Dr. Katelyn Hancock is the 2025 recipient of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award. Dr. Hancock, a member of the UTC faculty since 2022, earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University in 2019.
photo by Angela Foster/UTC
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Katelyn Hancock has been named the recipient of the Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Dr. Hancock, who is in her third year as a UTC faculty member, will be honored at the ACJS Awards Luncheon on Friday, March 14, during the organization’s annual conference in Denver.
The Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award recognizes faculty members for innovative and effective teaching methods that enhance learning experiences and have the potential to be replicated by other educators.
Dr.
Hancock said she was “shocked, excited and incredibly grateful” to be recognized with the award by ACJS—an association with more than 2,000 members representing institutions across the globe.
“When I got that email, I totally didn’t expect it,” she said. “It really means a lot to me that the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences believed in that project and its ability to replicate it for other topics—and make something doable and fun for students.”
The project she cited, “Pouring for Purpose,” is an innovative classroom initiative introduced in her Ethics in Criminal Justice course that combines active learning, community engagement and creative expression.
Dr. Hancock said that students collaborate to design and solve ethical dilemmas related to the criminal justice system, focusing on areas like police, courts or corrections. They develop solutions, apply ethical systems discussed in class and use color keys to represent their reasoning—and these colors are then poured onto canvases, creating artwork that visually captures their decision-making process.
The finished pieces, she said, are showcased in a gallery event where donations collected for the paintings support local victim service organizations.
“Pouring for Purpose” beneficiaries have included Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center and the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt, UC Foundation associate professor and head of the Department of Criminal Justice, praised Dr. Hancock’s achievements.
“I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anyone at UTC that Dr. Hancock is the recipient of a major teaching award,” Dr. Dierenfeldt said. “Her students, peers and administrators are all very much aware that she is a truly remarkable educator who invests an incredible amount of energy and care into her classes and the learning experiences of her students. Still, to see her recognized for her efforts at this level and at this stage of her career is really special.
“The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences is a flagship international organization within our discipline and the decision to name Dr. Hancock as the recipient of the Ken Peak Innovation in Teaching Award isn’t one that the ACJS awards committee made lightly. They clearly recognized not only the value of what she is doing in the classroom but also the potential to influence the teaching practices and learning experiences for other criminal justice educators and students across the U.S. and beyond.”