{"id":61265,"date":"2026-04-17T17:37:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T21:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=61265"},"modified":"2026-04-17T17:48:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T21:48:54","slug":"emu-celebrates-2026-excellence-in-teaching-award-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/emu-celebrates-2026-excellence-in-teaching-award-recipients\/","title":{"rendered":"91短视频 celebrates 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ceremony also honors student writing and academic award winners<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of its ninth annual Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival, 91短视频 held its 17th annual Authors\u2019 Reception and Award Presentation on Thursday. The ceremony, hosted by the Provost\u2019s Office in Old Commons Grounds (University Commons 177), celebrated the university\u2019s Excellence in Teaching Award winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s recipients are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Ryan Good<\/strong> Professor Good\u2019s 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 \u201ceureka moments\u201d 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\u2019 academic, professional, and personal growth. Simply put, he is the heart of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRyan 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,\u201d wrote another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Kathryn Howard-Ligas<\/strong> Students consistently speak to Professor Howard-Ligas\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI appreciate the ways Kathryn connects with her students and ensures they have the support they need,\u201d a colleague wrote. \u201cKathryn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kevin Carini<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe takes time to listen and actually wants to see us succeed,\u201d one student wrote. \u201cIn 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 91短视频.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the teaching awards, Dr. Tynisha Willingham<\/strong>, provost and vice president of academic affairs, recognized three faculty members who reached significant milestones at 91短视频 this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ceremony recognized recipients of 91短视频\u2019s First-Year Writing Awards, given to first-year students for their \u201cexcellent research papers.\u201d The recipients are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The winners of 91短视频’s student academic awards were also announced at the event. Dr. Michael Horst<\/strong>, dean of Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences, and the Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler<\/strong>, dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, presented the awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Music<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Business and Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Center for Justice and Peacebuilding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Undergraduate Teacher Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The event showcased faculty and student scholarly works published since Jan. 1, 2025. Featured authors included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ann Schaeffer<\/strong>, associate professor of nursing; James M. Yoder<\/strong>, professor of biology; Bryce Van Vleet<\/strong>, assistant professor of psychology; Mary Ann Zehr<\/strong>, assistant professor of rhetoric and composition; Wendell J. Shank<\/strong>, instructor of Spanish; Carol Grace Hurst<\/strong>, associate professor of social work; David F. Evans<\/strong>, professor of history and intercultural studies; Jacob Alan Cook<\/strong>, assistant professor of Christian ethics; Doug Graber Neufeld<\/strong>, professor of biology; Kathryn Mansfield<\/strong>, adjunct faculty for Center for Justice and Peacebuilding; Stephanie Day Powell<\/strong>, assistant professor of Hebrew bible; Timothy Seidel<\/strong>, associate professor of community and international development; Mark Metzler Sawin<\/strong>, professor of history; Debbi DiGennaro<\/strong>, instructor of social work; Heike Peckruhn<\/strong>, associate professor of religious studies; Jeff Copeland<\/strong>, professor of biology; Paula Ditzel Facci<\/strong>, assistant professor of peacebuilding; Dr. Cherelle Johnson<\/strong>, instructor of business and leadership; Benjamin Bergey<\/strong>, associate professor of music; Mary Sprunger<\/strong>, professor of history; Daniel Showalter<\/strong>, professor of mathematics; Benjamin J. Guerrero<\/strong>, assistant professor of music; and Steven David Johnson<\/strong>, professor of Visual and Communication Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ash Dixon<\/strong>, first-year psychology major; Monica Ehrenfels<\/strong>, first-year music major; Joshua Henkel<\/strong>, first-year sociology major; and Malia Yoder<\/strong>, first-year natural sciences major; as well as the authors and artists of The Phoenix<\/em> (2025), which was edited by Alexis Lewis <\/strong>and Zoey Mongold<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First-year student Monica Ehrenfels<\/strong> and junior Micah Wenger<\/strong>, both music and peacebuilding majors, provided music for the authors\u2019 reception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photos by Aric Berg and Jon Styer\/At Ease Design & Consulting<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ceremony also honors student writing and academic award winners As part of its ninth annual Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival, 91短视频 held its 17th annual Authors\u2019 Reception and Award ... read more about 91短视频 celebrates 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":61269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4515,5583,14715,5861,17562,17564,5642,5730],"tags":[19018,19009,17823,18435,18067,19015,5919,19016,19017,18992,18768,17634,18433,18434],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-61265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-campus-community","category-campus-life","category-conferences-and-events","category-digest","category-events","category-faculty-and-staff","category-undergraduate-programs","tag-academics","tag-ace-fest","tag-ace-festival","tag-authors-reception","tag-awards","tag-awards-presentation","tag-faculty","tag-kathryn-howard-ligas","tag-kevin-carini","tag-office-of-the-provost","tag-publications","tag-ryan-good","tag-student-academic-awards","tag-student-writing-awards","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Associate professor of urban studies and director of the 91短视频 Washington Semester<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Assistant professor of psychology<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Adjunct faculty in natural sciences<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nStudent writing awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nAuthors\u2019 Reception<\/h2>\n\n\n
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