Looking to illuminate the many unique talents that each class brings to Wittenberg, Richard Phillips, associate professor of biology and director of the Environmental Science program, loves to see students grow and succeed in the world. For his many contributions to brightening classrooms using his own style of humor in his subject matter, Phillips was recently presented with the highest faculty honor a Wittenberg professor can receive: the 2026 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching. He learned the news during the University’s annual Honors Convocation this past spring semester.
The award was announced by Wittenberg Alumni Association Board President Stephanie Morgan-White, class of 1992. Given annually since 1961, this award celebrates what Wittenberg delivers better than anyone: a dedication to superior quality teaching.
“What truly makes Wittenberg exceptional is its people. There are countless stories of faculty and staff going above and beyond, making a difference in students' lives and altering the course of their futures for the better,” she said. “Dr. Phillips exemplifies everything that is exceptional about a Wittenberg education. He embodies the University’s commitment to student engagement, mentorship, and transformative learning experiences.
“Dr. Phillips has not only inspired his students’ interest in his field but also deepened their appreciation for the value of a Wittenberg liberal arts education. He carries forward a proud tradition of connecting with students, bringing them to Wittenberg, and giving his all to help make their lives and careers more meaningful,” Morgan-White added. “In turn, his students go on to become engaged members of their communities and lifelong stewards of Wittenberg University.”
Phillips, who teaches classes in environmental science and ecology, serves as the director of the first-year research (FYRA) program, and currently has summer research students investigating red-eared slider populations in Clark County. As this year’s Distinguished Teacher, he will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming Opening Convocation, a Wittenberg Series event, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 25, in historic Weaver Chapel.
“I am the product of phenomenal educators – teachers that had me in the classroom and colleagues that served as mentors,” Phillips said. “Wittenberg is a place with phenomenal teachers, dedicated to the craft, and I am honored to be included with those who have won the award previously.”
One of his nominators shared that ‘’one of the most remarkable aspects of Dr. Phillips’ teaching is his commitment to experiential learning, as each year he leads students on a winter weekend field study in Michigan and a spring experiential learning experience in Mississippi. These trips provide students with invaluable hands-on learning opportunities, helping them gain practical experience in the field, while also forming lasting memories and friendships. It has been clear that these experiences leave a lasting impression and deepen students’ understanding of and love for wildlife and ecology.”
“I enjoy all my courses, but I love those that get students out into the field working on solving actual environmental problems,” Phillips said. “I especially enjoy extended field studies where students are able to immerse themselves in the field.”
Phillips is a wildlife ecologist with a particular interest in the dispersal of organisms across landscapes. He holds a B.A. in biology from Emory University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in Wildlife Science. He has conducted research on wild turkeys, Mexican wolves, and montane rattlesnakes, just to name a few. Since his arrival at Wittenberg, he and his students have studied birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
“I love teaching because people have so many unique talents, and I feel good teaching helps illuminate those talents. My family has always placed a tremendous importance on education,” said Phillips, whose grandmother was a faculty member at Ole Miss. “It is a privilege to watch students grow. Teaching at Wittenberg, with its curriculum, small size, and my exceptional colleagues, you get to watch students have rich, multifaceted interests beyond my field of study.”
Phillips’ lab is currently working with various stakeholders to determine the presence of Kirtland’s snakes and Spotted turtles at various locations in Clark County. Both species are difficult to detect, and, as such, their population status is of concern at the local, state, and federal levels. Although the short-term goal of his lab is to provide population estimates for local inhabitants, longer-term goals are to provide managers with conditions and protocols that maximize the likelihood that these species are detected if they are in fact present at a location. In addition to these primary projects, students are investigating small mammal population dynamics, monitoring nest boxes, and studying movement patterns of box turtles in urban parks.
Before taking the position at Wittenberg in 2009, Phillips studied wild turkey dispersal patterns in the Texas Panhandle to earn his master’s degree and his Ph.D. at Texas Tech University. He began teaching as a graduate student at Texas Tech in 2004 under the tutelage of two professors, Dr. Mark Wallace and Dr. Warren Ballard. Phillips soon found out that Springfield, Ohio, is a little different than Lubbock, Texas.
“I couldn’t pick out Springfield on the map when I boarded my plane in Lubbock for my interview at Wittenberg,” he said. “On the way back, I was blown away by the quality of the educators. I knew immediately that it was a great fit for me personally and professionally. It was strange to go so quickly from not knowing a place to feeling at home.”
Phillips, who enjoys traveling, birding, photography, and biking, currently spends a good deal of his time with his husband, Josh, tending to a small plot of land in Champaign County. The couple has three teenage children, two dogs, and two “narcissistic” cats.
Established in 1960, the Distinguished Teaching Award is presented to a faculty member who has completed five years of service at Wittenberg and is a full-time teacher at the time of selection. Selection is based on current performance, and all alumni, students, faculty, and staff are allowed to nominate candidates. This award continues to be the highest campus honor a Wittenberg professor can receive.
Additional insights shared regarding Dr. Phillips through the nomination process:
“I am pleased to nominate Dr. Richard Phillips for the 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award at Wittenberg University. I make this nomination both as a parent and as an alumnus of Wittenberg. Two of my three children had the privilege of taking Dr. Phillips’ wildlife biology and ecology courses. As a parent, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact he had on them. He inspired their interest in biology and made learning not only enjoyable but genuinely exciting. Beyond the classroom, I observed the strong and meaningful relationships he fosters with his students—relationships that extend well beyond the end of the semester.”
“One of the most remarkable aspects of Dr. Phillips’ teaching is his commitment to experiential learning. Each year, he leads students on field study trips in Michigan and Mississippi. These trips provide invaluable hands-on learning opportunities. It is clear these experiences leave a lasting impression and deepen students’ understanding of and love for wildlife and ecology.”
“Dr. Phillips’ dedication to his students was on full display just a few weeks ago when I attended a Wittenberg alumni event at a Columbus Blue Jackets game with my three children. Dr. Phillips happened to be there, and I watched as my children’s faces lit up when they saw him. I stood nearby as he visited with four or five former students from different class years. They reminisced about his classes and, most especially, about the field study trips. The warmth of their interactions and the genuine connection they shared spoke volumes about the impact he has had on their lives.”
“In addition to his teaching at Wittenberg, Dr. Phillips works to involve his academic activities with the community and to find ways to partner with or impact the community.”
