After Joseph Templeton received the Thomas Jefferson Award, he did not make a formal acceptance speech. Dressed as a seer, Templeton “read” the contents of a series of envelopes before opening them.
“He has earned a reputation as one of the best, most challenging, quirkiest, and most engaging educators in the chemistry department, especially among the first year graduate students,” Chemistry Professor Marcey Waters said in a statement. “I know this because I’ve seen it first hand, having team-taught a graduate course with Joe multiple times.
Since 1961, the award has been presented each year to a faculty member who “through personal influence and performance of duty in teaching, writing, and scholarship has best exemplified the ideals and objectives of Thomas Jefferson,” according to the award description.
“This is a fantastic tradition here at UNC Chapel Hill,” Chancellor Carol Folt said in a statement. “I would just like to add from my own chance to work so closely with Joe the last year how deserving and wonderful this award is.”
Templeton is a chemistry professor and a world-renowned inorganic chemist. He is also program director of the Chancellor’s Science Scholars, a program that increases diversity among future scientists. Many students from the program crowded in the back of the room to watch Templeton receive his award.
“When I looked in the back, and there were a half a dozen Chancellor Science Scholars, that was so nice,” Templeton said. “I don’t know how they found out it, but they know I care about them.”
He is also involved in the summer reading selection committee, the Carolina Counts program and he has been Special Assistant to the Chancellor since 2009.
“He has a way of leading people that makes one feel honored to be included,” Waters said. “And although he is an exceptionally busy man who wears many hats, he always takes the time to stop and say hello, share pictures of his grandchildren, or have a laugh about something.”
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