Dr. Lori West
Dr. Lori West, associate professor of biology, has been named the recipient of Lee University’s 2017 Excellence in Scholarship Award.
The winner of this award is chosen each year by the Faculty Scholarship and Research Committee. Lee President Dr. Paul Conn officially recognized Dr. West for this award during spring commencement.
Since joining the Natural Science and Mathematics faculty in fall 2006, Dr. West has made it her goal to serve Lee students and the community through science education. In addition to teaching courses such as Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Biotechnology, Dr. West has taught in areas outside of the classroom. She has served as an event coordinator in local Science Olympiad tournaments (a competition for middle and high school students) and recently as tournament director at the regional tournament hosted at Lee University.
According to Dr. West, her mission is to serve science lovers of all ages, including local teachers. She was the program director for four Tennessee Higher Education Committee grants of almost $75,000 each. She has been a member of the Tennessee Science Olympiad Board of Directors and has served as a science fair judge and science expert for local science competitions.
A native of east Tennessee, Dr. West earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and her Bachelor of Arts from Maryville College
The Excellence in Scholarship Award is one of three faculty excellence awards recognizing teaching, scholarship, and advising. They are considered the highest honors bestowed on Lee faculty each year.