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.
2020 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
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
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
Award Winners | Academic Unit | Featured 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 Government | Prepare Students for Political and Nonpartisan Discussion |
2019 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit | Featured Teaching Strategy |
---|---|---|
Seth Hudson | Computer Game Design (CVPA) | |
Natalie Burls | Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences (COS) | |
Kelley Regan | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
2018 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit | Featured Teaching Strategy |
---|---|---|
James Carroll: General Education | School of Music (CVPA) | A Pedagogy of Listening |
Dawn Hathaway: Technology-Enhanced Teaching | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) | Beyond “Lesson Plan”: Teaching as a Design Process |
Younsung Kim | Environmental Science & Policy (COS) | Flex Learning via “Real-Time-Based” Student Feedback |
Alexandra Masterson | Biology (COS) | Dramatizing the Heart |
Graziella McCarron | School of Integrative Studies (CHSS) | Building Common Ground: Introductory Blog Post |
Laura Poms | Global & Community Health (CHHS) | Group Contract Guidelines |
Amarda Shehu | Computer Science (VSE) | Supporting High-Complexity Coding |
2018 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit | Featured Teaching Strategy |
---|---|---|
Laurence Bray | Bioengineering (VSE) | |
Kristy Park | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) | Coming Out from Behind the Curtain: Facetime in Online Teaching |
Chris Parsons | Environmental Science & Policy (COS) |
2017 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit | Featured Teaching Strategy |
---|---|---|
Autum Casey | School of Theater (CVPA) | End of Semester Debrief questions |
Lauren Cattaneo | Psychology (CHSS) | |
Yotam Gingold | Computer Science (VSE) | Postmortems and Temperature-taking |
Chris Kauffman: Technology-Enhanced Teaching | Computer Science (VSE) | Discussion Hot Seats |
Malda Kocache | Biology (COS) | |
April Mattix Foster | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) | Teacher Talk Moves: Keeping Dialogue Productive |
Angela Miller | Graduate 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 Distinction | Academic Unit | Featured Teaching Strategy |
---|---|---|
Changwoo Ahn | Environmental Science & Policy (COS) | |
Diana D’Amico | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) | |
Greg Foster | Chemistry & Biochemistry (COS) | |
Edward Huang | Systems Engineering & Operations Research (VSE) | |
Jeffrey Kulick | Marketing (BUSI) | |
Audra Parker | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) | |
Margaret Slavin | Nutrition & Food Studies (CHHS) |
2016 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Jennifer Brielmaier | Psychology (CHSS) |
Christopher Coyne | Economics (CHSS) |
Kinga Dobolyi | Computer Science (VSE) |
Anya Evmenova; Technology-Enhanced Teaching | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Laura Kosoglu | Civil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering (VSE) |
Mark Snyder | Computer Science (VSE) |
Joseph Weingartner | Physics & Astronomy (COS) |
Ali Weinstein | Global & Community Health (CHHS) |
2016 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Angela Miller | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Seth Parsons | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Kathleen Wage | Electrical & Computer Engineering (VSE) |
Douglas Wulf | English (CHSS) |
2015 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Tommy Britt | Film & Video Studies (CVPA) |
Rebecca Ericson; General Education | School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS) |
Sean Luke; Teaching with Technology | Computer Science (VSE) |
Nathalia Peixoto | Electrical & Computer Engineering (VSE) |
Keith Renshaw | Psychology (CHSS) |
Girum Urgessa | Civil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering (VSE) |
Gerald Weatherspoon | Chemistry & Biochemistry (COS) |
Kristien Zenkov | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
2015 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Mihai Boicu | Applied Information Technology (VSE) |
Lynne Scott Constantine | School of Art (CVPA) |
Rebecca Goldin | Mathematical Sciences (COS) |
Cortney Hughes-Rinker | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Pelin Kurtay | Electrical & Computer Engineering (VSE) |
Ricardo Vivancos Pérez | Modern & Classical Languages (CHSS) |
2014 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Eric Anderson; General Education | English (CHSS) |
Rebecca Forkner | Environmental Science & Policy (COS) |
Gregory Grimsby; Teaching with Technology | Computer Game Design Program (CVPA) |
Jill Nelson | Electrical & Computer Engineering (VSE) |
Huzefa Rangwala | Computer Science (VSE) |
Pallab Sanyal | Information Systems & Operations Management (SOM) |
David Schleicher | School of Law (SOL) |
Michael Summers | School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS) |
2014 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Amy Best | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Thomas Britt | Film & Video Studies (CVPA) |
Robin Couch | Chemistry & Biochemistry (COS) |
J. Robert Cressman | School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences (COS); Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study |
Jeremy Hodgson | Communication (CHSS) |
Panagiota Kitsantas | Health Administration & Policy (CHHS) |
Seungwon “Shawn” Lee | School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD) |
Matthew Rice | Geography & Geoinformation Science (COS) |
Kristien Zenkov | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
2013 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Daniel Cox | School of Systems Biology (COS); Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study |
Shannon Davis | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Paul Gorski; General Education | New Century College (CHSS) |
Christopher Hamner | History & Art History (CHSS) |
Kathryn Jacobsen | Global & Community Health (CHHS) |
Jaime Lester | Higher Education Program (CHSS) |
Jeffrey Mantz | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Jeff Offutt; Teaching with Technology | Computer Science (VSE) |
2013 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Gérard Beck | Modern & Classical Languages (CHSS) |
Guido Cervone | Geography & Geoinformation Science (COS) |
Maria Dakake | Religious Studies (CHSS) |
Marci Kinas-Jerome | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Mary Lechter | Theater (CVPA) |
Seungwon “Shawn” Lee | School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD) |
Kristien Zenkov | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
2012 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Award Winners | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Yoosun Chung; Teaching with Technology | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Paul Cooper | Chemistry & Biochemistry (COS) |
Margaret Daniels | School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (CEHD) |
Lisa Lister; General Education | English (CHSS) |
Tamara Maddox | Computer Science (VSE) |
Julie Owen | New Century College (CHSS) |
Danielle Rudes | Criminology, Law & Society (CHSS) |
2012 Teachers of Distinction
Teachers of Distinction | Academic Unit |
---|---|
Shannon Davis | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Rajesh Ganesan | Systems Engineering & Operations Research (VSE) |
Hugh Gusterson | Sociology & Anthropology (CHSS) |
Jaime Lester | Higher Education Program (CHSS) |
Erin Peters Burton | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |
Shannon Portillo | Criminology, Law & Society (CHSS) |
Jennifer Suh | Graduate School of Education (CEHD) |