Faculty Teaching Awards

Faculty recognized by the College and University for their teaching excellence

Colorado State University Best Teacher Award

The Best Teacher Awards program acknowledges dedicated CSU teachers, professors, and faculty who have made a significant impact in the life of students, faculty, and alumni.  It's a University-wide program managed by the CSU Alumni Association

College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award

The CLA Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize outstanding teachers who positively impact students through innovative, rigorous courses and supportive practices outside of the classroom. 

University "Best Teacher" Award Winners
College of Liberal Arts "Excellence in Teaching" Award Winners

Best Teacher Award

2024 Winners

Rosa Nam

Rosa Nam

Assistant Professor, Department of English

Samuel M. Tham

Samuel M. Tham

Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Past Winners

  • Johnny Plastini, Department of Art and Art History (2023)
  • Anna Bernhard, Department of Art and Art History (2023)
  • Eric Ishiwata, Department of Ethnic Studies (2022)
  • Christina Minihan, Department of Journalism and Media Communication (2022)
  • KuoRay Mao, Department of Sociology (2020)
  • Andrea Rice Purdy, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2020)
  • Michael Humphrey, Department of Journalism and Media Communication (2019)
  • Allison White, Department of Political Science and International Studies Program (2019)
  • John Straayer, Department of Political Science (2018)
  • Stephanie Malin, Department of Sociology (2018)
  • Susan Opp, Department of Political Science (2018)
  • Abigail Veliquette, Department of Communication Studies (2017)
  • Chuchang Chiu, Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures (2016)
  • Ray Black, Department of Ethnic Studies (2016)
  • Denise Apodaca, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2016)
  • Karen Gebhardt, Department of Economics (2015)
  • Mark Fiege, Department of History (2015)
  • Yerachmiel Gorelik, Department of Philosophy (2014)
  • Courtenay Daum, Department of Political Science (2014)
  • Greg Luft, Department of Journalism and Media Communication (2013)
  • Jared Orsi, Department of History (2012)
  • Eric Aoki, Department of Communication Studies (2012)
  • Greg Dickinson, Department of Communication Studies (2011)
  • Catherine DiCesare, Department of Art and Art History (2011)
  • Katherine Browne, Department of Anthropology (2011)
  • Barbara Thiem, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2010)
  • Nathan Seymour, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2010)
  • Jolyon Hughes, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2010)
  • Chung-Fu Chang, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2009)
  • Pamela Vaughan Knaus, Department of History (2008)
  • Eric Hollenbeck, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2008)
  • Lori Peek, Department of Sociology (2007)
  • Pamela Coke, Department of English (2007)
  • Dimitris Stevis, Department of Political Science (2006)
  • Deanna Ludwin, Department of English (2006)
  • Jenny Goodman, Department of English (2005)
  • Deborah Thompson, Department of English (2003)
  • Mario Caballero, Department of English (2003)
  • Liang-Shing Fan, Department of Economics (2000)
  • Lawrence Todd, Department of Anthropology (1999)
  • Donna Rouner, Department of Journalism and Media Communication (1999)
  • Ann Gill, Department of Communication Studies (1998)
  • John Calderazzo, Department of English (1998)
  • Blane Harding, Department of Ethnic Studies (1997)
  • Morris Burns, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (1996)
  • William Griswold, Department of History (1996)
  • Thomas Mark, Department of English (1996)
  • Dennis Philips, Department of Communication Studies (1996)

Featured Best Teachers

Chuchang Chiu

Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Denise Apodaca

School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Ray Black

Department of Ethnic Studies

Yerachmiel Gorelik

Department of Philosophy

Courtenay Daum

Department of Political Science

Greg Luft

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Jared Orsi

Department of History

Eric Aoki

Department of Communication Studies

Greg Dickinson

Department of Communication Studies

Excellence in Teaching Award

2023 Winners

Price Johnston

Price Johnston

Associate Professor, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Jessie Luna

Jessie Luna

Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology

Suzanne Kent

Suzanne Kent

Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Anthropology and Geography

Past Winners

  • Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Department of Communication Studies (2022)
  • Lindsey Schneider, Department of Ethnic Studies (2022)
  • Jeff LaQuatra, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2022)
  • Elizabeth Williams, Department of Communication Studies (2021)
  • Mark Dineen, Department of Art and Art History (2021)
  • Steve Weiss, Department of Journalism and Media Communication (2021)
  • Gamze Çavdar, Department of Political Science (2020)
  • Lynn Badia, Department of English (2020)
  • Kevin Foskin, Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts (2020)
  • Jeni Cross, Department of Sociology (2019)
  • Peter Harris, Department of Political Science (2019)
  • Denise Apodaca, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2019)
  • Sandra Davis, Department of Political Science (2018)
  • Sarah Payne, Department of History (2018)
  • Holly Boux, Department of Political Science (2018)
  • Zachary Hutchins, Department of English (2017)
  • Blythe LaGasse, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2017)
  • Kimberly Nicols, Department of Anthropology (2017)
  • Thomas Conway, Department of English (2016)
  • Stephanie Malin, Department of Sociology (2016)
  • Tara Shelley, Department of Sociology (2016)
  • Tom Dunn, Department of Communication Studies (2015)
  • Daniele Tavani, Department of Economics (2015)
  • Ludmila Pokatilova, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2015)
  • Lorella Paltrinieri, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2014)
  • Kyle Saunders, Department of Political Science (2014)
  • Maite Correa, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2014)
  • Franziska Wilcox, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2013)
  • Roe Bubar, Department of Ethnic Studies (2013)
  • Susan Opp, Department of Political Science (2013)
  • Leif Sorensen, Department of English (2013)
  • Elizabeth Sink, Department of Communication Studies (2012)
  • Eric Aoki, Department of Communication Studies (2012)
  • Sue Doe, Department of English (2012)
  • Bret Anderson, Department of Economics (2011)
  • Jason Sibold, Department of Anthropology (2011)
  • Jason LaBelle, Department of Anthropology (2010)
  • Ana Fairchild, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2010)
  • Laura Thomas, Department of English (2009)
  • Chuchang Chiu, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2008)
  • Courtenay Daum, Department of Political Science (2008)
  • Lori Peek, Department of Sociology (2008)
  • Marie Jo Hoffman, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2007)
  • Pamela Coke, Department of English (2007)
  • Greg Dickinson, Department of Communication Studies (2006)
  • Andrea Purdy, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2006)
  • Tracy Brady, Department of History (2005)
  • Jenny Goodman, Department of English (2005)
  • Deanna Lynne Kern Ludwin, Department of English (2004)
  • Jared Orsi, Department of History (2004)
  • Ginger Guardiola, Department of History (2003)
  • Debby Thompson, Department of English (2003)
  • Blane Hardin, CASAE (2002)
  • Kathleen Pickering, Department of Anthropology (2002)
  • Masako Beecken, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (2001)
  • Chip Rhodes, Department of English (2001)
  • Jeffrey Hoffmann, Department of Communication Studies (2000)
  • Eric Aoki, Department of Communication Studies (2000)
  • Linny Frickman, Department of Art and Art History (1999)
  • Barb Sebek, Department of English (1999)
  • Aric Krause, Department of Economics (1998)
  • Brad MacDonald, Department of Political Science (1998)
  • Donna LeCourt, Department of English (1998)