Twenty-four earn 2017 University Teaching Awards at Carolina

Twenty-four faculty members and teaching assistants have been named winners of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s 2017 University Teaching Awards. The recipients will be recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Pittsburgh on Jan. 31. Chancellor Carol L. Folt also will host a spring banquet to honor the winners in April.

The University Committee on Teaching Awards encouraged students to nominate deserving faculty and graduate teaching assistants for the awards and oversees the selection process. The committee chose recipients who promote the value of undergraduate teaching by example, demonstrate concern for students through interaction and approachability inside and outside the classroom, create meaningful learning experiences and maintain high expectations of their students.

“Rewarding student-teacher relationships are the foundation for success at our University,” said James W. Dean, Jr., executive vice chancellor and provost. “Carolina is always proud of its talented faculty, and it is especially satisfying when students help the University recognize the meaningful impact our teachers make to their lives.”

This year the committee recommended recipients for six types of awards, five for faculty and one for teaching assistants. The full list of winners follows:

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Jane Thrailkill won the Board of Governors’ Award for Teaching Excellence

Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching, Nominee

• Jane Thrailkill, department of English and comparative literature, College of Arts and Sciences

Distinguished Teaching Awards for Post-Baccalaureate Instruction

• Brian Rayala, department of family medicine, School of Medicine
• Marilyn Ghezzi, School of Social Work
• Jaime Arguello, School of Information and Library Science
• Gavin Smith, department of city and regional planning, College of Arts and Sciences

Tanner Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

• Mohammad Jarrahi, School of Information and Library Science
• Jennifer Gates-Foster, department of classics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Lillie Searles, department of biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Enrique Neblett, department of psychology and neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences
• Ken Lohmann, department of biology, College of Arts and Sciences

J. Carlyle Sitterson Award for Teaching First-Year Students

• William Race, department of classics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jillian Dempsey, department of chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement

• Gary Pielak, department of chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences; department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine

William C. Friday/Class of 1986 Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Charlie Wiss, department of psychology and neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences

The classics department's (from left) Will Begley, Jennifer Gates-Foster and William Race were among the teaching award winners.
The classics department’s (from left) Will Begley, Jennifer Gates-Foster and William Race were among the teaching award winners.

Johnston Teaching Excellence Awards

• Lorraine Cramer, department of microbiology and immunology, School of Medicine
• Marsha Penner, department of psychology and neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences

Chapman Family Teaching Awards

• Corey Johnson, department of biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Paul Friga, Kenan-Flagler Business School
• Banu Gokariksel, department of geography, College of Arts and Sciences

Tanner Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Graduate Teaching Assistants

• Will Begley, department of classics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Priscilla Vaz, department of geography, College of Arts and Sciences
• Zeliha Kilic, department of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Tamara Fakhoury, department of philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• Adam Smith, department of psychology and neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences

For more information about the University Teaching Awards, including details on eligibility requirements, funding and winner compensation for each award, go to: http://provost.unc.edu/teaching-awards/.

By Will Rimer, Office of University Communications
Published January 23, 2017