumer Sciences and helping students recognize the difference they can make in the lives of individuals, families, and communities."
Seeing that growth up close keeps her motivated. "Watching students grow in confidence, apply what they have learned, and inspire others reminds me why I teach and motivates me to keep learning and growing alongside them," she said.
About the Teaching Academy
Founded in 1997, the Teaching Academy advocates for teaching excellence and promotes service related to the university's teaching mission. Its members also advise and mentor colleagues and share knowledge about teaching strategies.
The academy helps build a strong teaching culture on campus. Through its activities and services, faculty connect with new pedagogical techniques, theories of student learning, and the scholarship of teaching. The academy also selects recipients of university teaching awards, recognizing excellence in the classroom on behalf of the institution and faculty peers.
Read all 2026 new members' reflections on the Teaching Academy website.