Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Teaching Excellence Award Winners


University Teaching Excellence Award Winners:
 Outstanding teaching is an integral part of Mason’s mission and is deserving of significant recognition. The Teaching Excellence Awards are both institutional recognition and a monetary acknowledgment of the significant work that faculty members devote to course planning and preparation; curriculum development; and innovative teaching, advising, and undergraduate and graduate mentoring.

Teachers of Distinction: Our Teachers of Distinction are faculty members who have been finalists for the Teaching Excellence Award, and who are recognized across campus for their exceptional teaching and their commitment to teaching-related activities.

View all 2024 Teaching Excellence Award Winners here
2024 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2024 David J. King Award Winner

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Adam WinslerPsychology – CHSS
Coming Soon

2024 Teaching Excellence Award Winners

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Michele GreetHistory and Art History, CHSS
Self Portrait Assignment
Hao JingChemistry and Biochemistry, COS Engagement through a Relaxed Environment
Rebecca Jones, Special Recognition in Teaching Mason CoreChemistry and Biochemistry, COS Developing Scientific Communication with Chemistry Infographics
Jim McNeil, Special Recognition in Teaching with High Impact PracticesCOS – Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation Ticks and Lyme Disease
Elizabeth Paul, Special Recognition in Inclusive TeachingEnglish, CHSS Alernative Assessment
Kimberly RuleForensic Science, COS Engaging Students Through Hands-on Active Learning
Kelly SchrumHigher Education, CHSS Productive Failure Assignment And Cultivating Creativity: Create a Better Mascot

2024 Teachers of Distinction Award Winners

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Melissa AinsworthSpecial Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD
…Coming Soon!
Jennifer Drake PatrickElementary, Literacy, and Secondary Education, CEHD…Coming Soon!
Jodi DukeSpecial Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD
…Coming Soon!
Thomas LaTozaComputer Science, CEC, School of Computing Enabling Students To Learn How To Learn
Lisa RabinModern and Classical Languages, CHSS Teaching Research Approaches in Cultural Studies

2024 Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award Winner

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Sarah RichAdvanced Professional Teacher Development and International Education, CEHD

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…Coming Soon!

2024 Adjunct Teacher of Distinction Winner

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Lee H. RobertsCenter for Security Policy Studies – Schar

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Five Needs of International Security Students

2024 Online Teaching Excellence Award Winners

Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Albert DeFazioEnglish, CHSS

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Coming soon!
Lisa ProdywusMarketing, CCB

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Coming soon!

2024 Online Teachers of Distinction Winners

Award Winners
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Lisa M. Gring-PembleBusiness, CCB

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Coming soon!
Lois A. GrothElementary Education PK-6, CEHD

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Coming soon!
So Young YiModern and Classical Languages, CHSS

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Coming soon!

2024 Distinguished Library Faculty Award Winner

Award Winner
Academic Unit
Lara BushallowDirector, Digital Technologies and Services, University Libraries

