Alex Barth

Department of Biological Sciences' Jeffery Barnsdale Memorial Fellowship Award for Excellence as a Graduate Instructional Assistant

Alex received his PhD in Biological Sciences in May 2024, and was nominated for the teaching award for developing a new lab course (BIOL 570L: Principles of Ecology Lab).  He also was a Teaching Assistant for BIOL 301L: Ecology and Evolution Lab, and BIOL/MSCI 510L: Invertebrate Zoology Lab. His research with Dr. Josh Stone was primarily focused on describing zooplankton using imaged-based tools.  He is currently a post-doc working at the University of Texas, Austin’s Marine Science Institute with Dr. Jordan Casey, examining plankton centric food-webs in Texas bay systems using DNA and ecosystem models.

In his words: “The most rewarding part of teaching has been seeing students who are not initially interested in the subject get very enthusiastic about their work and enjoying the course despite their initial hesitation/disinterest.”

Taylor Berrier

The Graduate School’s Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Instructors

Taylor is a 4^th year PhD student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and she received this award for teaching COMD 507: Language Theory and Phonetics.  She studies mental health and emotion regulation in children with developmental language disorder, working with Dr. Suzanne Adlof in the South Carolina Research on Language and Literacy Lab.

In her words: “The most rewarding part of teaching was getting to see my students gain confidence in themselves and in applying the new skills they learned. As they gained more understanding in language theory and phonetics, they began anticipating real-world problems and asking insightful questions too. It was so cool to watch students begin to think critically about a topic they'd had no exposure to previously!”

Andrew Boldy

Department of Physics and Astronomy’s Teaching Assistant Teaching Award

Andrew is a 2^nd year PhD student in Physics, having taught a section of Physics 212: Essentials of Physics II in Studio format. His research involves working on analysis of intensity measurements at the Majorana Demonstrator under Dr. Dave Tedeschi and hopes to eventually conduct his own research in particle physics and effective field theories.

In his words: “A valuable lesson I have learned from teaching is that no matter what the field of study you teach in or what major your student is, a student can always gain something from your class. Whether it’s topic-based knowledge, study skills, or how to holistically look at and solve a problem, students can always come away with at least something from a course!”

George Brooks

Department of Mathematics’ Outstanding Graduate Instructor

George is a rising 5^th year PhD student in Mathematics, having taught MATH 115: Precalculus Mathematics and MATH 174: Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science.  He is working with Dr. Linyuan Lu in extremal combinatorics, specifically on open problems in spectral graph theory, Lin-Lu-Yau graph curvature, and Turán theory.

In his words: “The most rewarding part is when students return during the following semesters to share their success, thanks to the foundation we built. We put forth a lot of effort as instructors preparing our students for the future. Unfortunately, the day of the final exam is often the last time we see many of our students. When I get the opportunity to talk to a past student and find out they are thriving in their next course, I feel validated that my efforts have been worthwhile and impactful.” 

Jiasong Duan

Department of Statistics’ Outstanding Performance as a Graduate Teaching Assistant

Jiasong is a 3^rd year PhD student in Statistics, teaching STAT 201: Elementary Statistics. He works with Dr. Xianzheng Huang on research about variable selection and network analysis. 

In his words: the most rewarding part of teaching has been “Seeing students understand statistical techniques and apply them to real-life problems.”

Odera Covenant Ezenna

School of Journalism & Mass Communication’s Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award

Odera is a 3^rd year PhD student in Mass Communication, teaching JOUR 291: Writing for Mass Communications.  Her dissertation work with Dr. Kenneth Campbell is centered on social media activism and health communication. 

In her words: “I've learned that teaching is a lifelong commitment, and maintaining a nourishing relationship with my students is vital. I've also learned that students tend to mirror the energy and attitudes of their teachers. Because of this, I'm fully dedicated to consistently bringing my passion for journalism to the classroom, knowing that students will be passionate, too. I will only ever ask a student to give (what) they have to give.”

Grant Foster

Department of Biological Sciences’ Jeffery Barnsdale Memorial Fellowship Award for Excellence as a Graduate Instructional Assistant

Grant is a 4^th year PhD student in Biological Sciences, teaching BIOL 531: Parasitology and BIOL 301L: Ecology and Evolution Laboratory.  He is a member of Dr. Tad Dallas' lab, focusing on the structure and assembly of mutualistic networks, asking questions about which species interact, where and why.

In his words: “I think one of my favorite parts of teaching the new parasitology lab was seeing students excited about participating in the scientific process. The lab had a significant component that was project/inquiry based, and it was really rewarding to see students being excited, coming up with their own research questions and helping them figure out how to answer them. One of the students actually continued her disease modeling project outside of class and was able to present her research at Discover USC, which was really exciting.”

Macie Goodman

The Graduate School’s Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants

Macie is a 2^nd year PhD student in the College of Pharmacy’s Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, teaching PHMY 862: Patient Care Integration and PHMY 873: Pharmacotherapy III. Having already received a PharmD, she is currently working with Dr. Tessa Hastings and Dr. Xueying Yang’s research groups. 

In her words: “I have found it rewarding to see students’ progress through the semester. I have been open to exam reviews; seeing students learn from their mistakes is great. I have learned that it is important to be able to expand or shorten your lecture based on students and listen to the advice of mentors. Dr. Scott Sutton’s mentorship was integral to my growth in teaching and achievement of this award.  Also, the Center for Teaching Excellence is an amazing resource!”

