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The Teaching Academy recognized and rewarded exceptional teachers as critical to the university's mission. In biweekly meetings, the fellows co-created a restorative, constructive community centered around conversations about the evolving challenges and opportunities of teaching. Through creative and solution-focused discussion about essential issues in higher education, fellows promoted concrete changes on campus and worked to improve outcomes for both students and faculty.
- Nine to twelve fellows served three-year terms; new fellows joined annually
- Awarded a title during their term with a stipend in year three: "Donald Olson Fellow" for social science, "Paul Olson Fellow" for humanities, and "Gordon Woodward Fellow" for science
Current Fellows
2025-26
- Jiling Duan,
Donald Olson Fellow / Women's and Gender Studies - Kevin Gonzales,
Gordon Woodward Fellow / Mathematics - Vanessa Gorman,
Paul Olson Fellow / Classics and Religious Studies, History
2024-25
- Dona-Gene Barton,
Political Science - Kwakiutl Dreher,
English - Wendy Smith,
Mathematics
Former Fellows
2023-24
- Dawn Kopacz,
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences - Alena Moon,
Chemistry - Jacquelyn Omelian,
Psychology
2022-23
- Anna Hiatt,
School of Biological Sciences - Julia Reilly,
School of Global Integrative Studies - Shari Stenberg,
English, Women's and Gender Studies
2021-22
- Kelly Kingsbury Brunetto,
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures - Ng'ang'a Muchiri,
Department of English - Tyler White,
Department of Political Science
2019-20
- Kathy Castle,
Department of Communication Studies - David Harwood,
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences - Yvonne Lai,
Department of Mathematics
2018-19
- Chad Brassil,
Department of Biological Sciences - Calvin Garbin,
Department of Psychology - Patrice McMahon,
Department of Political Science
2017-18
- Debbie Minter,
Department of English - Leen-Kiat Soh,
Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Manda Williamson,
Department of Psychology
Past Fellows Projects
- CAS Faculty Survey on Teaching Challenges and Successes
- Roundtable discussion with CAS Faculty (follow-up to survey)
- Empathic Teaching presentation at the UNL Teaching Symposium Fall 2023
- Developed recommendations for Peer Review of Teaching in CAS
- Assisting the College in making the pivot to online and hybrid instruction during COVID
Past Uses of the Travel Stipend
- Attend the Teaching Professor Annual Conference
- “I used my funding from the Teaching Academy to attend the African Studies Association conference in San Francisco, CA in December 2023. I found the experience extremely useful as I got to speak with publishers and African studies colleagues about my recently published book Writing on the Soil: Land & Landscape in Literature from Eastern & Southern Africa (2023). I really wish all faculty were afforded similar resources to attend conferences without presenting a paper.” Ng'ang'a Wahu-Muchiri