Trinity College of Arts & Sciences faculty who have won teaching, service, mentoring and research awards.

• Dean's Diversity Award
• Dean's Leadership Award
• David and Janet Vaughan Brooks Award
• Robert B. Cox Award
• Howard D. Johnson Award
• Richard K. Lublin Award
• Award for Excellence in Advising
• Award for Excellence in Teaching Writing
• Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (ADUTA)
• University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award
• Teaching with Technology Award
• Dean's Distinguished Service Award
• Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

Dean's Diversity Award

Nayoung Aimee Kwon, Associate Professor, Asian & Middle Eastern Studies

From colleagues: “She has ardently voiced the urgency of addressing the needs and concerns of the rapidly diversifying and internationalizing body of students on Duke campus, and thereby contributed to putting the issues on a variety of institutional platforms.”

“As a scholar/intellectual committed to social and racial justice as well as in her capacity as the Director of Asian American Studies Programs, Prof. Kwon responded to recent situations of sensitive language, culture and race issues surfacing in various departments with great conviction and determination."

“What is most impressive about Aimee’s contribution to the Duke community is her vision and leadership in promoting conversations around what needs to change fundamentally at Duke.”

Dean's Leadership Award

This award recognizes a group of people or an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership to the department, college or university through research, teaching or service. All faculty and staff of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences are eligible for the award. The winning team will share a prize of $5,000.

Evaluation criteria:

• makes a distinctive contribution to research, teaching or service
• reflects effective teamwork
• extends relationships within and across departments, programs, the school or the university
• contributes to a group effort that has significant impact

Antonio Viego, Associate Professor, Literature

From colleagues: “Viego’s professional commitment, dedication, and generosity as a key department officer are legendary. He is extraordinarily generous with his time. I can attest to how frequently he meets with students, including majors, minors, and all those who are considering taking our courses or becoming affiliated with Global Cultural Studies.”

“His zealous application to his job goes beyond just the parameters of what is immediately needed for the students’ graduation; instead, it extends to advising them on how to plan for a successful future after they have left Duke, how to navigate difficult decisions about their current and future career tracks, and how to overcome obstacles that complicate their overall happiness as young scholars.”

“I have heard many students describe Professor Viego as the mentor that saved their Duke experience. I have seen firsthand the effect his support and guidance has made in their academic development and belief in themselves.”

From students: “Antonio connected the dots for me, he made the words on the paper come to life, and he nourished my ability to do the same with my own words. Under his direction, I was at my best: the most you can say of any leader.”

“He makes difficult material accessible to students of all levels and strives to illuminate (and succeeds in doing so) the real-world consequences of academic inquiry.”

David and Janet Vaughan Brooks Award

Susan Rodger, Professor of the Practice, Computer Science

From colleagues: “She is passionate about undergraduate teaching, research, and mentoring, and increasing the diversity of students enrolled in computer science not only at Duke but also at the national level. She is an effective, creative, and caring educator and mentor."

From students: “She taught a really great class that — decades later — still stands out as being full of interesting activities, assignments, and other interventions that were really ahead of their time for pedagogical techniques such as active learning.”

“Working with Dr. Rodger undoubtedly provided me a world class opportunity to grow through engaging in high-quality research.”

“I believe that she is an educator who teaches with passion and innovation, who cares about her students as persons, who mentors prospective computer scientists, and who inspires women in computing.”

Robert B. Cox Award

Kevin Welsher, Assistant Professor, Chemistry

From colleagues: “Kevin has demonstrated a continuous and concerted commitment to teaching at all levels. It is in our Physical Chemistry (PChem) undergraduate sequence that Kevin’s unique style and student-focused approaches has been most impactful."

“Kevin has found the right model for classroom success by thinking outside of the proverbial box. PChem courses are well known for their demanding workload and intensity. It is clear that Kevin’s intentional connection with students is part of what helps students access the technically challenging content of PChem.”

“Kevin has been an exemplary course instructor, undergraduate advisor and research mentor, and as such serves as a model for all of our faculty.”

From students: “This class is difficult but Dr. Welsher makes everything worth it.” and “Dr. Welsher renewed my passion for chemistry.”

“Professor Welsher is an excellent instructor. He explains very difficult concepts in a clear and concise manner.”

“Dr. Welsher did an incredible job teaching the material. He was extremely helpful during office hours and wanted the best for all of the students in the class.”

