2018 Outstanding University Teacher Award Winner, Tenure Track

Aimee E. Miller-Ott, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Communication from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2007)
Associate Professor, School of Communication

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that instilling knowledge and helping develop tools, creating a positive but challenging environment, and connecting with students make a significant difference in students'
learning and in their college experience.

My motivation to become a college professor comes from

Memorable experiences taking courses with intelligent professors who pushed me to do better work than I thought I was capable of.

The most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is

Seeing a student grow over the course of a semester -- seeing their work improve, seeing their attendance and participation improve, seeing their appreciation for the content improve. I feel that I have made a small impact on their lives.

Regarding my teaching accomplishments, I am proudest about

The times I have impacted a student's life in whatever way that happened - exposing them to an idea that improved their own relationships, getting them thinking for the first time that graduate school is an option, being the faculty member who asked them how their day is when they were having a hard time.

Photo of Aimee Miller-Ott — “It is meaningful to me whenever a student tells me that I'm a role model to them in any way. A student said to me after she attended her first communication conference, "I get so much of my confidence from you!”