Ken-Hou Lin slumped into his desk, pondering how to contribute a positive and collaborative experience for first-year UT students.

Then, in 2018, he decided to take lecture to the dance floor. In his undergraduate studies course, Two to Tango, Lin teaches students how to navigate interpersonal relationships all while learning Argentine tango.

“It’s important to provide social experience that’s different from what our undergraduates are usually getting,” said Lin, associate professor of sociology. “Students have told me they are very happy to be in a place they can just talk to people.”

For his efforts in developing a creative class, Lin became the first to earn the Iverson Award for Innovation in February. Named after current chemistry professor Brent Iverson, Lin said winning the award surprised him because of the plethora of innovative educators on campus.

“I feel very lucky and honored to win the award, but in the meantime, I know a lot of other professors are out doing interesting (work),” Lin said. “That’s the sad thing about being a professor: I’m not taking the classes (students) are taking.”

Iverson, former dean of undergraduate studies, said the award highlights faculty working toward new innovations for their students.

“It’s really important that innovation is rewarded so we continue to see new ideas come forward and people who are unafraid of trying (new) things,” Iverson said. 

While attending Monday and Wednesday lectures on interpersonal connections, students turn to the Union T-House Suite to tango on Wednesday nights, preparing for monthly Saturday social dances. 

Lin said these socials, where he occasionally invites members of the Austin dance community, provide a safe space for first-year students to grow their independence, explore new relationships and become comfortable connecting with people of different gender identities.

“You can be close to someone in respectful ways, (and) you can make each other comfortable and get to know each other,” Lin said. “That’s something we can do more on campus.”

Psychology freshman Madelyn Kraft said the class helped her meet students during an intimidating time, allowing her to connect with other students on a physical and emotional level.

“It’s hard because you’re away from home and going through all these feelings,” Kraft said. “During class time, we talked a lot, and it was nice knowing other people were going through the same thing.

Elliana Krone, a speech, language and hearing sciences freshman, said she eased into intimate moments with her classmates through both dancing and sharing stories. 

“We’re not just dancing with each other and getting to have this new experience together, but we’re also (sharing) these vulnerable things in class,” Krone said. “That really brought us together.”  

Krone said learning to tango provides her and other students with new experiences they would not have learned elsewhere, making her extremely grateful for Lin’s innovations in the class.

“Basically all of us had a blank slate,” Krone said. “No one was actually good going in. (Lin) exposed us to this world we haven’t ever learned about and then taught us to love it.”