2021-22 University Teaching Awards Announced

NC State has honored more than 35 faculty for their commitment to educational excellence with the 2021-22 University Teaching Awards. Award recipients were recognized at a University Teaching Awards Luncheon and Ceremony on April 13.

Laura Clarke, professor in the Department of Physics, 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.

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

Also nominated for the award were:

• Steve Barr, professor, Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Jason Bocarro, professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
• David Crouse, professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
• Jody Gookin, FluoroScience Distinguished Professor in Veterinary Scholars Research Education, Department of Clinical Sciences
• Russell Gorga, professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
• Shevaun Neupert, professor, Department of Psychology

Lisa Bullard, teaching professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, received the inaugural 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:

• Miles Engell, associate teaching professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Mathew Gerard, teaching professor, Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences
• Olga Kleiankina, teaching professor, Department of Music
• Lara Pacifici, associate teaching professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
• D. Scott Showalter, professor of the practice, Department of Accounting
• Angela Smith, associate teaching professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development

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

• Terri Billeisen, extension associate, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

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:

• Jennifer Ayscue, assistant professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development
• Yevgeny Brudno, assistant professor, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Kim Ebert, associate professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
• Derek Foster, associate professor, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
• Alexander Kemper, associate professor, Department of Physics
• Traci Lamar, professor, Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
• Kari Lewis, assistant teaching professor, Department of Health and Exercise Studies
• Alun Lloyd, Drexel Professor, Department of Mathematics
• Melinda Morrill, professor, Department of Economics
• Kate Norwalk, assistant professor, Department of Psychology
• Lokendra Pal, EJ Woody Rice Associate Professor, Department of Forest Biomaterials
• Matthew Peterson, assistant professor, Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design
• Beth Ritter, professor of the practice, Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Rebecca Ronquest, associate professor, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
• Shweta Trivedi, associate teaching professor, Department of Animal Science
• James Tuck III, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• J. Lynn Worley-Davis, assistant teaching professor, Prestage Department of Poultry Science
• Huiyang Zhou, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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:

• Marina Bykova, professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Jonathan Casper, associate professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
• Francis de los Reyes III, Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor #2, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Tommy Holden, teaching professor, Department of Health and Exercise Studies
• Herle McGowan, associate teaching professor, Department of Statistics
• W. Jason Miller, professor, Department of English

The award, sponsored by the NC State Alumni Association, is one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards 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.