25th Annual Teaching Excellence Awards Celebrate Outstanding Educators

Posted: May 2, 2024

The University of New Mexico (UNM) Center for Teaching and Learning, the College of Arts & Sciences, the Honors College and the Teaching Enhancement Committee held UNM’s 25th Annual Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony yesterday at the Anderson School of Management’s Jackson Student Center.  

These teaching awards honor the excellence of faculty, lecturers, adjunct instructors, and graduate teaching assistants who have made exceptional strides in curriculum development and student mentoring while advancing UNM’s educational mission.  

President Garnett S. Stokes opened the formal presentations by saying, “We are here today to honor the most creative and committed faculty and leaders that we have on our campus...To recognize the best of our Lobo educators."

“I am so grateful not only for your knowledge and your expertise,” she continued, “but also for the compassion and creativity that you exhibit and your commitment to your students, your colleagues and to the University of New Mexico... Every day you are changing lives and changing the world, and I wanted to be here to celebrate the very best of the very best.” 

Of the 16 UNM faculty and graduate teaching assistants recognized for their outstanding achievements, 13 were from the College of Arts & Sciences:  

Kwabena Dabie from the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Erick Pineda from the Department of Spanish & Portuguese, and Kani Aniegboka & Julie Peterman from the Department of English Language & Literature received the  Susan Deese-Roberts Outstanding Teaching Assistants of the Year Award.

Presidential Teaching Fellow of the Year, Leola Paquin, emphasized the influence her family ties have on her teaching style.

“I know each of you have rich family histories that make you who you are, your friends,your colleagues, your communities, and that makes us strong, rich teachers. These are the basics for my teaching philosophy and how I build relationships with students... Nourishing their passions is what makes their educational experience strong.”

In her appreciation, she thanked her colleagues and her students, confirming, “You are the reason I am here.”