UT Tyler Professors Recognized for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Sooah Ellen Park
Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award Recipients Announced
TYLER, Texas (October 28, 2026) – Dr. Sooah Ellen Park and Jennifer Reynolds, faculty at The University of Texas at Tyler, are among 12 recipients of the UT System 2026 Board of Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, which recognizes exceptional classroom performance, innovation and dedication to student success across the System.
Honorees each receive $25,000 in appreciation of their positive impact and will be recognized next month in Austin.
“These 12 recipients have demonstrated exceptional skill as educators and outstanding commitment to students,” said UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife. “The Board is grateful for all the incredible educators we have working across the campuses.”
A professor of music, Park joined the School of Performing Arts faculty in 2013 and specializes in voice performance. She also directs the opera and musical theater program, providing exceptional learning opportunities for UT Tyler students, while directing or co-directing outstanding theater productions through partnerships with various musical theater organizations across East Texas. An accomplished soprano and concert vocalist herself, she creates a positive and personalized learning environment for young singers to engage, learn and grow. Park holds degrees from UT Austin, UT Tyler and the Eastman School of Music.
Jennifer Reynolds
An assistant professor of practice, Reynolds joined the Soules College of Business faculty in 2014 and teaches introductory accounting and personal finance courses. Her teaching philosophy incorporates her desire to ignite a passion for business and financial accounting in her students, and ultimately, how that passion can be used to make the world better. Additionally, Reynolds enjoys actively serving her community through various service projects with her students as well as serving on the board of directors and volunteering with various local nonprofits. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from UT Arlington and is a state Certified Public Accountant.
Established in 2008, the award program reflects the Board’s view that teaching excellence is of the highest priority. Nominees undergo a series of rigorous evaluations by students, peer faculty and external reviewers. Visit utsystem.edu to learn more.
With a mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,700 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent
patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.
