Dr. Shirley Farrel receives award

Troy University announced on Aug. 7 that associate professor Dr. Shirley Farrel is the recipient of the Wallace D. Malone, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award for 2025. 

Each year, the award — along with a gift and a cash prize — is awarded to a faculty member to acknowledge selflessness and innovation in their field. It is widely known as one of the highest teaching honors a faculty member can receive at Troy University.  

University Relations photo

Farrel (center right) stands with Dr. Palmer (left), Dr. Diamond (center left), and Dr. Hawkins (right).

Dr. Farrel is the coordinator of the gifted education program in the College of Education and Behavioral Studies and has been in the field of gifted education for over 30 years. 

  “I love working with the brightest and most innovative minds,” Farrel said. “I love to learn, and I get to learn when I’m with the gifted students.” 

One of the biggest goals in her career has been to give the often misunderstood or excluded students the attention and opportunities they need to thrive – things they might not receive in a traditional classroom setting. 

“[The] perception of gifted students is that they make straight A's, work hard and love to help the teacher; [that] gifted students will be OK on their own,” Farrel said. “  

They have benchmarked or are above grade level, so they do not need anything. However, that is what causes underachievement.  

“The reality is, gifted students may not be gifted in everything they do. They may only be gifted in one subject area.  

They may not be the highest-achieving students or the best-behaved. They need challenge in their learning depth, complexity and a faster pace.” 

Farrel also helped build Troy University’s relationship with the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), serves as co-coordinator for assessments for state and national reports and accreditation, and, in her eight years as program coordinator of gifted education, increased the program’s enrollment by more than 300%.  

Receiving the award was more than an acknowledgement of her success, it was a validation of her effect on the field and the students. 

University Relations photo

Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. (right) presents Farrel (left) with the Wallace D. Malone award.

“[The award] provides affirmation that I am making a difference in the lives of the students,” Farrel said. “It’s a great honor and very humbling to have been chosen.  

“I was so nervous about going up on stage to receive the award. I was afraid I would trip.” 

Alongside the award itself, Farrel was given a medallion to represent her achievement and a $1,500 cash prize.