About the Award

The purpose of the Dr. Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year award is to recognize faculty in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management for teaching excellence in undergraduate and/or graduate level instruction. One award is given each year with a minimum of three finalists with at least one finalist from each of the academic units recognized on an annual basis. Faculty may be reconsidered for the award in the fifth year after they receive the award.

Eligibility

Any full-time member of the HRSM faculty is eligible to receive the award. This includes tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty members.

Previous Five Award Winners

• 2024 Darron Kirkley, HTMT
• 2023 Paul Graham, SPTE
• 2022 Matt Dunn, SPTE
• 2021 Daniela Jankovska, RETL 
• 2020 Armen Shaomian, SPTE

Selection Criteria

Effective teaching should be closely linked to, and inseparable from, the pursuit of knowledge in one's field through professional and scholarly development and service. It is manifested through:

• Outstanding classroom performance that facilitates student learning
• Out-of-class activities that are directly related to the enhancement of student learning
• Academic and professional integrity

Selection Process

The Dr. Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year Committee will meet early in the spring semester to review all nominations. Finalists will be chosen based on the stated criteria. All nominees will receive a letter from the committee informing them of their nomination. For those who are selected as finalists, a letter from the committee will be sent to inform them that they are finalists and to ask that the following items be submitted to the committee if they wish to be considered further:

1. An electronic copy of a vita that is no longer than three pages, which includes the nominee's qualifications, teaching philosophy, and involvement with teaching and instruction.
2. Electronic copies of syllabi from each course taught during that academic year, which includes the course description, objectives, topics covered, explanation of grading procedures, and listing of major teaching and evaluation methods.
3. Electronic copies of teaching evaluations from courses that are no more than two years old, as of January 1 of the current year.

Nominee portfolios will be reviewed by the Dr. Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year Committee. In addition, each finalist will be interviewed by the committee, and each will be observed in the classroom by at least one student and one faculty member of the committee.

Following the portfolio reviews, interviews, and classroom observations/discussions, the Dr. Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year will be selected by secret ballot vote of all committee members. A simple majority is needed in order to become the recipient of the award. All finalists will receive letters from the committee asking that they attend the reception which will honor the recipient and finalists.

Nomination Form

Nominations may be made by current students in the College of HRSM or by current full-time HRSM faculty. If a faculty member is nominated by a colleague, at least one letter of support from a current student must accompany the nomination.