Dr. Christopher Call

2007 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher

The Range Science Education Council and the Society for Range Management proudly present Dr. Christopher Call with the 2007 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.  Since 1987 Dr. Call has taught a wide range of undergraduate range management courses in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University. Dr. Call also serves as an advisor to the Student Chapter of the Society of Range Management at Utah State University and was the former coach of the Range Plant Identification Team.

Dr. Call is well known among his colleagues as a faculty member driven to learn the process of teaching students. He immerses himself in literature which describes the many different learning techniques and continues to integrate them into his classes. He also strives to better the department by presenting these findings to other faculty so they too can make their classes more advantageous. He describes teaching as a learning experience. Every student has a story and he learns through their questions, observations, and challenges, just as they learn from his presentations, exams, and assignments. He boosts interest in subject matter by letting students interact with one another in small groups as they attempt to solve real-world problems. These groups facilitate critical thinking as well as encourage interpersonal communication among students. At Utah State University, Dr. Call has developed a study abroad program for undergraduate students in the College of Natural Resources.  The program exposes students to the culture and management of natural resources in countries such as Mexico, Iceland, and Morocco.  Dr. Call is also known for his development of the Undergraduate Range Management Exam (URME) Contest.

Dr. Call is a highly motivated teacher who strives to know his students on an individual level. He makes himself readily available to students and is well known for his friendliness and willingness to help. It is no wonder he has been awarded Teacher of the Year at Utah State University more than once and is now being recognized as the Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher for 2007.