Ceremony also honors student writing and academic award winners
As part of its ninth annual Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival, EMU held its 17th annual Authors’ Reception and Award Presentation on Thursday. The ceremony, hosted by the Provost’s Office in Old Commons Grounds (University Commons 177), celebrated the university’s Excellence in Teaching Award winners.
The awards honor three outstanding educators who exemplify excellence in teaching across four dimensions: impact on students, effective teaching practices, subject knowledge, and continual growth. This year’s recipients are:
- Dr. Ryan Good (professor or associate professor category)
- Dr. Kathryn Howard-Ligas (assistant professor or instructor category)
- Kevin Carini (adjunct faculty category)
Dr. Ryan Good
Associate professor of urban studies and director of the EMU Washington Semester
Professor Good’s teaching extends far beyond the classroom. He invites students into the lived realities of Washington D.C., helping them critically engage issues of race, space, and inequality. His deep knowledge of the region, combined with intentional course design, creates transformative learning experiences. Students describe “eureka moments” that reshape how they understand the world and their place in it. Ryan is reflective in his teaching, constantly refining his approach, and deeply committed to his students’ academic, professional, and personal growth. Simply put, he is the heart of the program.
“Not only does he work hard to prepare lessons that get students to think critically about what they are seeing in the city, he brings the city to them,” a colleague wrote. “They visit key organizations and events so that they can experience the real D.C. and gain deep insights about this city’s issues and how residents are overcoming them.”
“Ryan is enthusiastic about Washington and all the lessons it has to offer young minds,” another colleague wrote. “He loves this place. And he helps students to fall for it as well. A good number of our alums end up staying here afterwards or returning at a later point to live and work here.”
“Ryan would be the first to say that teaching and learning is a dance, and he is only a partner in their process, but I would say that he lays down the right tune and tempo and steps for them to succeed,” wrote another.
Dr. Kathryn Howard-Ligas
Assistant professor of psychology
Students consistently speak to Professor Howard-Ligas’s dynamic presence in the classroom. Her ability to balance interactive learning with deep disciplinary knowledge makes her courses both engaging and accessible. Drawing on her background in theater, she brings energy and clarity to complex psychological concepts. More importantly, she is intentional about connection, ensuring students feel supported, seen, and able to succeed.
“I appreciate the ways Kathryn connects with her students and ensures they have the support they need,” a colleague wrote. “Kathryn has been a great addition to the psychology department and has felt like a steady presence during all the transitions that the psychology department has endured.”
“Dr. Ligas is the most energetic teacher I have ever come across,” a student wrote. “Early morning classes are not for the weak but she speaks with such enthusiasm that it keeps you engaged throughout the class. And I genuinely love how she makes us do a ton of group activities, which to me, are a great way to learn. She also has great mastery over psychology concepts and clears all confusion and doubts with absolute clarity.”
Kevin Carini
Adjunct faculty in natural sciences
Students describe Professor Carini as deeply caring, engaging, and committed to their success. Even in challenging moments, he meets students with understanding and encouragement. His classroom is one of respect and energy, where learning physics becomes interactive, creative, and even joyful. Whether incorporating students into problem-solving or bringing humor into complex concepts, he creates an environment where students feel both challenged and supported.
“He takes time to listen and actually wants to see us succeed,” one student wrote. “In the classroom, he always incorporates the students into learning by writing his own problems with our names in them or making silly noises while crossing out variables to keep us interested and focused. He brings a positive and enthusiastic attitude to the classroom and EMU.”
In addition to the teaching awards, Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, recognized three faculty members who reached significant milestones at EMU this year:
- Dr. Hongtao Li has been awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor
- Dr. Timothy Seidel has been promoted to full professor
- Dr. Kristopher Schmidt has been promoted to full professor
Student writing awards
The ceremony recognized recipients of EMU’s First-Year Writing Awards, given to first-year students for their “excellent research papers.” The recipients are:
- First place: Ash Dixon for “The Environmental and Economic Effects of Fast Fashion”
- Second place: Monica Ehrenfels for “Assessing the 15-Minute City: Walkability in Modern Urban Spaces”
- Third place (tie): Malia Yoder for “Protecting our Forests: The Fight Against Deforestation” and Joshua Henkel for “AI Among Students”
Student academic awards
The winners of EMU’s student academic awards were also announced at the event. Dr. Michael Horst, dean of Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences, and the Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, presented the awards.
Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences
- The Judy H. Mullet Award for Psychology Internship Excellence: Hollyn Miller
- The Galen R. Lehman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research in Psychology: Lauren Kauffman and Leah Frankenfield
- Outstanding Second-Year Biology Student: Malachi Peachey-Stoner
- Outstanding Senior Biology Student: Maria Longenecker
- Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research: Maria Longenecker
- Natural Sciences Award for Exceptional Service: Sophia Nguyen and Dulce Shenk Zeager
- Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Student: Lisa Zimmerman and Mara Zimmerman
- Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student: Ethan Neufeld
- Outstanding Senior in Engineering: Levi Stutzman
- Outstanding Senior Environmental Science Student: Madelynn Hamm and Jenna Oostland
- Outstanding Senior in Computer Science: Rebekah Copeland
- Outstanding Senior in Mathematics: Katie Tanous
Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Music
- Outstanding Student in Music: Naomi Kratzer and Eli Stoll
- Excellence in Musical Leadership: Jacob Nissley
Business and Leadership
- Outstanding Business Administration Senior: Sarah Prroj
- Outstanding Business Analytics Senior: Erik Wilkinson
- Outstanding Accounting Senior: Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Fadi Michael
- Outstanding Marketing Senior: Zazkia De la Vega
- Exceptional Research in Business and Leadership: Roumany Sefin
- Exceptional Service Award: Zazkia De la Vega
- Exceptional Leadership Award: Ben Knutsson
Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
- CatiAdele Slater for the dedicated organizing work as a graduate assistant, particularly the D.C. field trip
- Hannah Gilman for the innovative work advancing peacebuilding and conflict transformation tools in education through your practicum
- Toya Fernandez for the innovative work on restorative justice and racial healing, particularly bringing the Sankofa Circles to EMU
- Mercy Francis-Harris for your dedicated, thoughtful and quality work in all your classes
- Tyler Stanley for the dedicated work developed in all your classes, particularly PAX 509
Undergraduate Teacher Education
- Virginia Scholars Award in Undergraduate Teacher Education: Arelys Martinez Fabian
Authors’ Reception
The event showcased faculty and student scholarly works published since Jan. 1, 2025. Featured authors included:
Faculty
Ann Schaeffer, associate professor of nursing; James M. Yoder, professor of biology; Bryce Van Vleet, assistant professor of psychology; Mary Ann Zehr, assistant professor of rhetoric and composition; Wendell J. Shank, instructor of Spanish; Carol Grace Hurst, associate professor of social work; David F. Evans, professor of history and intercultural studies; Jacob Alan Cook, assistant professor of Christian ethics; Doug Graber Neufeld, professor of biology; Kathryn Mansfield, adjunct faculty for Center for Justice and Peacebuilding; Stephanie Day Powell, assistant professor of Hebrew bible; Timothy Seidel, associate professor of community and international development; Mark Metzler Sawin, professor of history; Debbi DiGennaro, instructor of social work; Heike Peckruhn, associate professor of religious studies; Jeff Copeland, professor of biology; Paula Ditzel Facci, assistant professor of peacebuilding; Dr. Cherelle Johnson, instructor of business and leadership; Benjamin Bergey, associate professor of music; Mary Sprunger, professor of history; Daniel Showalter, professor of mathematics; Benjamin J. Guerrero, assistant professor of music; and Steven David Johnson, professor of Visual and Communication Arts.
Students
Ash Dixon, first-year psychology major; Monica Ehrenfels, first-year music major; Joshua Henkel, first-year sociology major; and Malia Yoder, first-year natural sciences major; as well as the authors and artists of The Phoenix (2025), which was edited by Alexis Lewis and Zoey Mongold.
First-year student Monica Ehrenfels and junior Micah Wenger, both music and peacebuilding majors, provided music for the authors’ reception.
Photos by Aric Berg and Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting
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