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The Thrive Award Banquet is coming up in March, so it is time to nominate an outstanding faculty member or unsung hero for one of the CETL Thrive Awards. 

The categories are as follows:

• Teaching for All Students: This award recognizes a full-time or part-time faculty member who excels in creating learning environments where every student feels valued and supported. This honor celebrates innovative approaches that foster engagement, understanding, and success.
• Outstanding Weber Service: This award seeks to highlight, uplift and reward the often-invisible and heavy labor of university service at the departmental, college and university level. Service activities recognized in this award include student mentorship, faculty mentorship, committee work, and curriculum development.
• Outstanding Adjunct: This award recognizes an outstanding part-time faculty member who regularly goes above and beyond to deliver excellent teaching and encourage student success.
• Unsung Hero: This award recognizes a non-instructional staff member who regularly goes above and beyond to aid the success of the institution.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to recognize a fellow faculty or staff member for their outstanding work.

2024 Award Recipients

The Thrive  Awards Banquet is an invitation-only event that recognizes faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.
The awards are the Presidential Teaching Excellence Awards, Ambrose Amos Shaw Endowed Chair Awards, Innovative Teaching Grants, Course Materials Affordability Award, eLearning Participant of the Year Award, and the CETL Thrive Awards.

We thank the following donors for making these recognitions possible:
Bob and Marcia Harris, Robert L. Marquardt Family, Steven and Ruth Lowe, Alta and T.R. Davis, John and Nancy Lowe, and Brad and Jeni Wilson

Presidential Teaching Excellence Awards

Nazneen Ahmad

Economics

Robert L. Marquardt Outstanding Teaching Award

Nomination Quote

Nazneen Ahmad

“Dr. Nazneen Ahmad’s encouragement and guidance extend well beyond the classroom. With her support, I submitted my research to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s undergraduate research journal, ERGO, and the article was successfully published.”

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Tariq Arif

Mechanical Engineering

Nomination Quote

Tariq Arif

“Dr. Tariq Arif is incredibly smart but has a fantastic ability to communicate that knowledge in a way that can be understood by students. He truly cares about seeing all his students succeed.”

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Justin Burr

Health Sciences

Nomination Quote

Justin Burr

"Dr. Justin Burr continues to find new and meaningful ways to help his students succeed. He can be found at almost any given moment working with individuals who are struggling to grasp the difficult concepts we teach. He holds extra review sessions before big tests and often buys his students bagels or some other treat to incentivize their participation in the learning activities he knows will help them."

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Ryan Cain

Teacher Education

Nomination Quote

Ryan Cain

“Dr. Ryan Cain not only explains abstract function concepts in a lively way, but also always pays attention to each student’s learning status. His patience and care not only helped me overcome my learning difficulties, but also sparked my strong interest in data science.”

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Nicola Corbin

Communication

Nomination Quote

Nicola Corbin

“Dr. Nicola Corbin is the most attentive, genuine and experienced professor that I have ever had the privilege of meeting. First, she is always so kind and genuinely interested in her students’ well-being. Second, she really knows her stuff!”

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London Draper Lowe

School of Nursing

Annie Taylor Dee Teaching Excellence Award

Nomination Quote

London Draper Lowe

“London Lowe went above and beyond for all of us. She took time to type constructive feedback, record suggestions, and meet with us on a Zoom call to ensure that our projects looked the best possible. Of all the professors I have had in the past, she is by far in the top three. Anyone taking this class or another class with her is fortunate.”

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Valerie Gooder

School of Nursing

Annie Taylor Dee Teaching Excellence Award

Nomination Quote

Valerie Gooder

"Valerie Gooder is an exemplary educator whose teaching is marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence. She gives thoughtful and timely feedback on coursework. She’s helped create an awesome course that taught me so much!”

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Bridget Hilbig

Botany and Plant Ecology

Nomination Quote

Bridget Hilbig

“One of Dr. Bridget Hilbig’s remarkable strengths lies in her innovative and inclusive teaching methods. She goes above and beyond to tailor lessons to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

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Aubrey Jones

World Languages and Cultures

Nomination Quote

Aubrey Jones

“As an undergraduate and a nontraditional student, I have found learning a foreign language to be a formidable endeavor. Yet, Professor Aubrey Jones leverages every pedagogical tool to foster our abilities, balancing time-honored techniques with innovative challenges that keep our learning environment vibrant and engaging.”

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Shannon McGillivray

Psychological Science

Nomination Quote

Shannon McGillivray

“Dr. McGillivray is one of the best professors and mentors I have ever had. She truly wants you to learn and grow from not only your mistakes but also your successes.”

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Jean Norman

Communication

Nomination Quote

Jean Norman

"Dr. Jean Norman is an extraordinary teacher who will go to great lengths to support her students. Students say that she guides and directs but also knows when to step back and let the students take over the decision-making process, helping them build their confidence and professional skills. They also note that Jean would do just about anything to help a student in need."

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Matt Thue

Business Administration and Marketing

Brian T. Davis
 Outstanding Teaching Award

Nomination Quote

Matt Thue

“Professor Matthew Thue has been a great teacher that presents ideas and allows you to formulate your own opinion. He has been great at letting us think for ourselves.”

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