General Education Teaching Awards
General Education Teaching Awards
The General Education Teaching Award recognizes excellent and innovative instruction that significantly contributes to the U's mission to provide undergraduate students with outstanding educational experiences in General Education (GE). Nominees for the award will demonstrate meaningful contributions to the GE Program at the University of Utah by providing students opportunities in the GE Curriculum through the GE Program Learning Outcomes (GELOs) to learn to Collaborate Effectively, Persist in Addressing Complex Problems, Reason and Act Ethically, Respond Creatively, and Actualize and Contribute.
Instructors being nominated for the award should have at least three years of experience teaching GE courses, which includes those carrying GE Core designations (AI, QL, WR1, WR2) and GE Breadth Area designations (FF, HF, LS, PS, BF). The award is open to all instructors (e.g., adjunct, graduate student instructors, career-line faculty, etc.) who meet the award criteria.
The nomination period for 2026 - 2027 will open Spring 2027. Self-nominations are welcomed, please send nominations to Lindsay Massman (lindsay.massman@utah.edu).
Criteria
Nominees for the award will be evaluated based on the content of their courses, the methods they employ to engage students, and their commitment to improving GE pedagogy. To encourage innovation, special emphasis will be given to new, original, or forward-thinking teaching methods. Examples of such methods include but are not limited to the following:
- Instructional practices that connect coursework to life experiences, interests, passions, aspirations, and/or community-engaged learning to bridge the classroom and the community.
- Activities and assignments that promote life-long learning.
- Implementation of methods that engage students in discussion and inquiry.
- Creation and implementation of a cooperative and collaborative learning environment.
- Development of pedagogy, assignments, and practices that effectively address their chosen GELO.
Nomination and Application Requirements
Please submit an electronic letter of nomination to the Office of General Education, attn. Lindsay Massman (lindsay.massman@utah.edu) on or before March 9, 2026. Nominees will be notified of their nomination by March 10, 2026. We welcome self-nominations.
Nominees should submit completed application packets no later than March 16, 2026, which will include the following (all to be submitted electronically):
- A one-to-two page statement addressing qualifications for the award as outlined above. A statement of teaching philosophy is welcome but not required.
- Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., peer evaluations, student feedback, teaching evaluations).
- Syllabi from GE course(s) as well as evidence of assignments and activities that specifically address the GELO, the development of GE pedagogy, and the pertinent instructional practices listed above.
- A current CV (that need not be customized for the application, but items that support the nomination may be highlighted).
Award Prize
There are two awards of $3,000 available each year to be decided by the General Education Curriculum Committee. The award can be processed through payroll or to a departmental account for University purposes.
Nominations for the 2025 - 2026 Awards are open until March 9, 2026. Nominees will be notified by March 10, 2026. For questions please contact Lindsay Massman (lindsay.massman@utah.edu)
2026 General Education Teaching Awardees
Dr. Kera Lovell
Dr. Kera Lovell is an Associate Professor-Lecturer of History at the University of Utah Asia Campus whose innovative and globally minded teaching exemplifies the goals of General Education. Teaching primarily international and multilingual students, she creates engaging learning environments where students explore complex questions of identity, citizenship, and historical memory through collaborative and research-driven work. Her courses incorporate creative projects such as game design, zine creation, and public history assignments that connect classroom learning to the broader world. Dr. Lovell’s commitment to thoughtful, student-centered teaching helps students think critically, engage ethically, and persist in addressing complex problems.
Dr. Kate Magargal
Dr. Kate Magargal, a professor in the Honors College, is recognized for her active, student-centered approach to teaching and for creating intellectually engaging and highly supportive learning environments. In her General Education courses, students investigate not only what we know, but how we know it by examining evidence, questioning assumptions, and connecting course concepts to contemporary issues and their own lives. Through discussion-based learning, open-ended projects, and meaningful engagement with real-world questions, Dr. Magargal supports her students in becoming thoughtful, curious, and lifelong learners.