2025 Teaching Academy Fellows Inducted

The University of Arkansas Teaching Academy recently inducted 10 new Fellows who have been recognized by their peers, colleges and the university for excellence in teaching. To be inducted into the Teaching Academy, each Fellow must be nominated by a Teaching Academy member, dean or department chair.  A committee of Teaching Academy members reviews nominations and selects up to 10 new Teaching Academy members each year. Honorees this year (in alphabetical order) are: 

• Alissa Blair, assistant professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education and Health Professions. Blair, who teaches 100% online, has innovated in her online courses to provide more quality feedback to students. She has been awarded her college's Outstanding Teaching Award and the Rising Star Award. She has been recognized by her alma mater, Notre Dame University, with the Michael Pressley award for a promising future in research and academia. She has received the new faculty commendation for teaching development from the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. 
• Lance Cheramie, teaching assistant professor; Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Program; School of Human Environmental Sciences; Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Cheramie teaches a wide variety of classes for his department with a focus on technological tools. He is the recipient of the Paul Cronan Techology Teaching Award from the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, and, from his college, the Jack Justus Teaching Award of Excellence. He leads two student organizations in his department: the Fashion and Apparel Board and The Sustainability Fashion Club. 
• Brandon Crisel, advanced instructor, Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering. Crisel has refined courses in his department, including the incorporation of robotics into the curriculum. He has received a teaching award from his college for non-tenure track faculty members. He serves as a member of his department's undergraduate studies committee. 
• Aysa Galbraith, teaching associate professor, First-Year Engineering Program, College of Engineering. Galbraith teaches introductory courses for engineering students and leads the Honors Research Experience Course for the First-Year Engineering Program. She has earned the ACUE Certificate in Effective College Teaching. She has recently been appointed as a co-director to the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. 
• Rachel Glade, clinical professor, Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy, College of Education and Health Professions. Glade has developed multiple classes for her department, including an online certificate program for practicing speech language pathologists. She has received the Faculty Gold Medal from the Honors College. She has received the Di Brezzo Award for service to teaching from the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. She has also been recognized with an innovative teaching award from her college. 
• Alex Nelson, associate professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering. Nelson has developed two new graduate courses and taught several undergraduate courses for his department. He received the Arkansas Alumni Association's Faculty Achievement Rising Teaching Award. He serves as the assistant department head for student success for his department. He is the founding director of the EECS PRIME laboratory.   
• Meredith Neville-Shepard, assistant professor, Department of Communication, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Neville-Shepard has taught numerous courses in the Communications Department, including online courses through the Global Campus. She has received multiple Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center commendations for teaching development. She has been named an "Extraordinary Woman" by the Chancellor's Commission on Women for her mentorship of female students. She has also served on the All-University Academic Integrity Board. 
• Casey Owens, professor, Department of Poultry Science; Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Owens has developed and refined numerous courses in her discipline and is one of the leading educators in her field. She has developed courses for industry, K-12 education, FFA clubs and community colleges. She chairs curriculum and advising committees for her college with a focus on improving education for students. She advises and mentors graduate students in a hands-on lab environment and helps them in gaining employment. 
• Rocio Paez Ritter, teaching associate professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Ritter teaches all levels of sociology classes for her department and has mentored honors students. She is a Fulbright Master Teacher and has been awarded the Wally Cordes Chair Award from the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. She is also a recipient of teaching grants and has received several commendations for teaching development, both from the TFSC.   
• Heather Sprandel, instructor, Department of Management, Sam M. Walton College of Business. Sprandel has taught and developed numerous courses for her department and college. She has developed four study abroad courses to Rome, London and Dubai. She has received the Wally Cordes Chair Award from the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, along with a commendation for teaching remote/hybrid learning. From her college, she was awarded the Lecturer Excellence in Teaching Award. She has received the Collaborative Online International Learning Grant. She is also the faculty lead for the UAMS Executive Healthcare Leadership Institute. 

About the Teaching Academy: The Teaching Academy was established by Daniel Ferritor, the university's third chancellor, in 1988 and consists of faculty members who have been recognized by their peers, colleges and the university for excellence in teaching.  The Teaching Academy holds monthly meetings for its members, provides teaching resources and workshops, recognizes faculty for teaching excellence, and supports student learning initiatives across campus to further student success. For more information or to view a list of members, visit teaching-academy.uark.edu. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.