Center for Teaching and Learning Recognizes Sciences Faculty for Educational Excellence

Sunday, April 3, 2022

Georgia Tech’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is recognizing College of Sciences faculty members for their excellence in teaching during the 2021-2022 school year.

41 College of Sciences faculty have won Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: CIOS Awards based on student evaluations during the annual Course Instructor Opinion Survey (CIOS). Eight faculty are the recipients of CTL Faculty Teaching Awards.

The CIOS honors, given for the full calendar year, are based on student-provided CIOS responses about their instructor's “respect and concern for students, level of enthusiasm about teaching the course, and ability to stimulate interest in the subject matter.”

“It's impressive to see the many ways that faculty in the College of Sciences are contributing to student learning at Georgia Tech,” says Joyce Weinsheimer, CTL director. “The College’s award-winning teachers are excelling in the classroom, laboratory instruction, co-curricular education, online teaching, academic outreach, and the scholarship of teaching. They are providing exciting learning environments and experiences to students on our campus and beyond.”

College of Sciences recipients of the “2022 Faculty Teaching Awards” include:

CTL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award 

Neha Garg, assistant professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Faculty Award for Academic Outreach 

James R. Sowell, principal academic professional, School of Physics, and director of the Georgia Tech Observatory

Geoffrey G. Eichholz Faculty Teaching Award 

Michael Evans, First-year Chemistry Laboratory coordinator, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Christie N. Stewart, senior academic professional, School of Biological Sciences

Innovation and Excellence in Laboratory Instruction Award 

Christy O’Mahony, laboratory coordinator for Analytical and Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Innovation in Co-Curricular Education 

Jake D. Soper, associate professor and associate chair for Operations, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award 

Emily G. Weigel, senior academic professional, School of Biological Sciences

Teaching Excellence Award for Online Teaching 

Michael Evans, First-year Chemistry Laboratory coordinator, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

College of Sciences faculty honored with “Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: CIOS Awards” include:

Small Classes:

Gary (Michael) Lavigne, visiting assistant professor, School of Mathematics; and assistant director of Communication, Education and Outreach for the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology

Dan Margalit, professor, School of Mathematics

Melinda (Mindy) Millard-Stafford, professor, School of Biological Sciences

Large Classes:

Meghan Babcock, academic professional and lecturer, School of Psychology

Dobromir (Doby) Rahnev, associate professor, School of Psychology

College of Sciences “Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: Honor Roll” Awardees:

Small Classes:

School of Biological Sciences Joel Kostka, professor and associate chair of Research; Lin Jiang, professor; Melinda (Mindy) Millard-Stafford, professor; Emily Weigel, senior academic professional

School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences — Sven Simon, associate professor;  Samantha Wilson, academic professional; James Wray, associate professor

School of MathematicsNeha Gupta, academic professional and director of Scheduling; Gary (Michael) Lavigne, visiting assistant professor, School of Mathematics; and assistant director of Communication, Education and Outreach for the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology; Dan Margalit, professor; John Olinde, Ph.D. student

NeuroscienceTimothy Cope, professor

School of PsychologyLizanne DeStefano, professor and  Center for Education Integrating Science, Math, and Computing (CEISMC) executive director; Ruth Kanfer, professor; Dianne Leader, lecturer

Large Classes:

School of Biological SciencesAdam Decker, senior academic professional and director of Anatomical Sciences; Colin Harrison, senior academic professional; Emily Weigel, senior academic professional

School of Chemistry and BiochemistryAmit Reddi, associate professor; J. Cameron Tyson, principal academic professional and College of Sciences assistant dean for Academic Programs

School of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesHeather Chilton, remote laboratory support;  Zachary Handlos, academic professional

School of MathematicsNeha Gupta, academic professional and director of Scheduling; Sung Ha Kang, professor; Siddhi Krishna, former NSF Research Training Groups (RTG) postdoctoral associate; Miriam Kuzbary, NSF postdoctoral fellow; Gary (Michael) Lavigne, visiting assistant professor, School of Mathematics; and assistant director of Communication, Education and Outreach for the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology; Michael Loss, professor; Gregory Mayer, academic professional and director of Online Learning

NeuroscienceChristina Ragan, lecturer and director of Outreach for the B.S. in Neuroscience program; Alonzo Whyte, academic professional, advisor for the Health and Medical Sciences (HMED) Minor, and director of Academic Advising for the B.S. in Neuroscience program

School of Psychology Meghan Babcock, academic professional;  Dianne Leader, lecturer; Dobromir (Doby) Rahnev, associate professor; Christopher Stanzione, senior lecturer, associate chair for Undergraduate Studies in Psychology; Christopher Weise, assistant professor 

Learn more about the Center for Teaching and Learning at Georgia Tech.

Media Contact: 

Writer: Renay San Miguel
Communications Officer II/Science Writer
College of Sciences
404-894-5209

Editor: Jess Hunt-Ralston