Deans’ Award for Teaching

One of the highest honors bestowed to full-time faculty at the university level, the Deans’ Award for Teaching recognizes faculty who are nominated by their peers for demonstrating exceptional dedication to teaching and teaching-related activities. Annually in the spring, each school and college submits one nominee, with AddRan College of Liberal Arts submitting two, one from Humanities and one from Social Sciences. From among more than 700 full-time faculty at TCU, it is a notable honor to be nominated. Nominees are reviewed and honorees are selected by consensus of all academic deans and announced each spring.

 

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2023

 

Jan Lacina, Ph.D.
Professor and Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Strategic Partnership
College of Education

Dr. Jan Lacina helps students appreciate and understand the complexities of reading and writing. Students say, “Dr. Lacina has a nurturing and intentional leadership style, which shines through in the way she mentors young educators.” Alumnae Tiffany Nakamura extols “the emphasis she placed on keeping a writing journal to document growth in our writing.” Her colleagues commend her “endless energy and commitment to innovation.” Dr. Lacina introduces undergraduate students to complex societal issues through the children’s literature course, mentors graduate students through the Warren Fellowship, and influences the work of classroom teachers as a journal editor and through the TCU Summer Literacy Institute. She designed the class, Critical Literacy in Children’s Literature, now the most popular class in the College of Education.

“I value the lessons from my grandfather about the beauty of language, culture and people, which influence my desire to mentor students. This past year, I taught award-winning literature from around the world that included refugees and immigrants as protagonists. The opportunity for children to see themselves in books, as well as windows into the lives of diverse characters, is especially important.”

 

Jacqueline Lambiase, Ph.D.
Professor of Strategic Communication
Bob Schieffer College of Communication

Students say that Dr. Lambiase wants them to succeed and “it shows within her course.” Alumnus Justin Rubenstein ’18 says her teaching “is not limited to informing her pupils of the history and status quo, but also empowering anyone who is willing to advocate and enact change.” Dr. Lambiase’s teaching is bolstered by her professional background in journalism and strategic communications. She teaches introductory courses, upper-level courses and special topics courses on issues such as Public Relations and Advocacy, Public Communication and DEI, the latter of which led to TCU’s Portrait Project. She created and directs the Certified Public Communicators Program, which provides communication professionals with professional development for meeting the demands of their positions.

“Students bring knowledge with them to the classroom, and my job is to activate that knowledge, to create a desire within them for more, and to provide a hospitable space in which they may share this knowledge. I also want to be sure that students are always aware of the power of the images and words that they create and of their roles in building new media products responsibly and ethically.”

 

Katie Lauve-Moon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social Work
Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Colleagues say that Dr. Katie Lauve-Moon creates learning environments where students are comfortable being their authentic selves “as she explores critical social issues with humanity and compassion.” They commend how she “builds trust with her students through meaningful relationships, which lays the groundwork for meaningful education.” Students say she “inspires and empowers” them to create a legacy in social work and “advocates for change.” They also say, “Her energy is electrifying and so contagious that it lights our fire for social justice, advocacy and making a difference.” Dr. Lauve-Moon introduces students to the social work profession, and teaches upper-division classes for majors, minors and graduate students centered on social justice and DEI, especially gender issues.

“Teaching is about partnering with students as they process new perspectives and ideas, engage each other in challenging conversations, and begin evolving as unique, effective change-makers. We discuss controversial topics in my courses, so it is important that students feel encouraged and free to express their opinions without judgement.”

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2022

 

 

 

Ashley English, Bob Schieffer College of Communication
Alex Lemon. AddRan College of Liberal Arts
Jennifer Smith, College of Education

Nominees 
Ann Bluntzer, Neeley School of Business
Tracy Burger, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rhiannon Mayne, College of Science & Engineering
Thomas J. Walsh, College of Fine Arts
Amina Zarruch,  AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Social Sciences

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2021

Michelle Bauml, College of Education
Beata Jones, Neeley School of Business
Penny Maas, College of Fine Arts

Nominees
Robert Bittle, College of Science & Engineering
Phil Esposito, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Alex Lemon, AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Humanities
Paul Witt, Bob Schieffer College of Communication
Amina Zarrugh, AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Social Sciences

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2020

Cynthia Savage, College of Education
Carol Thompson, AddRan College of Liberal Arts -Social Services
Jean Marie Brown, Schieffer College of Communication

Nominees
Janice Cobb, Neeley School of Business
Sally Fortenberry, College of Fine Arts
Lynn Jackson, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Stacie McCormick, AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Humanities
Robert Bittle, College of Science & Engineering

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2019

Richard Curby Alexander, College of Education
Jan Marie Ballard, College of Fine Arts
Ariane M. Balizet, AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Humanities

Nominees
Renee M. Olvera, Neeley School of Business
Mike Putnam, Schieffer College of Communication
Stephanie Jevas, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Emily M. Farris, AddRan College of Liberal Arts -Social Sciences
Becky L. Johnson, College of Science & Engineering

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2018

Jessica Zeller, College of Fine Arts
Irmgard Payne, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Lisa Vanderlinden, AddRan College of Liberal Arts -Social Sciences

Nominees
Laura M. Meade, Neeley School of Business
Paul Witt, Schieffer College of Communication
Curby Alexander, College of Education
Layne Craig, AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Humanities
Allison C. Owen, College of Science & Engineering

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2017

Moved to Spring

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2016

Dusty Crocker, College of Fine Arts
Teresa Gonzalez, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Clark Jones, College of Science & Engineering

Nominees
Stacy Landreth Grau, Neeley School of Business
Debi Iba, Schieffer College of Communication
Marla McGhee, College of Education
Lisa K. Vanderlinden, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Social sciences
Rima Abunasser, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Humanities

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2015

Suzanne Carter, Neeley School of Business
James Petrovich, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Steven Weis, College of Science & Engineering

Nominees
Stephen Levering, Schieffer College of Communication
Mike Sacken, College of Education
Lori Diel, College of Fine Arts
Charlotte Hogg, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Humanities

  

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2014

Robert T. Rhodes, Neeley School of Business
Suzanne Huffman, Schieffer College of Communication
Cecilia Silva, College of Education

Nominees
Martin Blessinger, College of Fine Arts
Sharon Canclini, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Carrie Currier, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Social Sciences
Ariane Balizet, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Humanities
John Horner, College of Science & Engineering

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2013

Gregory Mansur, Schieffer College of Communication
Lewis Glaser, College of Fine Arts
Rob Garnett, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Social Sciences

Nominees
Nancy Nix, M. J. Neeley School of Business
Amber Esping, College of Education
Diane Hawley, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Mark Dennis, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Humanities
John Horner, College of Science & Engineering

 

Deans’ Award for Teaching 2012

Linda Moore, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Theresa Strouth Gaul, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Humanities
Efton Park, College of Science & Engineering

Nominees
Gregory K. Stephens, Neeley School of Business
Frank Thomas, College of Education
Jennifer Engler, College of Fine Arts
Lisa K. Vanderlinden, AddRan College of Liberal Arts-Social Sciences

 

For a complete list of Dean’s Award for Teaching nominees and honorees from 1986 to present, contact the Provost’s Office.