Eric Aldrich, assistant teaching professor of atmospheric science in the School of Natural Resources, was inducted into the CAFNR Teaching Academy at the 2025 Celebration of Excellence award ceremony, Thursday, April 17.

In 2005, the college established the CAFNR Teaching Academy to recognize outstanding teachers and to seek their assistance in mentoring colleagues. To be eligible for induction, an individual must have received a teaching award on a national, regional or university level that is selected by peers.

Aldrich was inducted for receiving the Maxine Christopher Shutz Award & Lecture for Distinguished Teaching in 2024, presented by the Mizzou Provost. This award is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated extra efforts to involve undergraduates in active learning experiences and to personalize the undergraduate experience of students. 

Last fall, he gave the lecture that goes along with this award, sharing how to cultivate curiosity through a learner-centered environment. He says this is achieved through aligning education with student learning styles, encouraging independent discovery, and engaging in and out of the classroom. He especially values interactive discussions with his students. 

Aldrich has brought high-tech, interactive learning to the atmospheric science program through projects like the Weather Analysis and Visualization (WAV) Lab, a collaboration to create “weather virtual reality” to understand complex weather concepts, and through updating weather.missouri.edu to aggregate Mizzou and MU Extension forecasts.  

In 2023, he received CAFNR’s Outstanding Early Career Teaching Award.

Aldrich was presented with the CAFNR Teaching Academy medallion to wear at graduation ceremonies and a lapel pin.