Graduate Teaching Awards
Graduate student teachers do a superb job in the classroom while honing their skills to become the next generation of college and university faculty.
Kenneth Atwood, a doctoral student in modern foreign languages, has been teaching Spanish for five years. He has proven himself as an enthusiastic, competent, and creative graduate student who has taught first- and second-year Spanish to at least 600 students. His department head says his success as a teacher rests not only with his superior proficiency in Spanish, but also his extraordinary ability to engage students, his energetic and creative classroom practices, and, most importantly, his dedication to the students.
Casie Fedukovich, a doctoral candidate in rhetoric, writing and linguistics, has a natural ability to connect with students. Her teaching portfolio is engaging, purposeful, and highly effective, as she expects students to think of themselves as writers and encourages them to trust their voices so they can develop as writers. Her nomination form says it best: “Casie is a barrier-breaker, someone who reaches the students, gets results in the classroom, and bridges the gap.”
Adam Love, a doctoral student in sports studies, is highly regarded among students and faculty alike. He teaches undergraduate courses in the socio-cultural foundations of sport and leisure, and social issues in sport. He relates well with students and offers critical-thinking opportunities, especially on how race, gender, ethnicity, class, and age intersect with sports. Students respond positively to his teaching techniques and his dedication has proven a tremendous asset to the department.
Laura Wallis is a doctoral student in business administration, with a concentration in finance. Her department head says she is “probably the best graduate student who has ever taught in our department.” Her student evaluations are outstanding, especially when you consider that 50 percent of the students in her class are not finance majors and are taking the course only because it is a requirement. It is obvious her teaching is effective, with several students commenting that they are considering changing to a finance major or including it as a minor after her course.
