LEXINGTON, Ky. — Alex Farone, a former University of Kentucky graduate teaching assistant, has been honored with the university's 2026 Outstanding Teaching Award for his engaging, student-centered approach to teaching political science.

Farone earned his Ph.D. in political science from UK in May and served as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is among 10 educators recognized by UK's Office for Faculty Advancement for demonstrating special dedication to student achievement.

The awards, announced April 30, honor faculty and graduate teaching assistants who excel across all learning environments. This year's recipients included six faculty members and four graduate teaching assistants, each receiving a certificate, commemorative engraved gift and cash award.

Known for fostering active, discussion-based learning environments, Farone implemented innovative teaching methods including low-stress "cold calls" where students received full participation credit for attempting to answer content-based questions. His approach emphasized building student confidence and skills applicable beyond the classroom.

Farone's research focuses on U.S. Supreme Court politics and its relationship with the public and other political institutions. His work has examined citizens' responses to efforts to overturn the 2024 presidential election, reactions to judicial scandals, and how these dynamics affect public perceptions of the court's legitimacy. His research on behavioral norms in Supreme Court dissenting opinions has been accepted for publication in Political Research Quarterly.

In an interview with UKNow, Farone emphasized the importance of judicial branch literacy. "Having an informed citizenry regarding the judicial branch is always important, but especially now," he said, noting that since starting at UK in 2022, the Supreme Court has faced considerable scrutiny.

One of Farone's proudest teaching moments involved mentoring a non-political science major who developed a passion for law and justice through their coursework together. The student later volunteered in his community and will attend the UK Rosenberg College of Law in the fall, with Farone providing a letter of recommendation.

Farone credited his teaching abilities to mentors throughout his education, including professors at Middle Tennessee State University and exceptional high school teachers. "I am a function of all the time spent mentoring and instructing me," he said upon receiving the award.

This fall, Farone will continue his work as an assistant professor at Jacksonville State University, where he will teach courses in political science.