D. Lynn Sorenson of Brigham Young University’s Center for Teaching and Learning was awarded the Pierleoni “Spirit of POD” award this month in St. Louis by the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education.
The 1,800-member network consists of faculty, administrators and instructional and faculty developers who support faculty careers and advocate for teaching and learning at many North American and international universities.
The award is the network’s only honorary recognition and is awarded only occasionally — not annually — based on “spirit” and “dedicated and enduring service” to the organization and to the field of faculty/instructional development:
Sorenson received the award from her peers at the 35th annual POD conference, where she also made a presentation about the BYU CTL-sponsored program, “Students Consulting on Teaching.”
Under Sorenson’s leadership, the 20-year-old BYU program has gained national recognition and been the subject of many articles and presentations, including features in the Chronicle of Higher Education and on National Public Radio. She regularly receives off-campus inquiries about the SCOT program and has mentored more than a dozen campuses initiating SCOT programs.
In the speech honoring Sorenson at the final banquet of the conference, Past-President and past “Spirit” award-winner Karron Lewis of the University of Texas-Austin said, “It is difficult to find a person who has been part of POD for very long who has not been touched by Lynn in some way. She works to bring people together in synergistic ways that maximize their possibilities for success.”
Years ago, Sorenson "took to heart" then-President Merrill J. Bateman's admonition to "make friends for the university."
"I knew one of the best ways I could do that was to serve my colleagues nationally and internationally as resourcefully as possible," she said. "As always, there is great satisfaction in serving, and the server always receives as much as — or more than — the receiver."
For more information, contact D. Lynn Sorenson at (801) 422-7420, lynn_sorenson@byu.edu or visit ctl.byu.edu. For information on the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, visit podnetwork.org.
