LEXINGTON, Ky. — Transylvania University has named professors Michael Cairo and Bethany Jurs as its latest Bingham Endowed Chairs for Teaching Excellence, recognizing them for their outstanding contributions to the classroom and innovative teaching methods.

Cairo, a professor of political science and director of international affairs, and Jurs, a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the psychology program, join an expanding group of faculty honored through the prestigious program. The Bingham Endowed Chairs award recognizes exceptional teaching and innovation with a $25,000 annual award in addition to base salary and benefits.

Up to three professors each year are honored as Bingham Endowed Chairs — a five-year award recognizing exceptional teaching and innovation. The previous recipients, announced in 2024 and 2025, included biology professor Paul Duffin, Chinese language and culture professor Qian Gao, history and classics professor Frank Russell, philosophy professor Peter Fosl, art professor Kurt Gohde, and biology professor James Wagner.

The awards are part of a $25 million, 15-year grant funding up to 12 chairs, a program announced in May 2023. The Bingham Fund for Excellence in Teaching has grown substantially, investing more than $30 million in innovative teaching and student success — making Transylvania one of Kentucky's top-funded private colleges.

President Brien Lewis has emphasized the program's importance. "Support from the Bingham Fund enables Transylvania to attract and retain excellent educators," he previously stated. The honor reflects the university's commitment to recognizing faculty who connect course material to student experiences and demonstrate forward-thinking pedagogy.

The selection process involves an independent committee of educators from peer institutions who evaluate applications based on demonstrated excellence in teaching and innovation in the classroom. The Bingham Center for Teaching Excellence, established in 2023, serves as a hub for faculty development and collaboration, supporting the university's broader commitment to teaching excellence.