Denise Ousley-Exum Named WCE's Murphy Distinguished Scholar

Denise Ousley-Exum has been appointed as the Murphy Distinguished Scholar in the Watson College of Education. Dr. Ousley-Exum is an associate professor of secondary education. She will focus her work on “Teaching with Joy,” an initiative that seeks to foster joy in teaching and learning by providing research, mentorship and professional collaboration.

Ousley-Exum’s three-year appointment was acknowledged by the UNCW Board of Trustees on April 24.

“We are delighted that Dr. Ousley will serve as the next Murphy Scholar,” said Watson College Dean Tracy Linderholm. “As an educator, Denise radiates positivity and joy. We are proud to support her project, which places joy as a foundational element in the educational experience.”

Ousley-Exum began her career as a high school English teacher. She joined the faculty at UNCW in 2006, where she currently serves as coordinator of WCE’s Secondary Education program and co-leader of the Netherlands study abroad program.

In Fall 2024, Ousley-Exum co-founded the Teaching with Joy Network in partnership with WCE professor Robert Smith and seven high school teachers. Broad goals of the network are to reframe the current narrative surrounding the teaching profession, support teacher resilience by identifying and celebrating joyful teaching practices, and reaffirm the deeply fulfilling nature of a career in education.

“I love being a teacher,” Ousley-Exum said. “Throughout my career I have placed a high value on collaboration, positive relationships, engagement and meaningful teaching and learning. The Murphy Professorship provides an incredible opportunity to grow the Teaching with Joy Network, which in just a few months is already bringing teachers together to build connections, share best practices, and spread ‘Teacher Joy.’ I couldn’t be more excited about this appointment.”

The Teaching with Joy Network began with a core group of high school teachers, but Ousley-Exum said PK-12 educators at all career levels are invited to participate in the initiative. The group meets regularly to build community and discuss instructional practices and student interactions that invite joy. Members have also presented at professional development workshops and authored articles including a series on “Teaching with Joy” that was published in EdNC in May during Teacher Appreciation Week. Conference presentations and professional development events are planned for the future, and Ousley-Exum hopes the initiative will eventually lead to the creation of additional TWJN groups in local schools and districts.

“We are thrilled that our message of hope and purpose is resonating so strongly with so many teachers,” she said. “I always share that teaching has been the gift of my life. ‘Teaching with Joy’ is how I am giving that gift back.“ 

Teachers interested in learning more about the “Teach with Joy” initiative are invited to contact Dr. Denise Ousley-Exum at ousleyd@uncw.edu.

About the Murphy Professorship

The distinguished scholarship is supported by an endowment created through a generous gift by Wendy and Wendell (Dell) Murphy of Wallace, NC. Wendy is an alumna of the Watson College and chair of the UNC System Board of Governors. The Appointment supports teaching, scholarship and engagement through WCE with a focus on education innovation and research in policy and practice.

Recent News and Publications

• WHQR, May 12 UNCW creates a 'Joy of Teaching' Network
• EdNC, May 4,  Perspective | Creating the Teaching with Joy Network 
• EdNC, May 5,  Perspective | From labels to luminaries: The transformative power of joy in education
• EdNC, May 6,  Perspective | Joy as resistance: A teacher’s perspective
• EdNC, May 7,  Perspective | Embracing vulnerability: A first-year teacher’s guide to teaching with joy