Recognizing Great Teachers
The College bestows teaching awards on scholars for their excellence in the classroom
Each year, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences recognizes a number of faculty members and graduate students for their excellence as undergraduate teachers.
The most senior of the tenure-line faculty chosen to receive Weinberg College Distinguished Teaching Awards receives the E. LeRoy Hall Award. In addition, two more Distinguished Teaching Awards — the Arts and Sciences Alumni Teaching Awards — are reserved for members of the teaching-track faculty.
The Award for Excellence in Mentoring in Undergraduate Research, meanwhile, is given to a faculty member who exhibited particular skills in and dedication to mentoring undergraduate students engaged in research. The College also recognizes graduate students who excelled as teaching assistants.
This year’s winners include:
The Weinberg College E. LeRoy Hall Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Helen Thompson, associate professor of English. Thompson teaches 18th century British literature, philosophy and history of science. She is also an affiliate of the Gender and Sexuality Studies program, where she teaches feminist theory and second-wave feminism. As an offshoot of her interest in second-wave feminism, Thompson hopes to undertake a study of second-wave representations of utopian corporeality. She was also named to the 2015 Associated Student Government faculty honor roll.
Distinguished Teaching Award
- T. David Harris, assistant professor of chemistry. In his laboratory, Harris employs a coordination chemistry approach to develop functional inorganic molecules and materials. His students are able to receive training in designing and preparing molecular complexes and in investigating compounds using techniques such as X-ray crystallography, magnetometry and spectroscopy.
- Héctor Carrillo, associate professor of sociology and gender and sexuality Studies. Carrillo’s research looks at the sociology of sexuality, health promotion, HIV/AIDS prevention, and transnationalism through a lens of Latino ethnicity and culture. Currently, he is studying the intersections of sexuality, migration and health, specifically investigating the phenomenon of “sexual migration.” Most recently, he completed a study of the sexualities of straight-identified men who are sexually attracted to both women and men.
- Jens Koch, associate professor of physics and astronomy. In the laboratory, Koch is interested in theoretical condensed matter physics. Koch explores the exciting prospects of applying quantum circuit devices as artificial atoms in quantum computation and optics. His second research thrust focuses on larger array systems composed of Josephson junction-based circuits and superconducting microwave resonators.
Arts and Sciences Alumni Teaching Awards
- Fadia Antabli, assistant professor of instruction, Middle East and North African Studies. Antabli, a 2015-2016 Searle Fellow, came to Weinberg College with extensive experience in adult education and information technology instruction at the American Embassy in Amman, Jordan. Her research focuses on educational theories and communicative approaches to learning, as well as Arabic literature and Islamic civilization and culture. Her recent research reflects on best classroom practices: “A Constructivist Approach to Learning: Classroom Practices for the Arabic Language Class.”
- Joel Colom-Mena, assistant professor of instruction, Spanish and Portuguese. Colom-Mena earned his M.A. at Loyola University. He currently teaches introductory and intermediate courses in Spanish and courses on contemporary Spain, as well as courses on human rights in Latin America.
Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research
- SonBinh Nguyen, professor of chemistry. Nguyen’s research encompasses three divisions in chemical science: inorganic/organometallic chemistry, organic synthesis and polymer science. His lab also investigates environmentally friendly catalysis and biomaterials. Nguyen was also the recipient of Weinberg’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002 and 2003.
- Paul Goerss, professor of mathematics. Goerss has a particular interest in researching stable homotopy theory and spectra. He is currently serving as chair of the mathematics department. In the past, he has taught intermediate mathematics classes as well as differential equations classes that required written reports on computer-based projects.
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards
- Nicole Looper (Department of Mathematics)
- Salma al-Shami (Department of Political Science)
- Ruth Martin (Program in Comparative Literary Studies)
- Kevin Kelly (Department of Physics and Astronomy)