Dr. Ellen Kraig, professor in the Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, was honored with the 2018 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award from The University of Texas System.

Dr. Kraig’s lab was the first to show that antibody responses decline with age, while memory immunity to the same antigen is maintained. She continues to study the effects of aging on immunity, autoimmunity, and tolerance with the long-term goal of optimizing vaccines for use in older individuals.

Dr. Kraig’s major contributions have been to graduate education; 9 Ph.D. students and 10 Masters students have graduated from her laboratory. Her didactic teaching has been in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. In addition, Ellen has developed novel coursework and extra-curricular programming designed to hone students’ skills in critical thinking and communicating their science to diverse audiences.Overall, the System named 27 faculty members from UT’s 14 academic and health institutions to receive the teaching award. They each will receive $25,000 in recognition of their commitment to student success.

Over the last decade, regents have awarded more than $19 million to 700 UT educators for delivering the highest quality of instruction in the classroom, lab, field and online.

“This distinguished honor is awarded only to a few who inspire their students by their extraordinary teaching expertise, mentoring and personal commitment,” UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, said in a statement.

Recipients of the 2018 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards will be recognized Aug. 9 at a reception held in conjunction with the Board of Regents meeting in Austin.