Collegiate Teaching Awards are given each year to faculty who demonstrate outstanding performance in the classroom, laboratory, or studio. They are recognized by their peers for stimulating and satisfying students' desire to learn, developing innovative and effective methods of presenting the most current and exciting knowledge in their disciplines, and fostering productive and generous mentoring relationships with individual students. The award winners are chosen by the CLAS Collegiate Teaching Award Committee.
2022-2023
Fred Boehmke
Fred Boehmke is a professor and Marvin and Rose Lee Pomerantz Chair in the Department of Political Science. He teaches the most challenging courses in political science that cover quantitative, statistical, and data analytics approaches to studying politics. In addition to teaching, Boehmke makes himself available to students—meeting frequently to talk through questions and materials. He also serves as a mentor outside the classroom and regularly serves on dissertation committees. His commitment to quality teaching and mentoring are all happening while 80 percent of his time is reserved for directing the Iowa Social Science Research Center.
Mariola Espinosa
Mariola Espinosa is an associate professor in the Department of History. She teaches a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses covering the history of medicine and Latin American history. Many of her courses serve students across disciplines, not just those in her home department. Her expertise in the history of medicine and disease was especially timely during the pandemic, giving students a unique opportunity to study the historical perspective of public health crises while one was unfolding in real-time. Espinosa is frequently asked to deliver guest lectures for other areas at the University of Iowa and outside institutions, including the University of Wisconsin and The Ohio State University. She is an encouraging mentor to students of all backgrounds, including many first-generation students.
Ray Fagenbaum
Ray Fagenbaum is an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Health and Human Physiology. This is the largest department in the college, serving more than 2,200 undergraduate majors and nearly 100 graduate students. Five of the department's six majors require introductory and upper-level lectures and labs in human anatomy and human physiology. Fagenbaum has been pivotal in the development and delivery of those courses. The department has experienced exponential growth over the last decade, and Fagenbaum has kept up with extraordinary demand for courses and developed hybrid and virtual course options, even before the pandemic. In addition to his traditional courses, he has offered an international medicine study abroad course over the winter session in India and the Dominican Republic. He is also a valued mentor of students, meeting regularly with them.
Cynthia Farthing
Cynthia Farthing is an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Mathematics. Her work to redesign MATH 1005: College Algebra as well as her involvement in other introductory courses has benefited large, intro courses across the college. Her work has reduced anxiety among students by allowing them to retake exams and demonstrate they’ve learned the materials. Her redesign work has also resulted in higher grades and lower drop rates, especially among URM students. Among those who took her course instead of placing directly into downstream courses, those students also had more success, especially those more at risk. In addition to her teaching, she is a dedicated mentor and advisor, supervising about 40 teaching assistants and serving as a faculty supervisor for the Iowa Math Club and UI Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics.
Brady G’Sell
Brady G’Sell is an assistant professor in the Departments of Anthropology and Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies. G’Sell teaches a variety of courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels, including a GE requirement for diversity and inclusion, while also directing several honors theses and independent studies, along with serving on doctoral committees. Her courses and mentoring have been crucial in creating learning communities that emphasize justice and the public good with a focus on individuals and groups that have historically been excluded. Her courses provide students with invaluable training that develops their analytical skills, conceptual clarity, and global perspectives.
Irene Lottini
Irene Lottini is a lecturer in the Department of French and Italian. During her time at Iowa, she has developed innovative courses that are popular among students learning linguistics and analytical skills. She teaches Italian language, literature in Italian, and general education courses. She recently received a $4,000 grant to redesign the elementary Italian course and has developed new materials that have been incorporated into her instruction. Additionally, she has designed several popular culture courses that teach students to think critically. Her course The Mafia and the Movies: Defying the Myth routinely has a waitlist of more than 100 people.
2021-2022
Emily Finzel
Dr. Emily Finzel has connected with and helped develop her students through innovative teaching practices. Her technique of flipping her classroom in which students review lectures outside of class and then actively engage with the course material during class time demonstrates teaching best practices and strengthens student learning. Her ability to facilitate in-depth conversations, instill confidence, and relate her teachings to the real world makes her more than deserving of this award.
Robert Franciscus
Dr. Robert Franciscus has dedicated his time to being a guiding and highly influential figure to many of his students. His patience, knowledge, and experience has led many of his graduate students to pursue PhDs and work toward tenure-track professorships at their respective universities. His ability to translate personal experience and mentor students in working toward their academic goals demonstrates Dr. Franciscus’ teaching excellence.
Sara Mitchell
Dr. Sara Mitchell has shown her teaching abilities and expertise in her discussion-based classrooms which provide incentives for participation and allow students to feel heard. Her mentorship spans from undergraduates to PhD students and has been invaluable to her students’ education both in and beyond the classroom. She not only supports academic development but also the development of transferrable skills.
Elizabeth Yale
Dr. Elizabeth Yale sets her classroom apart through her encouragement of discovery and questioning. Through this practice she creates an environment that fosters inquisitive learning. Her passion and creativity help each of her students to look at the world through new lenses. She has been a leader in updating and adjusting courses to better suit current student needs. Her extensive knowledge supports her mentorship of students with a variety of majors.
Giovanni Zimotti
Dr. Giovanni Zimotti has brought innovation to the classroom with his emphasis on student empowerment and recognition. He serves as a mentor to many ranging from undergraduates to Teaching Assistants. He has created new course materials to better suit student needs, including developing fully online courses even prior to the pandemic. He is an accomplished scholar that improves curriculum with his rich creativity.