Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

University of Mississippi

Graduate Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Graduate Excellence in Teaching Awards, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Support from the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, and Dr. Johnny W. Lott, recognize exemplary teaching by currently enrolled graduate students at the University of Mississippi. CETL grants two awards each year: the Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and the Johnny W. Lott Graduate Instructor Award. Winners of these awards receive $1,000 each.

Any graduate student in good academic standing, making progress toward degree, and teaching in fall or spring of the current academic year is eligible for these awards. 

Graduate students must first be nominated for the award. They may put themselves forward for nomination or be nominated by a faculty member, a student (or group of students), or a peer. Nominated students then submit an application packet that is evaluated by CETL staff and representatives from the Graduate School. Notification of awards is in early May. Winners will be honored at the Graduate School Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

The deadline for the 2022-23 awards has already passed. Please check back in Spring 2024 for details about the 2023-24 awards and deadlines.

Nomination Form Due: March 2024

Application Packet Due: April 2024

Awards Ceremony: Graduate School Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, May 2024

Nominations

If you would like to nominate a graduate student or yourself for this award, you may submit a nomination form. The nomination form will ask for details about the nominee, your relationship to them, and a brief (<500 word) narrative describing what distinguishes them as an excellent teacher. We are especially looking for innovative, effective, and evidence-based teaching practices; an impact on students and student learning; and a commitment to inclusion and equity.

The narrative will be used in evaluating applications for the award, so please be as specific as possible in relating your perspective on what makes the nominee’s teaching effective, compelling, inclusive, equitable, innovative, or all-around excellent. Vivid anecdotes and concrete examples of teaching excellence will be more persuasive than general claims about the nominee’s ability. 

If you’re confident that your nominee is eligible for the award, please notify them that you intend to submit their name, so they can start to gather materials for their application. Graduate teachers will be notified of their nomination in mid- to late March. 

Applications

After you’ve been notified of your nomination, please fill out this application form linked in your email notification, due during the first week of April. You’ll be asked to provide details of your teaching appointment, teaching training, and previous teaching experience, along with the following materials:

  • A current resume or CV
  • A brief statement of teaching philosophy that references evidence of teaching excellence as appropriate
  • Three pieces of evidence of teaching excellence. These may include, but are not limited to:
    • Syllabi, assignments, or lesson plans you’ve designed
    • Student evaluations, feedback, or comments (gathered through university SETs or on your own)
    • A letter of support from a faculty mentor, student, or colleague that provides concrete examples of your teaching effectiveness
    • Observation form or written summary generated by a peer or faculty member who has observed your teaching
    • Short video or documentary photographs of your classroom teaching
    • Student emails or evidence of student learning (to be shared only with student permission)

Your evidence of teaching excellence should include at least one artifact from the course you taught during the current academic year but may also encompass artifacts from previous courses. 

CETL staff and representatives from the Graduate School will review applications in mid-April. Applications will be judged by the extent to which they demonstrate innovative, effective, and evidence-based teaching practices; an impact on students and student learning; and commitment to inclusion and equity. Award winners will be notified by early May. 

Questions?

Please contact Emily Pitts Donahoe, Associate Director of Instructional Support, at ejdonaho@olemiss.edu. 

 

Past and Current Recipients of the Graduate Excellence in Teaching Awards

Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

2023 Kimberly Kotel – English
2022 Carly Rock – Chemistry & Biochemistry
2021 Kritika Gupta – Nutrition and Hospitality Management
2020 Sarah Amonett – Biology
2019 Jennifer Toth – Pharmacy

Graduate Instructor Award

2023 Bianca Lewis – Psychology
2022 Donald Skinner – Psychology
2021 Shimikqua Ellis – Education
2020 Heather Bliss – Psychology
2019 Joshua Simer – Accounting
2018 Marissa Wyant – Political Science
2017 Rebecca Nance – Education
2016 Brittany Nielsen – Psychology
2015 Yan Li – Economics
2014 Christopher Schwanke – Mathematics
2013 Caroline Turnage-Butterbaugh – Mathematics
2012 Eric Bonds – Music
2011 Sumedhe Karunarathne – Physics
2010 Otis W. Pickett – History
2009 Laura A. Williams – Management
2008 Ryan Bubalo – English