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2023 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winner
Academic Unit
Featured Teaching Strategy
Sanja AvramovicHealth Administration and Policy – CPH
Supporting Intensive Collaboration
Carrie BonillaModern and Classical Languages – CHSS Tailoring Feedback to Students
David Lattanzi, Special Recognition for High Impact TeachingCivil Engineering – CEC Pitch and Present
Shayna MaskellSchool of Integrative Studies – CHSS Create Your Own Folk Song
Alison Heinhold Melley, Special Recognition for Teaching in Mason CorePsychology – CHSS Helping Students to Help Themselves
2022 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Cortney Hughes RinkerGlobal Affairs Director, Sociology and Anthropology – CHSSExperimenting with Assignments
Aditya Johri – High Impact WinnerInformation Sciences and Technology – CECRole-Play for Teaching Technology Ethics
Margaret “Peggy” King-SearsGraduate School of Education – CEHD
Haagen KlausSociology and Anthropology – CHSS
Susan Lawrence – General Education WinnerEnglish – CHSSScaffolding Lit Reviews
Amykate “Kate” SweeneyCommunication – CHSS
2022 Teachers of Distinction
Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Jane FlinnNeuroscience – COSPerforming Well
Emily GreenSchool of Music – CVPA
Jenna KrallGlobal and Community Health – CHHS
Michael von FrickenGlobal and Community Health – CHHS
2021 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Jennifer HathawaySchool of Education – CEHD
Susan Hirsch Winner of High ImpactVernon M. and Minnie I. Lynch Chair – Carter School
Anthony Hoefer Winner of High ImpactEnglish – CHSSHow Humans Learn
Lauren Kuykendall Winner of High ImpactPsychology – CHSS
Stephanie Lessard-Pillon Winner of High ImpactSmithsonian-Mason School of Conservation – COSStudent-led Journal Club
Tehama Lopez-BunyasiConflict Analysis and Resolution – Carter School
David Luther Winner of General Education Biology – COS
Cindy ParkerManagement – BUSIInterview Preparation and Practice
Kathleen RamosEducation – CEHD
Cindy Smith Winner of High ImpactEnvironmental Science and Policy – COS
2020 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Justin GestSchar School of Policy and Government
Anna HabibEnglish (CHSS), INTO Mason
Kelly KnightForensic Science (COS)No Exams? Portfolios in STEM? But How Will They Learn?!
Sean LawtonMathematical Sciences (COS)Community and Experimentation
Shun YeInformation Systems and Operations Management (BUSI)
Benjamin Dreyfus Winner of General EducationPhysics and Astronomy (COS)
Qi Wei Winner of High ImpactBioengineering (VSE)
2020 Teachers of Distinction
Award Winners
Academic Unit
FEATURED TEACHING STRATEGY
Jon BellComputer Science (VSE)
Keith ClarkEnglish (CHSS)
Jason KinserComputational and Data Sciences (COS)Winning Teaching Strategies
Katherine RussellComputer Science (VSE)
Ioulia Rytikova Information Sciences and Technology (VSE)
Catherine Wright Communication (CHSS)
2019 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
Paul Ammann
Computer Science (VSE)Using ShowMe Videos to Explain Class Concepts
Wendi Manuel-Scott
School of Integrative Studies (CHSS)Active Reading: Syllabus Statement
Eric Piccione
Computer Game Design (CVPA)Using Discord to Build Community Online
Justin Ramsdell
Psychology (CHSS)Rethinking the Group Project: Presentation Relays
Emily Rancourt
Forensic Science (COS)No Such Thing as Enough Questions
Sunny Harris Rome: High Impact Teaching
Social Work (CHHS)Compose an Advocacy Portfolio
Jennifer Victor: General Education
Schar School of Policy and GovernmentPrepare Students for Political and Nonpartisan Discussion
2019 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
Seth HudsonComputer Game Design (CVPA)
Natalie Burls
Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences (COS)
Kelley ReganGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
2018 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
James Carroll: General EducationSchool of Music (CVPA)A Pedagogy of Listening
Dawn Hathaway: Technology-Enhanced TeachingGraduate School of Education (CEHD)Beyond “Lesson Plan”: Teaching as a Design Process
Younsung KimEnvironmental Science & Policy (COS)Flex Learning via “Real-Time-Based” Student Feedback
Alexandra MastersonBiology (COS)Dramatizing the Heart
Graziella McCarronSchool of Integrative Studies (CHSS)Building Common Ground: Introductory Blog Post
Laura PomsGlobal & Community Health (CHHS)Group Contract Guidelines
Amarda ShehuComputer Science (VSE)Supporting High-Complexity Coding
2018 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
Laurence BrayBioengineering (VSE)
Kristy ParkGraduate School of Education (CEHD)Coming Out from Behind the Curtain: Facetime in Online Teaching
Chris ParsonsEnvironmental Science & Policy (COS)
2017 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
Autum CaseySchool of Theater (CVPA)End of Semester Debrief questions
Lauren CattaneoPsychology (CHSS)
Yotam GingoldComputer Science (VSE)Postmortems and Temperature-taking
Chris Kauffman: Technology-Enhanced TeachingComputer Science (VSE)Discussion Hot Seats
Malda KocacheBiology (COS)
April Mattix FosterGraduate School of Education (CEHD)Teacher Talk Moves: Keeping Dialogue Productive
Angela MillerGraduate School of Education (CEHD)No-Penalty Quizzes Lower Statistics Anxiety
