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.

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2020 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

Award Winners	Academic Unit	Committee Comment
Justin Gest	Schar School of Policy and Government	“I was particularly impressed by the variety of problem-based learning opportunities and hands-on experiences through field trips, connecting with clients, inviting important speakers to your courses, that your students receive.”
Anna Habib	INTO Mason, College of Humanities & Social Sciences – English	“I was particularly impressed by your description of how you attempt to demystify writing for your students. Writing as a subject is undervalued. Students need help with unveiling that ‘magic.'”
Kelly Knight	College of Science – Forensic Science	“The time and effort you dedicate by learning new topics in the field to expand university curriculum and seeking advice from experts is impressive!”
Sean Lawton	College of Science – Mathematical Sciences	“I especially like how successfully you place the student at the center of your educational mission. Whether recruiting a student to math in high school, mentoring a student in math research in your lab, or simply offering a truly positive experience to a student just trying to satisfy a math requirement, it’s clear that it’s always about that student. Bravo!”
Shun Ye	School of Business – ISOM	“I really enjoyed learning about how you engage students by incorporating pop-culture and humor, introducing complex concepts with simplified examples, and modeling the use of technology that students are expected to use to facilitate problem solving in business.”
Benjamin Dreyfus Winner of General Education	College of Science – Physics and Astronomy	“What really impressed me was how you managed to convey to students that the kinds of thinking they were doing in physics has application to problem solving in other areas of their lives. “
Qi Wei Winner of High Impact	Volgenau School of Engineering – Bioengineering	“[I admire how you] practice team teaching and collaborative learning, work with OSCAR and [help students get] published. I have nothing but positive comments about this work.”

2020 Teachers of Distinction Award Winners

Award Winners	Academic Unit	Committee Comment
Jon Bell	Volgenau School of Engineering – Computer Science	“I really like how you think about homework assignments; the three phase approach shows considerable understanding of scaffolding learning for students and allowing opportunities for success for all learners.”
Keith Clark	College of Humanities and Social Sciences – English	“I was particularly impressed by [your] ability to bring topics to light in historical context as well as the ability to seamlessly combine different aspects of other relevant topics in a way that made the course material come to life.”
Jason Kinser	College of Science – Computational and Data Sciences	“I was particularly impressed by what you learned in the ALT classrooms and how you shared that data, including controls with the broader educational community. It provides key insight into what students do differently in active learning environments vs. traditional classrooms.”
Katherine Russell	Volgenau School of Engineering – Computer Science	“You are clearly very strong in your ability to support student learning by scaffolding assignments and projects. I think it is great how you really work to make your class experience mirror industry and let students know what they are likely to face in the workplace after graduation.”
Ioulia Rytikova	Volgenau School of Engineering – Information Sciences and Technology	“I was particularly impressed by your comprehensive mentoring program and engagement of adjunct faculty in research collaborations. What a brilliant way to impact faculty, teaching assistants, and students!”
Catherine Wright	College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Communication	“I was particularly impressed by [your] personal immersion into Italian culture as a means of making the study abroad course better. Impressive on every level. Equally impressive was [your] awareness and acceptance of the unique nature of the study abroad programs in which students can see [your] private self as well as [your] more public professional persona.”

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2019 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2019 Teachers of Distinction

2018 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2018 Teachers of Distinction

2017 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2017 Teachers of Distinction

2016 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2016 Teachers of Distinction

2015 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2015 Teachers of Distinction

2014 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2014 Teachers of Distinction

2013 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2013 Teachers of Distinction

2012 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners

2012 Teachers of Distinction