Jennifer Purrenhage

Excellence in Teaching, 2023

College of Life Sciences & Agriculture

Passion, energy and unwavering commitment to teaching excellence: that is how students and colleagues alike describe Jennifer Purrenhage. Purrenhage’s ability to inspire students, whether in the popular Discovery class she teaches, or the senior level required wildlife inventory and monitoring class, is unmatched. Students consistently say Purrenhage is their favorite teacher, and at the same time they indicate that she requires a lot from them, both in terms of work and critical thinking. You cannot simply attend Purrenhage’s classes; you need to think not only about what you are learning but how you will apply the knowledge. This type of self-reflection pushes her students to get the very most out of their education.

Purrenhage brings real-world research into her classroom. Students learn how to sample turtle and salamander populations and contribute to data collection that is part of a multi-state research network. Students gain skills, but they also become members of the broader scientific community. This experience is more inspiring than a simple laboratory exercise. Invariably, these classroom experiences inspire students to continue doing research with Purrenhage who sponsors SURF and McNair opportunities on a regular basis.

Purrenhage also motivates her colleagues. A faculty member who contributed to her nomination package wrote: “Jen’s ability to inspire and teach students to think critically and creatively indirectly has inspired me to strive to become a better educator, and one of the main reasons I want to stay at UNH is to continue to work with and learn from Jen. She is hands down the best educator I’ve ever encountered.”

Her innovative teaching methods, tireless commitment to student success, and unwavering support for her peers have made her a true beacon of excellence in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.