2023-24 University Teaching Awards Announced

NC State has honored 40 faculty for their commitment to educational excellence with the 2023-24 University Teaching Awards. Award recipients were recognized at a University Teaching Awards Luncheon and Ceremony on Thursday, April 11 at the Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center.

Paul Mulvey, an associate professor in the Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, received the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the most prestigious award given to faculty for teaching excellence. In 1993, the UNC Board of Governors established the award to underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support good teaching within the UNC university system. Each college may nominate one candidate for this award, with one candidate selected as NC State’s winner.

Mulvey will be recognized at NC State’s spring commencement exercises. The NC State Memorial Belltower will also be lit red in his honor at a time of his choosing.

Also nominated for the award were:

• Gregory Buckner, professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Gary Comstock, professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Gabriel Keith Harris, professor, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences
• Marguerite Moore, professor, Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
• Sara Queen, associate professor, School of Architecture
• Katie Sheats, associate professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

Stephanie Jeffries, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, received the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is the most prestigious award for exceptional teaching given to professional full-time faculty from among NC State’s 10 colleges and the University College. The award was established in 2021 to underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support teaching within the university.

Also nominated for the award were:

• Autumn Mist Belk, teaching professor, Department of Performing Arts and Technology
• Kay Sandberg, teaching professor, Department of Chemistry
• D. Scott Showalter, professor of practice, Department of Accounting
• Julianne Treme, associate teaching professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Donna Ginger Yu, associate teaching professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology was presented to:

• Jason Flores, associate teaching professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Jane Lubischer, teaching professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Melissa Ramirez, associate teaching professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The award, first given in 2002, honors the creative pedagogy of NC State’s faculty and their work in integrating new technologies into effective teaching strategies. Gertrude Cox, “The First Lady of Statistics” and the award’s namesake, came to NC State in 1940 to establish the university’s distinguished Department of Statistics.

The Outstanding Teacher Award was presented to the following faculty members:

• Anna Behler, assistant teaching professor, Department of Psychology
• Terri Billeisen, adjunct assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology  
• Januka Budhathoki-Uprety, assistant professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
• Joseph Donaldson, associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences
• Whitney Knollenberg, associate professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management  
• Tim Kraft, associate professor, Department of Business Management
• Edgar Lobaton, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 
• Bevin Maultsby, teaching associate professor, Department of Mathematics 
• Tamah Morant, teaching professor, Department of Economics
• Scott Palmtag, research professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering 
• Jason Patrick, assistant professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering 
• Lam Pham, assistant professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development 
• Marc Russo, associate professor, Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology 
• Margaret Simon, associate professor, Department of English
• Hong Wang, professor, Department of Physics              

The award recognizes excellence in teaching at all levels. Faculty must receive the Outstanding Teacher Award in order to be eligible for the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award. Recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award become members of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers for as long as they remain NC State faculty.

The Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award was presented to the following faculty members:

• Cassie Castorena, associate professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
• Jeremiah Feducia, teaching professor, Department of Chemistry
• Jianxin Hu, associate professor, School of Architecture
• John Meitzen, professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• R. Bryan Ormond, assistant professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
• Lara Pacifici, teaching professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

The award, sponsored by the NC State Alumni Association, is one of the most prestigious awards to recognize undergraduate-level teaching given on campus. Up to six recipients will receive this recognition each year and retain their title for the duration of their career as an NC State faculty member. Each recipient will receive a cash award.

The Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor Award was presented to the following faculty members:

• Joshua Heitman, professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
• Adriana de Souza e Silva, professor, Department of Communication
• Christopher Moorman, professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
• Soonhye Park, professor, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education

The award, sponsored by the NC State Alumni Association, is one of the most prestigious awards to recognize graduate-level teaching given on campus. Up to four recipients will receive this recognition each year and retain their title for the duration of their career as an NC State faculty member. Each recipient will receive a cash award.

This post was originally published in Provost's Office News.