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. We urge you to take this opportunity to recognize teaching excellence at Mason; please nominate someone you view as an outstanding educator for this honor.
Nominations for all Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA/ATEA/OTEA) close 28 September 2026!
Nomination Process:
The George Mason University Teaching Excellence Awards are open to all full-time faculty members who have already completed at least 3 years of full-time teaching at George Mason.
Nominations from students, faculty members, or administrators are welcome.
Faculty will be evaluated on the following criteria for teaching excellence:
- Growth and development as an educator
- Student and learner engagement
- Assessment of student learning and achievement
- Teaching effectiveness and impact
If you have questions or would like further information, please email [email protected].
Criteria:
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following guidelines:
For more assistance, please see our suggestions on Documenting Your Teaching.
The Selection Process:
- Nominations will be accepted through late September.
- Nominees will be invited to provide a 5-page teaching vita and a 5-page teaching statement to the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning by late October.
- The Committee will select and announce finalists in mid-December.
- Finalists will be invited to provide a detailed teaching portfolio by early February.
- The Teaching Excellence Award winners will be selected by early April.
- Our recognition ceremony for all our award winners will be in April. Winners receive a stipend as well as formal recognition; Teachers of Distinction will also be recognized at this ceremony.
A NOTE TO NOMINEES: We will be using your official Mason email address to communicate throughout the selection process. Please be sure to check it regularly. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Winners
2026 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
2026 Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Kimberly Avila | Special Education and Disability Research, CEHD | The ACCESS Framework |
 | Andrew Gilbert | Elementary Education, CEHD | The Wonder Journal |
 | Steven Maex | Accounting, CCB | Adaptable AI Integration into Courses |
 | Christine Rosenfeld | Geography and Geoinformation Science, COS | Student Syllabus Re-Design |
 | Jennifer Sklarew | Environmental Science and Policy, COS | Modular, Scaffolded Semester Projects: Less Stress, More Learning |
2026 Teacher of Distinction
2026 Teacher of Distinction
 | Ali Beheshti | Mechanical Engineering, CEC | |
 | June Huang | Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, CVPA | |
 | Maction Komwa | Geography and Geoinformation Science, COS | GIS Field Mapping Experience – Water Quality Assessment of the Occoquan River in Virginia |
 | Steph Liberatore | English, CHSS | |
 | Paolo Saguato | Scalia School of Law |
2025 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
2025 Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Kevin Andrea | Computer Science, CEC | Assessing the Adventure: Strategies for Sustaining Student Success |
 | Lois Groth | Elementary Education, CEHD | Reflective Practice |
 | Greta Ann Herin | Neuroscience, COS | |
 | Kerri LaCharite | Nutrition & Food Studies, CPH | Using Food Policy Memos to Teach Writing and Critical Thinking in the Food System |
 | Audrey Pettibon, Special Recognition for Teaching in Mason Core | English, CHSS | Building Process Management Skills: Integrating an Interactive Timeline in Your Course |
 | Kevin Rockmann, Special Recognition for High Impact Teaching | Management, CCB | Interviewing Guest Speakers Podcast-Style |
 | Roland Wilson | Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Mason Korea |
2025 Teacher of Distinction
2025 Teacher of Distinction
 | Jennifer Wood | English, CHSS | Teaching Tip |
2024 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
2024 Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Michele Greet | History and Art History, CHSS | Self Portrait Assignment |
 | Hao Jing | Chemistry and Biochemistry, COS | Engagement through a Relaxed Environment |
