Timothy Gupton, Professor of Spanish Linguistics in the Department of Romance Languages, has been awarded a 2026 General Sandy Beaver Teaching Professorship by the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. The award honors outstanding faculty whose sustained commitment to excellence in teaching has had a significant impact on student learning at the University of Georgia. 

Recipients of the Sandy Beaver Teaching Professorship are selected for their dedication to high-quality instruction, mentorship, and innovation in the classroom. As part of Professor Gupton’s nomination, current and former students submitted letters of support that spoke unanimously to his exceptional care as an instructor and mentor, his inclusive teaching practices, and his ability to guide students toward advanced scholarly work.

One former student noted that Professor Gupton’s attentiveness in undergraduate courses “not only gave me the ability to pursue further academic endeavors, but also the desire.” Another emphasized the inclusive nature of his teaching, writing that he “never made me feel ashamed or ignorant for not knowing Spanish more or because of my very mixed background.” Students also highlighted his accessibility and patience outside the classroom, describing office hours marked by careful attention to questions and a commitment to ensuring that every student left with a clear understanding of the material.

Professor Gupton’s teaching spans all levels of Spanish instruction, from introductory language courses to advanced undergraduate and graduate seminars in composition, grammar, and linguistics. His course offerings also include a wide range of Hispanic linguistic subfields, such as syntax, second language acquisition, heritage language acquisition, bilingualism, and sociolinguistics. Across these contexts, students consistently point to his ability to model scholarly practices and to design coursework that mirrors the intellectual work involved in conducting original research.

Since joining the Department of Romance Languages in 2010, Professor Gupton has played a central role in developing UGA’s PhD program in Romance and Spanish linguistics. The program has quickly gained national visibility, with regular representation at major academic conferences and a strong record of alumni placement in academic and professional positions. His contributions to graduate education extend beyond the classroom through his organization of the Romance Linguistics Colloquium Series and his ongoing mentorship of graduate students, including advising organizers of the Romance Languages’ Graduate Student Organization’s annual Crossroads Conference, which took place February 20-21, 2026 at UGA.

A defining feature of Professor Gupton’s teaching philosophy is his commitment to providing students with meaningful formative research experiences. Through scaffolded support and close mentorship, he helps students develop the skills needed to conduct, present, and publish linguistic research, preparing them for advanced study and professional success.

Professor Gupton is the first faculty member in the Department of Romance Languages to receive a Sandy Beaver Teaching Professorship since 1999, when Professors Noel Fallows and Tom Peterson were honored. His selection reflects both his individual excellence as an educator and the department’s longstanding commitment to teaching, mentorship, and scholarly engagement.