Graduate student teachers do a superb job in the classroom while honing their skills to become the next generation of college and university faculty.

2009 Graduate Student Teaching Awards

JEssica Abernathy
Jessica is a composition instructor for the English department. Her nominator writes, “What’s most extraordinary about Jessica is that, in addition to being an exceptional teacher, she has demonstrated an admirable commitment to furthering and modeling best teaching practices among other teaching associates and lecturers in the department.” Abernathy played a key role in implementing first-year composition revisions and was one of only 15 teachers selected to pilot a new English 102 curriculum. Abernathy is committed to outreach work with area schools and teachers, sharing her methods for teaching and writing. Her nominator calls her an extraordinary teacher, contributor and cultivator of best practices.

MIKE diacin
Mike is a doctoral student in sport studies. Though he has taught for just three years, he exhibits a great talent. In his class, students speak freely about such sensitive topics as race, gender, class, sexuality and religion as they relate to the study of sport in society. Diacin also mentors new teaching assistants in his department and across campus. For the past two years, he has taken part in the Graduate School’s teaching assistant orientation and shares insights about dealing with difficult students. He often engages others in discussion about best practices and takes advantage of every opportunity to improve his instructional skills.