ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Health Professor Shelley Hamill will have an extra assignment at Winthrop University’s Dec. 16 Commencement ceremony. Designated as the chief faculty marshal who carries the university mace into the ceremony, she also will accept the university’s top teaching award.
A professor in the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, Hamill is the 2023 recipient of the James Pinckney Kinard and Lee Wicker Kinard Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award was established in honor of former president James Pinckney Kinard and his wife, Lee Wicker Kinard, in 1984 by their family.
Professor Peter Judge, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said: “Shelley is known across campus for her passion and her compassion. She is passionate about her teaching and advising of students and about the good order and well-being of this university. At the same time, she is compassionate about treating people and all creatures with respect and dignity. No one is more deserving of this award than Chief Faculty Marshal Shelley Hamill.”
Hamill joined the Winthrop faculty in 1998 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 2007 and to the professor rank in 2013. She has taught more than 15 unique courses including various classes in health and health education at the graduate and undergraduate level in the Department of Physical Education, Sport, and Human Performance. Her areas of specialty include pedagogy and human sexuality.
With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Hamill has worked at the elementary, middle and collegiate levels. She previously taught at Livingstone College, at North Rowan Middle and at seven elementary schools in the Rowan-Salisbury School District.
Winthrop colleagues said Hamill simultaneously supports and challenges her students to think critically about sensitive and controversial topics and encourages them to consider the ramifications of various health behaviors. She displays a strong commitment to effective teaching and to student success. In the last couple of post-COVID years, Hamill has made it her priority to care for the whole student as she saw some students struggling to reconnect or readapt to regular classroom learning. She is known for creating safe learning spaces where students are comfortable in sharing their concerns.
Hamill has a reputation on campus for thoughtful leadership and exceptional teaching skills, as evidenced by her selection in her college as the “go to” mentor for new faculty.
On the professional level, Hamill has published text books and articles, made numerous presentations at national, regional and state conferences, and serves as a reviewer for health journals and text publishers. As co-chair of the Health and Safety Curriculum Standards for the state of South Carolina, she helped develop in 2015-17 a grade level skills-based program requirement for K-12 students in the state.
Hamill has been recognized for her contributions to the field of health education. She has received the Governor’s award from North Carolina for her service in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state and was recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for her work with Tribal communities around the issues of HIV/AIDS, STDs and substance abuse. She has been recognized by Winthrop for her service as well and received the 2004 Faculty/Student Life Award. In 2018, she was chosen as the chief faculty marshal to lead the procession in and out of the Convocation and Commencement ceremonies.
Twice recognized as a “Woman of Achievement” by the Division of Student Affairs, Hamill has received the Health Education Professional of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association for the Advancement of Health Education in 2000 and 2010. She also has been awarded the SCAHPERD Scholar Award and the Honor Award, which is the highest award given by the association.
Hamill received her B.A. in physical education from Pfeiffer University, her master’s degree in health education at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and a Ph.D. in education (health specialist) from Walden University.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/323-2404.
