Catlett Receives C-N’s Teaching Excellence and Leadership Award

Professor Cassandra Catlett, an accounting professor in Carson-Newman’s Business Department, received the institution’s Teaching Excellence and Leadership Award Tuesday morning as part of opening convocation for the academic year.

Given to a non-tenured faculty member since 1990, the honor is presented to creative and effective professors. It is considered an indicator of future promise as well as recognition of ability and student response. Beyond receiving a plaque and a $1,000 check, awardees’ names are added to a permanent display in Fite Administration Building.

“Sandy has loved Carson-Newman most of her life,” praised Provost Kina Mallard during her introduction of the 1986 alumna who teaches accounting. “She is committed not only to Carson-Newman, but also to her community. She serves as treasurer to the Rotary Club of Jefferson City, and she volunteers with numerous charitable organizations.”

“I have never known a teacher to be so highly regarded by my peer,” said SGA President Devin Gosnell, a political science major and business minor. “She embodies the Carson-Newman spirit of service by going the extra mile for each of her students. She reminds everyone in her class that learning can and should be fun.”

Catlett, an assistant professor, uses the Parker Brothers classic game Monopoly to demonstrate financial accounting concepts and has been known to illustrate cost accounting principles by having students scrutinize restaurant entrees, determine their costs and then compare them to actual costs. Outside the classroom, she advises C-N’s student chapter of the National Institute of Management Accountants and oversees C-N’s participation in Operation Christmas Child each Advent season.

On hand for the presentation were Catlett’s husband Chuck, a 1987 alumnus, and their children Tyler and Lauren, both of whom are current students. Another fellow Eagle, her sister J.J. Schrader, and dad Jimmy Hensley were also in attendance.