Julia Nord: General Education Atmospheric, Oceanic, & Earth Sciences (COS)Formative Evaluation for Learning Retention
2017 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic UnitFeatured Teaching Strategy
Changwoo AhnEnvironmental Science & Policy (COS)
Diana D’AmicoGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Greg FosterChemistry & Biochemistry (COS)
Edward HuangSystems Engineering & Operations Research (VSE)
Jeffrey KulickMarketing (BUSI)
Audra ParkerGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Margaret SlavinNutrition & Food Studies (CHHS)
2016 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic Unit
Jennifer BrielmaierPsychology (CHSS)
Christopher CoyneEconomics (CHSS)
Kinga DobolyiComputer Science (VSE)
Anya Evmenova; Technology-Enhanced TeachingGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Laura KosogluCivil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering (VSE)
Mark SnyderComputer Science (VSE)
Joseph WeingartnerPhysics & Astronomy (COS)
Ali WeinsteinGlobal & Community Health (CHHS)
2016 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic Unit
Angela MillerGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Seth ParsonsGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Kathleen WageElectrical & Computer Engineering (VSE)
Douglas WulfEnglish (CHSS)
2015 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic Unit
Tommy BrittFilm & Video Studies (CVPA)
Rebecca Ericson; General EducationSchool of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS)
Sean Luke; Teaching with TechnologyComputer Science (VSE)
Nathalia PeixotoElectrical & Computer Engineering (VSE)
Keith RenshawPsychology (CHSS)
Girum UrgessaCivil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering (VSE)
Gerald WeatherspoonChemistry & Biochemistry (COS)
Kristien ZenkovGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
2015 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic Unit
Mihai BoicuApplied Information Technology (VSE)
Lynne Scott ConstantineSchool of Art (CVPA)
Rebecca GoldinMathematical Sciences (COS)
Cortney Hughes-RinkerSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Pelin KurtayElectrical & Computer Engineering (VSE)
Ricardo Vivancos PérezModern & Classical Languages (CHSS)
2014 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic Unit
Eric Anderson; General EducationEnglish (CHSS)
Rebecca ForknerEnvironmental Science & Policy (COS)
Gregory Grimsby; Teaching with TechnologyComputer Game Design Program (CVPA)
Jill NelsonElectrical & Computer Engineering (VSE)
Huzefa RangwalaComputer Science (VSE)
Pallab SanyalInformation Systems & Operations Management (SOM)
David SchleicherSchool of Law (SOL)
Michael SummersSchool of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS)
2014 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic Unit
Amy BestSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Thomas BrittFilm & Video Studies (CVPA)
Robin CouchChemistry & Biochemistry (COS)
J. Robert CressmanSchool of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS); Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study
Jeremy HodgsonCommunication (CHSS)
Panagiota KitsantasHealth Administration & Policy (CHHS)
Seungwon “Shawn” LeeSchool of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD)
Matthew RiceGeography & Geoinformation Science (COS)
Kristien ZenkovGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
2013 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic Unit
Daniel CoxSchool of Systems Biology (COS); Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study
Shannon DavisSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Paul Gorski; General EducationNew Century College (CHSS)
Christopher HamnerHistory & Art History (CHSS)
Kathryn JacobsenGlobal & Community Health (CHHS)
Jaime LesterHigher Education Program (CHSS)
Jeffrey MantzSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Jeff Offutt; Teaching with TechnologyComputer Science (VSE)
2013 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic Unit
Gérard BeckModern & Classical Languages (CHSS)
Guido CervoneGeography & Geoinformation Science (COS)
Maria DakakeReligious Studies (CHSS)
Marci Kinas-JeromeGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Mary LechterTheater (CVPA)
Seungwon “Shawn” LeeSchool of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD)
Kristien ZenkovGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
2012 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award WinnersAcademic Unit
Yoosun Chung; Teaching with TechnologyGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Paul CooperChemistry & Biochemistry (COS)
Margaret DanielsSchool of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD)
Lisa Lister; General EducationEnglish (CHSS)
Tamara MaddoxComputer Science (VSE)
Julie OwenNew Century College (CHSS)
Danielle RudesCriminology, Law & Society (CHSS)
2012 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of DistinctionAcademic Unit
Shannon DavisSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Rajesh GanesanSystems Engineering & Operations Research (VSE)
Hugh GustersonSociology & Anthropology (CHSS)
Jaime LesterHigher Education Program (CHSS)
Erin Peters BurtonGraduate School of Education (CEHD)
Shannon PortilloCriminology, Law & Society (CHSS)
Jennifer SuhGraduate School of Education (CEHD)