UCR Extension instructor receives Excellence in Teaching Award

Author: University Communications
November 8, 2018

Project Management Instructor Michael P. Toothman said despite having led dynamic projects for organizations around the world, one of his career highs has been teaching.

“I love sharing my experience to help my students solve real-world problems, teaching them how to use tools and techniques that are guaranteed to work,” he said.

Toothman is a seasoned project manager with more than 20 years of experience in the field. He has trained more than 3,500 project managers from more than 1,000 companies in 26 countries, all while leading many high-stakes, complex, global technology projects through all phases of the project management life cycle. He has taught over 200 courses during the past 15 years.

“We contract around 800 instructors, and Michael is within an elite group of our top 1 percent,” said Kevin Vaughn, dean of UCR Extension. “(Toothman) doesn’t just teach, though. He almost single-handedly researched and developed our current professional certificate programs in project Management, agile project management, and project management for business, updating our portfolio in this subject matter to its contemporary status.”

Cynthia Welle, assistant director of international education programs at UCR Extension, authored the UPCEA nomination.

“Michael greatly respects the time that learners have designated for professional development and takes great care to ensure that his classes are engaging, applicable to his audience and their individual goals, and incorporate current trends and issues,” she said.

Toothman received his award on Oct. 16 at the 2018 UPCEA West Region Conference in Long Beach. Click here for more information.

Visit the UCR Extension website to learn more about its professional certificate programs.