{"id":58751,"date":"2025-04-22T15:32:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T19:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=58751"},"modified":"2025-04-24T17:45:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T21:45:49","slug":"2025-excellence-in-teaching-awards-celebrate-faculty-members-exemplary-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/2025-excellence-in-teaching-awards-celebrate-faculty-members-exemplary-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Excellence in Teaching Awards celebrate faculty members\u2019 exemplary performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ceremony also recognizes recipients of student academic awards<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by the Provost\u2019s Office, the 16th annual EMU Authors\u2019 Reception and Awards Presentation on Thursday, April 17, recognized and celebrated the winners of the university\u2019s Excellence in Teaching Awards. Professors Chad Gusler,<\/strong> Hannah Ferguson, <\/strong>and Hilary Moore<\/strong> were announced as this year’s recipients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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,<\/strong> provost and vice president of academic affairs at EMU, who presented the awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducating 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,\u201d Willingham said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chad Gusler<\/strong>
Associate professor of language & literature<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students remarked on Gusler\u2019s passion for teaching and the creative ways he brings material to life. One student shared: \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hannah Ferguson<\/strong>
Assistant professor of nursing<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students spoke highly of Ferguson\u2019s impact in the classroom. One student wrote about her ability to connect classroom content to real-life personal experiences, \u201cwhich allows the material to feel real and not just a lecture slide.\u201d Another student wrote that Ferguson is \u201calways reassuring us of our capabilities as students and future nurses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hilary Moore<\/strong>
Adjunct faculty in criminology and criminal justice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students wrote passionately about Moore\u2019s teaching abilities. One shared: \u201cHer teaching style is straightforward and clear, ensuring we\u2019re all well-prepared. Her exams are based on class discussions and lecture materials, reinforcing what we\u2019ve learned in a fair and meaningful way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Members of the Faculty Senate, which facilitates the nomination and election process for the awards, handed out plaques to the recipients. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Student writing awards<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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The ceremony also recognized the winners of the First-Year Writing Awards, which are given to three first-year students for their \u201cexcellent research papers,\u201d according to Dr. Mary Ann Zehr, <\/strong>director of the writing & communication program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n