Katherine Ensor Receives Julia Mile Chance Prize

Katherine Ensor Receives Julia Mile Chance Prize

BY LIA UNRAU
Rice News Staff
May 7, 1998

Katherine Ensor brings statistics to life for many students. Some have changed
majors after taking one of her courses. She puts students first, her students
say, both in and outside the classroom, which is why they felt Ensor is deserving
of a teaching award.

Ensor, associate professor of statistics and recipient of the Julia Mile Chance
Prize for Excellence in Teaching, says she was honored to learn she received
the prize, her first teaching award at Rice.

The Rice Commission on Women, working with the Provost’s Office, awards the
Chance Prize to an associate or full professor who provides students with an
intellectual challenge and inspiration in his or her field of study, shows extraordinary
dedication to students’ professional development and advancement, and enhances
gender-sensitive leadership on campus. The nominations are based upon recommendations
from undergraduate and graduate students and alumni, and teaching evaluations.

Jane Chance, professor of English, established the Julia Mile Chance Prize
for Excellence in Teaching two years ago in memory of her mother, Julia Mile
Chance.

"Kathy is not a typical classroom teacher," wrote Scott Baggett,
one of many graduate students who nominated Ensor for the prize. "To be
in her class is almost a one-to-one experience." All nominating students
cited her guidance and support.

"I definitely care a lot about the students I interact with," Ensor
says. "Rice students are exciting to work with and I think they deserve
good professors."

Part of her strategy, she says, is to try to challenge the students. "Also,
I think it’s very important to look toward the future and to not continue teaching
the same thing over and over again."

Joining Rice in 1987, Ensor was one of the founding members of the statistics
department. In the past decade, the department has matured into a nationally
recognized entity.

Three years ago, Ensor founded the Statistical Consulting Lab (SCL), a resource
of statistical expertise to the Rice research community. Several graduate students
have been and are involved in the SCL.

Ensor tries to encourage the big picture both in the classroom and on the research
level. "I try to get my students to think beyond the statistical problems
and on to the societal problem that they can help with."