Dr. Jennifer Miller-Ray, assistant professor of Education at Sul Ross State University, is the winner of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

 Dr. Jennifer Miller-Ray

The winner is chosen by a faculty selection committee that incudes student representation, and was chaired by Dr. Laura Payne, the dean of the Jimmy D. Case College of Literature, Arts and Social Sciences.

“Receiving the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award at Sul Ross State demonstrates the commitment and dedication that Dr. Miller-Ray has toward the profession of teaching and to our students,” said Dr. Bernie Cantens, executive vice president and provost. “In addition, her $1.3 million NSF Noyce Scholars in la Frontera grant provides mentoring and financial support to students who are interested in teaching in STEM disciplines. I congratulate Dr. Miller-Ray for her success and for the significant positive influence she is having on our campuses and our students.”

Dr. Miller-Ray joined the faculty of the Department of Education in 2020. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas and graduate and undergraduate degrees from Tarleton State University.

Dr. Miller-Ray specializes in STEM literacy, and she has designed makerspace events for the Perot Museum, the Kennedy Space Center, NASA STEM camps, the Indigenous Education Institute, and numerous public libraries. She has implemented makerspace STEM initiatives in more than 30 public schools, and oversees the mobile La Frontera STEM lab, a mobile makerspace initiative with the Science Mill Museum in Johnson City.

Dr. Miller-Ray will be awarded her plaque at the Faculty Awards ceremony next fall.

As the award winner, she will also be forwarded as a nominee for the Texas State University System Board of Regents’ Teaching Award and the Minnie Piper Stevens Teaching Award.

For more information, email provost@sulross.edu.