LEXINGTON, Ky. — Clara Mitchinson, a University of Kentucky graduate teaching assistant, has been honored with one of the university's 2026 Outstanding Teaching Awards, joining nine other educators recognized for their dedication to student achievement.

Mitchinson, a Ph.D. candidate in the UK College of Education's Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, specializes in exercise physiology, focusing on how exercise and nutrition influence fatigue and endurance performance. Since joining the department in 2021, she has taught 46 course sections serving more than 800 students.

The awards, given through the UK Provost's Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, recognize faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate exceptional teaching excellence and positive impact on student learning. This year's honorees include six faculty members and four graduate teaching assistants, each receiving a certificate, a commemorative engraved gift and a cash award at an April 30 campus ceremony.

Mitchinson's teaching has consistently exceeded departmental and college averages for student evaluations. Her courses span activity-based fitness classes, laboratory instruction, major-required courses, senior-level exercise science courses, independent studies and study abroad programming.

In an interview about her teaching philosophy, Mitchinson said she focuses on creating "an engaging, supportive and evidence-based learning environment" where students feel comfortable applying concepts to real-world situations. She emphasized the importance of helping students overcome initial intimidation about complex physiological concepts and hands-on procedures, watching them "become more comfortable, capable, and engaged throughout the semester."

Mitchinson hopes her students leave her courses with both strong scientific foundations and the confidence to continue learning after graduation, developing critical thinking skills and evidence-based reasoning applicable in professional settings. "Teaching is something I genuinely care deeply about," she said of receiving the award, "and I have always aimed to create a learning environment where students feel supported, engaged and capable of succeeding."