Faculty member named dean’s honoree for teaching
Jenny K. Rinehart, associate professor of teaching in psychological science, is this year’s Dean’s Honoree Award recipient for the School of Social Ecology.
Rinehart was among professors from across the UC Irvine campus who were recognized at the 32nd Annual Celebration of Teaching, which recognized the faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching at UCI.
Rinehart joined the School of Social Ecology in 2015 after completing her postdoctoral fellowship at The Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.
“My job is amazing,” she says. “I get to do what I love (teaching and research) in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I’m proud to work at UCI. I really appreciate its focus on excellence in both teaching and research.”
One way she engages her students is by using humor in her lectures. “It keeps students engaged and helps them feel comfortable in the classroom,” Rinehart says.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking and is working on becoming a grill master. She also loves to travel and is looking forward to going to Central America this winter.
Asked for some fun facts, Rinehart says: “I have a twin brother, and I have lived in every time zone in the U.S.”