Nandana Goswami

Department of Geological Sciences’ Taber Award for Outstanding Teaching

Nandana is a 4^th year PhD student in Geological Sciences, teaching GEOL 101L: Introduction to the Earth Laboratory.  Her research with her advisor, Dr. Besim Dragovic, strives to understand early Earth and specifically Archean tectonics using petrochronology, a field  of Earth science that combines metamorphic petrology, isotopic and geochronological studies.

In her words: “The key to being a good teacher, I think, is to recognize that every student is different, and their requirements will vary. And success looks different for different people too. I have always strived to make sure that my classroom is a safe respectful space where my students can feel comfortable talking to me. As an international student myself, I have often struggled with embracing my diversity in the States and that experience and understanding leads me to make sure that all my students, international or not, understand that the goal is not to fit in, but to stand out with the uniqueness each of them brings to the table.”

Anderson Harris

Department of Philosophy’s Graduate Teaching Award

Anderson is a 5^th year PhD student in Philosophy, and has taught PHIL 213: Communicating Moral Issues, PHIL 310: American Philosophy, and PHIL 103: Special Topics: Care and Empathy Through Role-playing Games.  His current research, with his advisor Dr. Tom Burke, focuses on care ethics and pragmatist aesthetics.  Specifically, he is developing an approach to caring practices that factor in the role that emotions play in both motivating and characterizing specific interpersonal activities.

In his words: “The most valuable lesson I have so far learned through teaching here at the University of South Carolina is that whatever the topic or subject matter might be, one’s students will have some insight or perspective that you as an instructor do not. It is by way of these new insights that reciprocal growth occurs between the instructor and students. What follows from this, and what is arguably a more important realization that I have found through my teaching, is that the relationships we form with our students set the groundwork for these education experiences of mutual growth by way of facilitating an educational environment of safety, intellectual humility, and active engagement.”

Shannon Powers

Marine Science Program’s Outstanding Teaching Award

Shannon graduated in May with an MS in Marine Science and will be starting her Marine Science PhD this summer. She has taught MSCI 311: Biology of Marine Organisms Laboratory, and has both taught and coordinated multiple sections of MSCI 102: The Living Ocean Lab.  Her master’s research focused on assessing phytoplankton community compositions and biomass in estuarine systems across the state of South Carolina, and her PhD research examines the trophic impacts of mummichogs with Dr. Jay Pinckney in the Estuarine Ecology Lab. 

In her words: “The amount of effort you put into your student’s success does not go unnoticed by the student. Above everything, you must care about your students and listen to them about what they need because adjusting your teaching style may reveal intellect that may have been overlooked by others. Teaching has been serendipity for me, and I am so glad I found it.”

Damla Sonmez

College of Hospitality, Retail and Sports Management’s Outstanding Doctoral Student Teacher of the Year

Damla is a 4^th year PhD student in Hospitality Management, teaching HTMT 364: Conference and Meeting Planning.  Her research with Dr. Scott Taylor and Dr. Drew Martin involves gamification as a strategy for enhancing learning and engagement in training events. 

In her words: “The most rewarding part of teaching for me has been the connections I build with my students and witnessing their personal and academic growth. Moments like receiving heartfelt messages of gratitude or seeing a former student thrive in their career remind me of the lasting impact I can have. One valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of focusing on the learning process rather than just the outcomes. By creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment, I help students take responsibility for their own learning. Guided by principles of effective communication, empathy, and continuous improvement, I strive to create a space where students are inspired to reach their full potential.”

Milton A. Straw

Darla Moore School of Business’s Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Milton is a 4^th year PhD student in Economics, teaching ECON 221: Principles of Microeconomics and ECON 224: Introduction to Economics.  His research with Dr. Orgul Ozturk and Dr. Crystal Zhan examines the effects of student loan debt on postsecondary labor outcomes. 

Lance Tully

Department of Geological Sciences’ Taber Award for Outstanding Teaching

Lance is a 5^th year PhD student in Geological Sciences, having taught GEOL 101: Introduction to the Earth and GEOL 355: Structural Geology & Tectonics.  His research encompasses two intersecting disciplines: examining detrital zircon geochronology of SC coastal plain sediments with Dr. Dave Barbeau and assessing the impact of Geology Field Camp on student skills development with Dr. Katherine Ryker. 

In his words: “The most rewarding part of teaching for me has been the lasting relationships with former geology students. It has been incredibly fulfilling hearing from them that skills they learned in courses I taught have helped them achieve success in their careers.”

Grant Wong

Department of History’s Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Grant is starting his 4^th year as a PhD student in History, teaching HIST 111: United States History to 1865 and HIST 112: United States History since 1865.  His research focuses on how capitalist market demands and discourses of taste influenced the production and reception of pop and rock music in the post-Second World War United States. He is also currently working on an article on the cultural politics of the 1977 musical Annie with his mentor and advisor, Dr. Lauren Sklaroff. 

In his words: “I couldn't have put it better than philosopher John Dewey: ‘Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.’ I am honored and privileged to contribute to my students' knowledge of American history, which is so crucial to understanding the world we're living in and our place within it.”

Yanyan (Emma) Zhan

Department of Statistics Outstanding Performance as a Graduate Teaching Assistant

Yanyan is a 2^nd year PhD student in Statistics, teaching STAT 201: Elementary Statistics Lab. She is on course to take her qualifying exams, after which she will choose her advisor for her research. 

In her words: “I enjoy my role as a lab instructor. It offers a completely different experience from learning in other courses as a listener. Connecting with energetic and enthusiastic undergraduate students brings me joy. Additionally, it serves as valuable preparation for my future career.”