The University of Arkansas honored outstanding faculty members at the 2025 Faculty Teaching Awards Reception, held on Sept. 23. The event, co-sponsored by the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center (TFSC) and the U of A Teaching Academy, recognized faculty achievements in teaching, mentorship and professional development. 

Provost Indrajeet Chaubey welcomed attendees and emphasized the university's commitment to teaching excellence and student success. 

The keynote address was delivered by Carole Shook, recipient of the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship. Shook, a faculty member in information systems, was recognized for her exceptional work in introductory teaching and student mentorship. 

The reception also celebrated the leadership of Richard Cassady, who concluded his term as TFSC co-director (2022–2025). Cassady, a faculty member in industrial engineering, was recognized for his innovative contributions to faculty development and his dedicated service to the teaching community. His leadership helped expand TFSC programming and foster a culture of collaboration and excellence in teaching. 

The program recognized faculty who received awards or recognition during the 2024-25 academic year and presented certificates to faculty who completed one of two TFSC commendations. The full program and list of awardees is available for review.  

TFSC Lori Libbert New Faculty Commendation

This commendation recognizes new faculty (with two years or less of service) who actively participated in TFSC-sponsored events during the 2024-2025 academic year. The recipients are: 

• Sophie Brady, Music 

• Morgan Broberg, Civil Engineering 

• Kariah Brust, University Libraries 

• Eric Button, Political Science 

• Su A. Chae, School of Art 

• Ryan Chamberlain, World Languages, Literatures and Cultures 

• Natalie Clay, Entomology and Plant Pathology 

• Anna Clymer, University Libraries 

• Cindy Covington, Curriculum and Instruction 

• Marco Dehnert, Communication 

• Samira Feyzi, Food Science 

• Ben Galloway, Political Science 

• Alejandro Martin Gomez, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Institute of Integrative and Innovative Research 

• Hannah King, University Libraries 

• Zachary Lookenbill, Music 

• Calista Lyon, School of Art 

• Neelakshi Majumdar, Mechanical Engineering 

• Emma McMain, Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods 

• Alyssa Parsley, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing 

• David Paulus, Industrial Engineering 

• Latisha Puckett, First Year Engineering Program 

• Christie Ralph, Health, Human Performance and Recreation 

• Christine Rickabaugh, University Libraries 

• Don Shepard, Biological Sciences 

• John Thorlin, School of Law 

• Megan York, University Libraries 

TFSC Faculty Commendation for Teaching Development 

This commendation honors faculty with more than two years of service who demonstrated a commitment to teaching development through participation in TFSC events. The recipients are: 

• Lindsey S. Aloia, Communication 

• Brandon Crisel, Industrial Engineering 

• Natalie Edwards, Curriculum & Instruction 

• Matt Gerner, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

• Tacy Joffe Minor, Physics 

• Faith Lessner, Biological Sciences 

• Leslie Massey, First Year Engineering 

• Wendy L. McBride, Graduate School and International Education 

• Meredith Neville-Shepard, Communication 

• Kathleen Paul, Anthropology 

• Rocio Paez Ritter, Sociology and Criminology 

• Gretchen Scroggin, First Year Engineering 

• Robert Sloan Scroggin, Mathematical Sciences 

• Carole Shook, Information Systems 

• Ninette Sosa, School of Journalism and Strategic Media 

• Leigh Southward, School of Human Environmental Sciences 

• Wyann Stanton, Curriculum and Instruction 

• Xuan Zhuang, Biological Sciences 

In the final portion of the program, three faculty members were honored with university-level teaching awards for their exceptional contributions to student learning, mentorship and service to the teaching community. 

GSIE Outstanding Mentor Award 

Sami Dridi, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, received the 2024 Outstanding Mentor Award from the Graduate School and International Education. This award celebrates faculty who demonstrate excellence in graduate student mentorship, including professional role modeling, maintaining high academic standards and fostering student success over the course of their careers. 

Paul Cronan Technology Teaching Excellence Award 

Xinde (Cinder) Zhang, Financial Analytics, was recognized with the 2024-2025 Paul Cronan Technology Teaching Excellence Award. Named in honor of one of TFSC's founding faculty members, this award highlights innovative use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. 

Ro Di Brezzo Service to Teaching Award 

Deborah Korth, Student Success and Mathematical Sciences, received the 2024-2025 Ro Di Brezzo Service to Teaching Award. This honor, named for a TFSC co-founder, acknowledges outstanding service to the teaching mission of the university and contributions to faculty development initiatives. 

About TFSC and the Teaching Academy: TFSC invests in faculty excellence, promotes innovation in teaching and learning, and supports programs to advance student success. The center provides educational opportunities for faculty such as teaching and learning workshops, teaching symposia, and new faculty orientation. TFSC offers competitive teaching and learning grants for faculty, celebrates effective teaching with several awards and an awards reception, and promotes faculty-to-faculty mentoring through classroom observation. More information about TFSC can be found at their website or by following them on LinkedIn. TFSC is led by three faculty Co-directors: Hope Ballentine (Nursing), Aysa Galbraith (First Year Engineering), and Edward Holland (Geosciences).  

The Teaching Academy's mission is to advocate and represent teaching interests, promote and stimulate an environment of teaching-and-learning excellence, and encourage recognition and reward for exceptional teaching. They consist of faculty members who have been recognized by their peers, colleges and the university for their excellence in teaching, including excellence in classroom teaching. The Teaching Academy is led by its faculty president, Susan Bristow (Information Systems).    

All TFSC and Teaching Academy events are coordinated by Lori Libbert.