Ceremony also recognizes recipients of student academic awards
Hosted by the Provost’s Office, the 16th annual EMU Authors’ Reception and Awards Presentation on Thursday, April 17, recognized and celebrated the winners of the university’s Excellence in Teaching Awards. Professors Chad Gusler, Hannah Ferguson, and Hilary Moore were announced as this year’s recipients.
The award celebrates the outstanding teaching work of faculty in three categories: professors and associate professors, assistant professor and instructors, and adjunct faculty. Recipients were selected based on four criteria: impact on students, effective teaching practices, subject content knowledge, and continual growth, according to Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs at EMU, who presented the awards.
“Educating our students is our most important task, and these awards honor faculty members whose teaching not only imparts knowledge, but also transforms lives, embodies our mission and values, and most of all, advances what it means to be part of a peace and justice university,” Willingham said.
Chad Gusler
Associate professor of language & literature
Students remarked on Gusler’s passion for teaching and the creative ways he brings material to life. One student shared: “He captured our attention every day. We read a book that was so thought-provoking that it pushed us all to think beyond what we were used to. He connected the book to olive oil, and we had a tasting with crackers that was fun and interactive. Chad cares so deeply for his students and wants us all to succeed in and out of class.”
Hannah Ferguson
Assistant professor of nursing
Students spoke highly of Ferguson’s impact in the classroom. One student wrote about her ability to connect classroom content to real-life personal experiences, “which allows the material to feel real and not just a lecture slide.” Another student wrote that Ferguson is “always reassuring us of our capabilities as students and future nurses.”
Hilary Moore
Adjunct faculty in criminology and criminal justice
Students wrote passionately about Moore’s teaching abilities. One shared: “Her teaching style is straightforward and clear, ensuring we’re all well-prepared. Her exams are based on class discussions and lecture materials, reinforcing what we’ve learned in a fair and meaningful way.”
Members of the Faculty Senate, which facilitates the nomination and election process for the awards, handed out plaques to the recipients.
Student writing awards
The ceremony also recognized the winners of the First-Year Writing Awards, which are given to three first-year students for their “excellent research papers,” according to Dr. Mary Ann Zehr, director of the writing & communication program.
- First place: Nataly Almendarez Funez for “Emotional Intelligence: Influence in Academic Success.”
- Second place: Luke Buckwalter for “Bombs, Terrorists, and Automobiles: Stories of Tree Resilience Through Tragedy, and the Role of Much Needed Human Intervention.”
- Third place: Leah Blough for “Purls of Wisdom: What Knitters Want to Express.”
Student academic awards
The ceremony also honored the recipients of EMU’s student academic awards, which were presented by Daniel Ott, dean of the School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts and interim dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professions; and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of the School of Sciences, Engineering, Arts, and Nursing.
Awards for Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts
- History Student of the Year: Ella Brubaker
- Political Science Student of the Year: Meredith Lehman
- Outstanding Student in Music: Reah Clymer and Cassidy Williams
- Excellence in Music Performance: Thaddeus Jackson
- Excellence in Musical Leadership: Mikayla Pettus
Awards for Sciences, Engineering, Arts, and Nursing
- Outstanding Second-Year Biology Student: Zoe Clymer and Sophie Nguyen
- Outstanding Senior Biology Student: Meredith Lehman and Elaine Miranda Perez
- Excellence in Undergraduate Research: Aja Laun and Ethan Neufeld
- Natural Science Award for Exceptional Service: Ethan Neufeld and Adesola Johnson
- Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Student: Malachi Peachey-Stoner and Claire Reichenbach
- Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student: William Bartel and Kate Krabill
- Outstanding Senior in Engineering: Laura Benner
- Special Recognition in Engineering: Adam Stoltzfus
- Outstanding Senior Environmental Science Student: Allysen Welty Peachey
- Outstanding Senior in Computer Science: Kervens Hyppolite
- Outstanding Senior in Mathematics: Sarah Deputy and Marciella Shallomita
- Kryptos Codebreaking Contest winners: Mana Acosta, Laura Benner, and Renae Benner, who were awarded for Turing level achievement
- Judy H. Mullet Award for Psychology Internship Excellence: Rachel Tusing
- Galen R. Lehman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research in Psychology: Sarah Peak
Awards for Social Sciences and Professions
- Exceptional Service and Leadership in Business and Leadership: Caleb Chupp
- Outstanding Recreational and Sport Management Senior: Brendan Apgar
- Outstanding Business Administration Senior: Grace Fravel
- Outstanding Business Analytics Senior and the Leadership Award: Levi Myers
- Outstanding Accounting Senior: Isaac North-Sandel
- Outstanding Economics Senior and Outstanding Achievement in Business and Leadership: Garrett Nyce
- Outstanding Marketing Senior: Eli Ours
- Exceptional Research in Business and Leadership: Laney Cline
- The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding’s Academic Awards for 2025: Hannah Gilman, Josiah Ludwick, Mariana Meksimous, and Jacob Sankara
- The Virginia Scholars Award in Undergraduate Teacher Education: Erika Lopez
Authors’ Reception
In addition to the awards presentation, the event showcased the published scholarly works of faculty, staff, and students from the past two years. Featured faculty authors included: Kirsten Eve Beachy, Benjamin Bergey, Peter Bunton, Martha Green Eads, Paula Facci, Ryan Good, Benjamin Guerrero, Jim Leaman, Gaurav Pathania, Heike Peckruhn, Mark Sawin, Timothy Seidel, Ron Shultz, Andrew Suderman, Paul Yoder, and Mary Ann Zehr.
EMU student Jadon Harley performed saxophone music for the reception, which was held in University Commons at the Orie O. Miller Hall of Nations and in the Student Union.
Thanks to Clay Showalter for assisting with audiovisuals for the event and to the “three Jens”—Jennifer Ulrich, Jennifer North Bauman, and Jen Jones—and Debra Pardini for their role in coordinating aspects of the reception.
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