Roberts named Instructor of the Year
Jeremy Roberts was honored May 9 as EDHE 101 Instructor of the Year by the University of Mississippi’s Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience.
Jeremy Roberts was named EDHE 101 Instructor of the Year for 2016-17 at the University of Mississippi. Roberts is also Director of Events Services for Coleman Funeral Home in Oxford and Olive Branch.
Roberts, Director of Event Services at Coleman Funeral Home in Oxford and Olive Branch, is also an adjunct instructor at Ole Miss, where he teaches the course titled “Academic Skills for College.” The course emphasizes time management, note taking, textbook reading, exam preparation, and test-taking strategies as well as providing an orientation to university life.
The award was presented during the year-end meeting of faculty in the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience and based on student nominations.
Roberts’ nominator wrote, quoting journalist Dan Rather, “‘The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called the truth.’”
The student added, “Mr. Roberts did just that.”
The student said he arrived at Ole Miss having desperately overestimated his abilities – a problem that Roberts helped him overcome.
“The truth is, I was a little lost when I got here, and realized very quickly that I was going to need some help figuring things out to survive my freshman year. Thanks to Mr. Roberts, and his pokes with the sharp stick called the truth, I have such a better understanding of what is expected of me and how I can meet those expectations,” the student wrote. “Thank you, Mr. Roberts, for being an exceptional teacher. Thank you for your kindness and the compassion that you bring to the classroom, and thank you for giving me confidence.”
Coleman Funeral Home co-owner Glenn Coleman said those same qualities are evident in Roberts’ work with grieving families planning a visitation or funeral as well as with community leaders planning meetings, conferences or other events at one of the Coleman Funeral Home locations.
“We’re elated that Jeremy has earned such an honor, but we’re definitely not surprised,” Coleman said. “Kindness, compassion, and the desire to help others in a difficult situation are what motivate his work every day.”
