Campus News
Celebrating innovative and creative teaching
Since 1996, the Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with the chancellor has been recognizing and celebrating instructors for their Excellence in Teaching.
The Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with Chancellor Larive celebrated UC Santa Cruz’s innovative and dedicated teachers with a gathering at the Cowell Provost House in early June.
Since 1996, our campus has been recognizing and celebrating instructors for their Excellence in Teaching. This recognition at the highest level promotes and illuminates the long tradition of innovative and creative teaching at UC Santa Cruz and its central importance to the university’s mission.
Annually, the committee receives approximately 450 student nominations and selects 7-10 instructors. The student comments about the impact their excellent pedagogical practices have had on their lives were inspiring for COT to read. This year, the Committee on Teaching celebrated the 2023-24 and 2024-25 recipients. The COT appreciates their contribution to the important mission of teaching on our campus and is grateful for the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments.
2023-24 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
Lisa Berkley, Continuing Lecturer, Crown College
“Dr. Berkley is kind and considerate. She truly heard all of her students and taught us how to establish boundaries and exist as humans in a respectful but groundbreaking way.”
Carolyn Dean, Distinguished Professor, History of Art and Visual Culture Department
“Every culture is presented as equal, and in a class that covers three geographical areas, this was very nice to hear. Her passion helped to remind me why I am within this field”
Barun Dhar, Lecturer, Physics Department.
“The most important lessons Dhar taught in every class were to show up, always be present, shoot for the stars, and believe in yourself. I’ve never felt like a professor saw my potential as much as Dr. Dhar did.”
Abdelrahman Elfikky, Teaching Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
“He genuinely cares for each of his students and his discussion sections were insanely good. He is truly the most knowledgeable, caring, and professional TA I have ever had in my four years at UCSC.”
Sakae Fujita, Lecturer, Languages and Applied Linguistics
“Professor Fujita always came to class with a positive energy that was infectious among us students. She also relied upon and utilized her own personal experience to offer a unique and insightful perspective that greatly enhanced her instruction.”
Samantha Gorman, Assistant Professor, Computational Media Department
“Have you ever left a conversation feeling as though your conceptual sense of the world has shifted on its axis? Every class of Professor Gorman’s had this quality. She is filling a very unique role bridging arts and engineering pedagogy in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
Pedro Morales-Almazan, Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics Department (also Ron Ruby recipient)
“Pedro always valued mental wellbeing first, incorporating mindfulness and comedy into his lessons. Overall, an amazing professor who helps make the college experience for undergraduate students so memorable as he always goes above and beyond for all of his students. He truly embodies the idea of never leaving any students to fall behind.”
Naya Jones , Assistant Professor, Sociology Department
“Dr. Jones is an artist in the craft of teaching. She is humane, normalized different ways of knowing, and is impactful as a cultural worker. I am telling you, Dr. Jones is a gem and we are fortunate to have her as one of our instructors.”
2024-25 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
Alex Rudnick, Lecturer, Computer Science and Engineering Department
“I was so scared to take this class, but his engaging teaching has single-handedly reinvigorated my love for computer science.”
Robert Hingtgen, Lecturer, Mathematics Department
“The course was very engaging and was a great educator. Made me fall in love with the subject. Prof. Bob is the GOAT!”
Kathleen Perry, Continuing Lecturer, Arts Department
“Katie has been the best instructor I have ever had. She helped me finally take myself seriously as a photographer, and grow and develop as an artist.”
Maria Gonzalez Pagani, Teaching Professor, Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
“She brings energy and enthusiasm to her teaching, making the material come alive. Thanks to her, I’ve developed a true passion for language and communication.”
James Doucet-Battle, Associate Professor, Sociology Department
“Dr. Doucet-Battle expertly crafted a container for vulnerable class discussions, keeping us engaged and invested. I’m so grateful for our professor’s mentorship.”
Jennifer Gonzalez, Professor, History of Art and Visual Culture Department
“Dr. Gonzalez encouraged us to think in ways that challenged our assumptions while also acknowledging the positionality that we each brought to the table. I learned so much.”
Abe Borker, Assistant Teaching Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department
“Abe’s compassion and dedication to his students is something I will hold dear for a long time.”
Dean Mathiowetz, Associate Professor, Politics Department
“The knowledge I gained from having such a passionate, knowledgeable teacher like Professor Mathiowetz is a gift I hope to give to others someday.”
In addition to celebrating the Excellence in Teaching awards, COT also awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award. Based on nominations from faculty and colleagues, this award acknowledges pedagogical contributions that include but also go beyond any one course, in addition to recognizing an instructor who has made significant contributions to educational equity within and beyond UC Santa Cruz. Nathan Altice, an associate teaching professor in the Computational Media Department, was awarded the 2023-24. His lecture on May 15th can be viewed here.
This year’s recipient for the Distinguished Teaching Award is the 2024-25 recipient is Laurie Palmer, a full professor in the Art Department. We are looking forward to this event in the 2025-26 academic year during the Senate and the Teaching and Learning Center’s Teaching Week collaboration in February!