Meet Outstanding Teacher Awardee William Chaney, Ph.D.

William Chaney, Ph.D., professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, is among the three UNMC faculty members who will receive Outstanding Teaching Awards at the April 25 Annual Faculty meeting.

Below, Dr. Chaney reflects on what it means to be a teacher.

William Chaney, Ph.D.

• Name: William Chaney, Ph.D.
  
• Title: Professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology
  
• Joined UNMC: April 1, 1987
  
• Hometown: Montpelier, Ind.

What are the greatest rewards of being a teacher?

When I explain something to a student who suddenly “gets it” and I see the look of comprehension come to his or her face.

Describe a moment in your career when you realized you had picked the right occupation.

About five years ago I decided that my dream to become a power forward in the NBA was not going to happen. I realized then that I had made the correct choice to become a scientist/educator.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a teacher?

Facing the situation (as we all do) that something that seems so clear to me is a mystery to a student and trying to explain the concept in another way to try to get the point across.

How do you know when you’ve been successful as a teacher?

I have had students in subsequent years of school come up to me in the hallway and say that they were using the information I taught them in the first year.

List three things few people know about you.

• I am a multiple-time winner of the international competition known as the “Monday’s Molecule” quiz.
  
• During family putt-putt games, I was known as “Mighty Thor.”
  
• I think that the best portrayal of a biochemist in the movies was by Tim Curry.