Graduate students recognized for excellence in teaching
Eighteen graduate teaching assistants in the University of Georgia's College of Education were recently recognized by the Office of the Vice President for Instruction and the Graduate School for their significant contributions to the instructional mission of the university.
Meghan Barnes, a teaching assistant in the department of language and literacy education, was one of five students to receive the 2017 Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award.
Barnes currently teaches a writing course for pre-service teachers in the English education program and has also taught courses in Planning and Instruction and International Perspectives on Interracial Communications, a class offered to students studying abroad.
"My students consistently challenge me to think more critically about teaching, to consider new perspectives and to think of new ways to grow as a teacher," said Barnes, a fourth-year doctoral student in English education. "It's been an absolute joy to work with so many talented, creative and intelligent students."
Always evolving, Barnes remains flexible to the needs and interests of her students while seeking out new resources to support student learning. She is interested in the development of pre-service English teachers—specifically their perception of the role communities should play in teaching—and often holds class at local community centers and high schools.
Ashley Fallaize, kinesiology; Rachel Cagliani, communication sciences and special education; and Jessica Kobe, educational theory and practice, were also nominated for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award.
In addition to Barnes' recognition, 14 College of Education students were named Outstanding Teaching Assistants for 2017. A total of 134 students were recognized by the university.
The 2017 Outstanding Teaching Award honorees from the College include:
- Rachel Cagliani, communication sciences and special education
- Wen-Hao (Winston) Chou, kinesiology
- James Coda, language and literacy education
- Nicole Hoffman, kinesiology
- Casey Hollibaugh, kinesiology
- Sophia Jeong, mathematics and science education
- Sung Eun Jung, educational theory and practice
- Oguz Koklu, mathematics and science education
- Hwa Young Lee, mathematics and science education
- Larry McCalla, career and information studies
- Matthew Moulton, educational theory and practice
- Thomas Novak, kinesiology
- Rachel Sanders, language and literacy education
- Xiaoying Zhao, educational theory and practice
The Center for Teaching and Learning administers the Outstanding Teaching Award, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, as well as the Excellence in Teaching Award, sponsored by the Graduate School.