 | Rebecca Jones, Special Recognition in Teaching Mason Core | Chemistry and Biochemistry, COS | Developing Scientific Communication with Chemistry Infographics |
 | Jim McNeil, Special Recognition in Teaching with High Impact Practices | COS – Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation | Ticks and Lyme Disease |
 | Elizabeth Paul, Special Recognition in Inclusive Teaching | English, CHSS | Alernative Assessment |
 | Kimberly Rule | Forensic Science, COS | Engaging Students Through Hands-on Active Learning |
 | Kelly Schrum | Higher Education, CHSS | Productive Failure Assignment And Cultivating Creativity: Create a Better Mascot |
2024 Teachers of Distinction
2024 Teachers of Distinction Award Winners
 | Melissa Ainsworth | Special Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Jennifer Drake Patrick | Elementary, Literacy, and Secondary Education, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Jodi Duke | Special Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Thomas LaToza | Computer Science, CEC, School of Computing | Enabling Students To Learn How To Learn |
 | Lisa Rabin | Modern and Classical Languages, CHSS | Teaching Research Approaches in Cultural Studies |
2023 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Sanja Avramovic | Health Administration and Policy – CPH | Supporting Intensive Collaboration |
 | Carrie Bonilla | Modern and Classical Languages – CHSS | Tailoring Feedback to Students |
 | David Lattanzi, Special Recognition for High Impact Teaching | Civil Engineering – CEC | Pitch and Present |
 | Shayna Maskell | School of Integrative Studies – CHSS | Create Your Own Folk Song |
 | Alison Heinhold Melley, Special Recognition for Teaching in Mason Core | Psychology – CHSS | Helping Students to Help Themselves |
2022 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
| Cortney Hughes Rinker | Global Affairs Director, Sociology and Anthropology – CHSS | Experimenting with Assignments |
| Aditya Johri – High Impact Winner | Information Sciences and Technology – CEC | Role-Play for Teaching Technology Ethics |
| Margaret “Peggy” King-Sears | Graduate School of Education – CEHD | |
| Haagen Klaus | Sociology and Anthropology – CHSS | |
| Susan Lawrence – General Education Winner | English – CHSS | Scaffolding Lit Reviews |
| Amykate “Kate” Sweeney | Communication – CHSS |
2022 Teachers of Distinction
 | Jane Flinn | Neuroscience – COS | Performing Well |
 | Emily Green | School of Music – CVPA | |
 | Jenna Krall | Global and Community Health – CHHS | |
 | Michael von Fricken | Global and Community Health – CHHS |
2021 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
| Jennifer Hathaway | School of Education – CEHD | |
| Susan Hirsch Winner of High Impact | Vernon M. and Minnie I. Lynch Chair – Carter School | |
| Anthony Hoefer Winner of High Impact | English – CHSS | How Humans Learn |
| Lauren Kuykendall Winner of High Impact | Psychology – CHSS | |
| Stephanie Lessard-Pillon Winner of High Impact | Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation – COS | Student-led Journal Club |
| Tehama Lopez-Bunyasi | Conflict Analysis and Resolution – Carter School | |
| David Luther Winner of General Education | Biology – COS | |
| Cindy Parker | Management – BUSI | Interview Preparation and Practice |
| Kathleen Ramos | Education – CEHD | |
| Cindy Smith Winner of High Impact | Environmental Science and Policy – COS |
2020 University Teaching Excellence Award Winners
| Justin Gest | Schar School of Policy and Government | |
| Anna Habib | English (CHSS), INTO Mason | |
| Kelly Knight | Forensic Science (COS) | No Exams? Portfolios in STEM? But How Will They Learn?! |
| Sean Lawton | Mathematical Sciences (COS) | Community and Experimentation |
| Shun Ye | Information Systems and Operations Management (BUSI) | |
| Benjamin Dreyfus Winner of General Education | Physics and Astronomy (COS) | |
| Qi Wei Winner of High Impact | Bioengineering (VSE) |
2020 Teachers of Distinction
| Jon Bell | Computer Science (VSE) | |
| Keith Clark | English (CHSS) | |
| Jason Kinser | Computational and Data Sciences (COS) | Winning Teaching Strategies |
| Katherine Russell | Computer Science (VSE) | |
| Ioulia Rytikova | Information Sciences and Technology (VSE) | |
| Catherine Wright | Communication (CHSS) |
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) |