Eight faculty members at Stony Brook University have been honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). The recipients were announced during the spring and formally recognized at New Faculty Orientation, which was organized by the Office of the Provost before the start of classes.
The awardees represent a range of disciplines across the university. Rose Tirotta-Esposito, Assistant Provost of Educational Transformation and CELT Director, said, “I am continuously inspired by the amazing faculty here on campus. These awards are a vital part of our university’s commitment to pedagogical excellence, serving as a powerful testament to the hard work and creativity of our faculty. I love that we present these at New Faculty Orientation, as they help us share these best practices with others and, I hope, inspire new faculty as much as they do me.”
In addition to the Excellence in Teaching Awards, Outstanding Mentor Awards and Outstanding Lecturer Awards were also presented during the orientation event for new faculty.
The David L. Ferguson Award for Inclusive Teaching went to Anu Andrews, Clinical Assistant Professor in Respiratory Care at the School of Health Professions. Andrews has over 20 years of experience as a respiratory therapist working with various patient populations and incorporates clinical experiences into her teaching through case studies and labs. She adapts her teaching style to support inclusive practices and participates in professional development courses such as CELT’s inclusive pedagogy course.
Margaret Echelbarger, Assistant Professor of Marketing in the College of Business, received recognition for Excellence in Teaching Innovation. Her research focuses on children’s development as consumers and their understanding of financial concepts. Echelbarger uses real-world examples in her classes and leverages platforms like Instagram and Discord to engage students.
Darya Likhacheva, a PhD student in Social & Health Psychology from the Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), was awarded for Excellence in Teaching – Teaching Assistant Award. Likhacheva adapts course content based on student needs and aims to enhance understanding through tailored instruction.
M Love, a PhD student and instructor in linguistics within CAS, earned the Brooke Ellison Award for Accessible Teaching. Love redesigned a linguistics course to include multi-modal lectures and flexible deadlines while creating an environment that supports diverse backgrounds.
Sheri Levy, Professor in the Department of Psychology (CAS), was recognized for Excellence in Teaching an Online Course. Levy collaborates internationally on topics such as ageism, climate change education, human rights, intergenerational relations, and poverty. She has developed multiple courses and served as chair or director within her department.
Robert Nocito received recognition for Excellence in Experiential Education. As Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Director for Emergency Medicine Residency at Renaissance School of Medicine, Nocito created Pathways to Healthcare—a program connecting aspiring healthcare professionals with hands-on clinical experiences.
Gregory Ruf was honored for Excellence in Teaching an In-Person Course. An Associate Professor specializing in Chinese society within Asian and Asian American Studies (CAS), Ruf has contributed to various academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Tracy Trimboli was recognized for Excellence in Assessment. A Clinical Instructor at the School of Nursing who is also pursuing her PhD there, Trimboli focuses her research on invisible illness and aging while bringing decades of clinical experience into her teaching.