Dr. Elizabeth Dorssom Receives 2024 Michael Brintnall Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Elizabeth Dorssom, LU assistant professor of political science, was awarded the 2024 Michael Brintnall Teaching and Learning Award.

Lincoln University of Missouri Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Elizabeth Dorssom has been honored with the 2024 Michael Brintnall Teaching and Learning Award, a prestigious recognition in the field of political science.

The award, presented by the American Political Science Association (APSA), celebrates Dr. Dorssom's innovative approaches to teaching and her commitment to enhancing the learning experience for her students.

"When I'm teaching, I try to make political science interesting so that students are encouraged to pay attention to what is happening in the Government and why voting is important," Dorssom says. "My goal is to demonstrate to students that Politics affects their lives and why they should pay attention to the actions of their elected officials."

Dr. Dorssom enriches her classroom by emphasizing the importance of voting and integrating current events into her lessons with a "Politician of the Day" segment. She uses creative methods like playing songs from Hamilton to spark debates about the U.S. Constitution and federalism. Additionally, she engages students with assignments such as creating short videos on voting, similar to TikTok, and uses Quizizz to assess learning. Dr. Dorssom is committed to continuously improving her teaching by attending pedagogy conferences and workshops to explore new technologies and activities.

"What I love most about teaching is seeing the proverbial lightbulb turn on in students' heads when they understand a new concept," Dorssom says. "It is a great feeling."

Read the full release in Political Science Today here.