Teaching Excellence Award

Past Recipients

2023   Taj (Toni) Johns, Education, and Scott M. Schönfeldt-Aultman, Communication

2022   Tammy Spencer, Justice, Community and Leadership/Teacher Education

2021    José Feito, Psychology

2020    Greg Smith, Biology

2019     Molly Metherd, English

2018     Rebecca Carroll, Business

2017     Patriza Longo, Politics

2016     Margaret Field, Biology

2015     Berna Aksu, Business

2014     Kenneth Brown, Chemistry

2013     Cynthia Ganote, Sociology

2012     Denise Witzig, Women and Gender Studies

2011     Catherine Marachi, World Languages and Cultures

Purpose

The purpose of the Saint Mary’s College Teaching Excellence Award is to recognize faculty members who have demonstrated sustained exceptional teaching performance at the College.

Teaching excellence is deemed to include: 1) commitment to the values of a liberal arts education; 2) creation of a demanding but caring classroom environment that supports students in their intellectual growth and development; 3) an impact on student lives beyond the classroom; and 4) contributions to the growth and development of colleagues as effective teachers. These ideals are to be evidenced by student evaluations and written feedback, peer evaluations and recommendations, external reviews, etc.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, an individual must:

1. Be a full-time faculty member (tenured, tenure-track, or adjunct) with at least five years of experience at Saint Mary’s College;
2. Not have received this award within the past ten years.

Nomination Process

• Nominations for this award may come from the faculty, Chairs, and/or Deans. Self-nominations are also allowed. 
• A nomination describing how the nominee meets the selection criteria below, and:
• C.V. 
• Note: Original copies of the Student Feedback Forms (formally, student course evaluations) will not be reviewed. 

Nomination Deadline

Nomination period has closed.

Selection Process

The Director of Faculty Development and the Committee on Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship constitute the selection committee based on the criteria listed below. The award recipient will be announced at the Scholar’s Reception in March 15th, 2024.

Selection Criteria

In evaluating candidates for this award, consideration will be given to the criteria listed below. It is highly recommended that the recipient have accomplishments in each of the following two broad criteria categories.

Teaching Excellence

• Excellent teaching as demonstrated by student evaluations, peer evaluations, external reviews, student letters of support, etc.; 
• Experience teaching a variety of courses using innovative techniques, including breadth and depth. This may include design and/or re-development of new or existing courses;
• Teaching embodies the aims and ideals of the College, particularly the Lasallian mission to address the world beyond the College; for example, by applying course concepts to real world scenarios. 

Commitment to Students

• Experience advising students formally and informally;
• Participation in student recruitment and retention efforts, including historically marginalized populations; and
• Mentoring of students concerning career or graduate/professional school decisions.

Form of Award

Each award recipient will receive a certificate and monetary award to be used at the recipient’s discretion. A permanent plaque listing annual award recipients will be on display in the Academic Affairs Library. If there are no suitable candidates in a given year, the award will be withheld.