Howard D. Johnson Award

D. Sunshine Hillygus, Professor, Political Science

From colleagues: “What really sets her apart…is the intimate connection she has created and fostered between her research and her teaching. It is not easy to translate research work in social sciences into the classroom. Dr. Hillygus has shown that it is not only possible, but that such research activity for students can take the entire educational enterprise to another level.”

“Dr. Hillygus always gets perfect or near-perfect scores on the “welcoming and inclusive class environment” question because her approach is so collaborative. Her evaluations for quality of instruction and quality of courses range from 4.0 to 4.5 or better, and her courses are consistently full of students eager to work with her.”

From students: “It was fun to be able to engage in some of Dr. Hillygus' research. I worked on the interview side of things and enjoyed running the interviews. I'm glad I took this course at it helped me to begin to synthesize and consider what political science research looks like, and how/if I may or may not wish to conduct research in the future.”

Richard K. Lublin Award

Deborah Reisinger, Associate Professor of the Practice, Romance Studies

From colleagues: “Several keywords recur time and time again when one things of professor Reisinger and what she has done here at Duke: vision, imagination, innovation, experimentation, transformation, interdisciplinary, and intercultural. She has found creative ways to integrate all the core missions of the university – research, education, and community engagement.”

“Characterized by constant innovation, commitment to social engagement, and by its international, multilinguistic dimension, her ability to engender passion for languages and their study in her students is unique.”

Award for Excellence in Advising

The Award for Excellence in Advising, first presented in 2007, honors faculty and staff advisers who have helped guide undergraduates in the first two years at Duke.

David Malone, Professor of the Practice, Education

From students: “David always made himself super accessible. He always was interested in how I was doing at Duke, what I am passionate about as a person, and my involvement on campus.”

“He is incredibly receptive to listening and advising.  He cares about me as a human being, not just as a student, which is refreshing.  He was always willing to connect me to people who could help me.”

Lee Sorensen, Reference Librarian, University Libraries

From students: “Lee takes a genuine interest in getting to know his advisees and looking out for their best interest.  We didn’t just talk about school and classes; Lee always wanted to check up on how I was doing as a person and not just as a student.”

“Lee was extremely knowledgeable and helpful whenever I had any questions. Lee always brightens your day, and he is always helpful. I could not have asked for a better advisor.”

Award for Excellence in Teaching Writing

Marion Quirici, Lecturing Fellow, Thompson Writing Program

From colleagues: “The committee was very impressed by Marion’s course design, with the ways she scaffolds writing projects into stages, facilitates strong peer feedback, and invites students to see how their writing can make a difference.”

From students: “This teacher is AMAZING – so nice, so knowledgeable, and helpful. I highly recommend…any class taught by Professor Quirici.” Others said she “made me enjoy writing even more,” and “my writing improved a lot in her class as a result of very clear, skill-building activities.”

“I find myself applying the many discussions we have had not only to the other classes I am taking, but to everyday life as well.”

Award recipient names are maintained on the Thompson Writing Program website at this URL: http://twp.duke.edu/faculty/excellence-awards

Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (ADUTA)

Leonard White, Associate Professor, Psychology & Neuroscience

From students: "Dr. White goes above and beyond his duties as a lecturer. I truly believe he spends as much time preparing for his rigorous class sessions every week as his students, and he possesses a wealth of neuroscientific knowledge that is unmatched by that of anyone else I have ever met."

“Dr. White changed the way I think about the brain and about my own humanity…He absolutely promotes intellectual curiosity through his own love of the human brain, and his class inspired me to do all I can to delve deeper into learning about the organ that makes us who we are.”

"Rather than calling assessments 'tests' or 'quizzes,' Dr. White prefers the term 'readiness assurances.' He is the only professor I've had who assesses students not to see how well they've learned the material, but to see how well they can APPLY their knowledge to real-life situations and have fun while doing it. Dr. White values team learning above all else, and the fact that his course is team-based allows every student to come forward with his/her strengths and build off those of their peers. He is of the opinion that no question is too simple or obvious to discuss, and this commitment of his to building his students into the best scholars they can be is something I find quite remarkable."

Award recipient names are maintained on the Duke Alumni Associate website at this URL: https://alumni.duke.edu/awards-0

University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award

Teaching with Technology Award

This award, co-sponsored by the Center for Instructional Technology, recognizes teaching excellence with a significant technology component. The faculty winner will receive a $5,000 prize. The award is open to all faculty who teach Trinity College of Arts & Sciences undergraduates.

Evaluation criteria:

• uses technology with a focus on student learning and engagement
• collaborates and shares innovative aspects of the teaching experience to the broader community
• assesses the impact of student learning

Dean's Distinguished Service Award

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award