Cox, Boyd, Sadanala Earn Academic Innovation Awards
(Pictured left to right) Carolyn Cox, Michelle Boyd and Gayathri Sadanala accept their Academic Innovation Awards from Tim Walston, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Carolyn Cox, professor of health science, and Michelle Boyd, head athletic trainer and lecturer in exercise science, as well as Gayathri Sadanala, assistant professor of computer science, were the spring 2026 winners of the Truman Academic Innovation Award.
Cox and Boyd were recognized for the collaboration between their two health professions classes to solve an interprofessional medical mystery. Students worked together in small groups to solve their patient’s medical mystery, as well as create a detailed discharge plan for the patient and their family. The lesson challenged students to work as a team and use both clinical and health promotion skills while catering their knowledge to their patient’s individual needs.
Sadanala was recognized for her work in utilizing critical thinking and co-designing with artificial intelligence (AI) to deepen student understanding of complex system design. AI is integrated into the module as a learning partner, helping students visualize and explain information. The interface is also used as a reflective tool, critiquing designs and encouraging students to find areas for improvement. Using the feedback they received, students then became co-designers by identifying flaws and solutions to the AI’s programming.
Cox and Boyd were recognized for the collaboration between their two health professions classes to solve an interprofessional medical mystery. Students worked together in small groups to solve their patient’s medical mystery, as well as create a detailed discharge plan for the patient and their family. The lesson challenged students to work as a team and use both clinical and health promotion skills while catering their knowledge to their patient’s individual needs.
Sadanala was recognized for her work in utilizing critical thinking and co-designing with artificial intelligence (AI) to deepen student understanding of complex system design. AI is integrated into the module as a learning partner, helping students visualize and explain information. The interface is also used as a reflective tool, critiquing designs and encouraging students to find areas for improvement. Using the feedback they received, students then became co-designers by identifying flaws and solutions to the AI’s programming.
