The Office of Academic Affairs is seeking nominations for the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. This honor recognizes one tenured faculty member for outstanding instruction and innovation at the graduate level.
The winner will receive $2,500, a commemorative plaque, and recognition at the Monarch Milestones event. Each College may nominate two faculty for this award.
Important Deadlines for 2027
- January 29, 2027: Final deadline for Colleges to submit nomination packages for their two nominees to the Graduate School using this nomination form.
- April 2027: Winners will be honored at the Monarch Milestones event.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, a nominee must:
- Be a current, tenured graduate faculty member employed at the University for at least 3 years.
- Not have received the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award within the last 5 years.
- Be nominated by a student (current/former), colleague, chair, or via self-nomination.
Submission Requirements
Nomination materials must be combined into one single PDF file including:
- Teaching Philosophy Statement: Describing the nominee's approach and impact.
- Letter of Nomination: From a tenured faculty member of at least equal rank.
- Teaching-Focused CV: A brief version highlighting instructional achievements.
- Optional Supporting Materials as available: student opinion surveys --evaluation data, evidence of other significant teaching honors, support letters from students or a letter from the Dean.
Note to Colleges/Schools
Each College may nominate up to two (2) faculty members. Colleges have full autonomy to establish their own internal review committees, select their coordinators, and determine their own internal deadlines for gathering submissions from department chairs/program directors and for selecting their two nominees to submit a formal nomination to the Graduate School.
Nominations will be reviewed by the Academic Affairs “Outstanding Faculty Award Committee” for a final winner selection.
Past Award Winners
- Dr. Jay Walker Strome College of Business Economics
- Eric Walters, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences
- Andrew Bennett, Strome College of Business, Department of Management
- Wie Yusuf, Strome College of Business, School of Public Service
- Ryan Klinger Strome College of Business, Management
- Dr. Rocco Schiavilla, College of Sciences, Physics.
- Dr. Avi Santo, College of Arts & Letters, Communication & Theatre Arts.
- Dr. Holly Gaff, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences.
- Dr. Jay Walker Strome College of Business Economics
- Eric Walters, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences
- Andrew Bennett, Strome College of Business, Department of Management
- Wie Yusuf, Strome College of Business, School of Public Service
- Ryan Klinger Strome College of Business, Management
- Dr. Rocco Schiavilla, College of Sciences, Physics.
- Dr. Avi Santo, College of Arts & Letters, Communication & Theatre Arts.
- Dr. Holly Gaff, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences.