May 12, 2025 | Alexis Lohrey, Office of the Provost

Celebrating the Heart of the UConn Experience

Inaugural teaching, advising, and mentoring awards ceremony honors faculty, staff, and students

An audience watches as people on a stage are given awards.

(Photo by Dustin Corriveau at Designing Studios)

This April, the Office of the Provost presented the University’s first-ever Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring Awards ceremony—an event that brought together a wide range of recognitions under one roof. The ceremony highlighted the essential work of faculty, staff, and students who support learning, foster belonging, and help others thrive at UConn.

“By bringing these awards together in a single ceremony, we are underscoring the importance and prestige of these honors,” said Provost Anne D’Alleva. “We are celebrating the essential role that teaching, advising, and mentorship play in the life of our university.”

Honorees were recognized for their contributions both in and outside the classroom: teaching that sparks curiosity, advising that helps students navigate challenges, mentorship that opens new possibilities, and peer support that strengthens our community.

The event was attended by colleagues, university leaders, and the friends and family of honorees, whose presence added warmth and meaning to the celebration. They’ve been the champions of our honorees, much like our honorees have been champions for their students.

President Maric shared, “behind every student’s success is someone who taught them, advised them, or simply believed in them. These awards honor the people who make that kind of impact every day at UConn.”

A group of people pose together for a group photo.
(Photo by Dustin Corriveau at Designing Studios)

The awards span programs across the university, including the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Office of Undergraduate Advising, First Year Programs, Honors & Enrichment, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and The Graduate School. Together, they honor a wide range of efforts that are central to the student experience at UConn.

 

 

2024-2025 Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring Award Recipients

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards

  • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award: Samantha Archer, Anthropology
  • Outstanding Adjunct Award: Dr. Michael Zacchera, Allied Health
  • Teaching Fellow Award: Dr. David Wagner, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Teaching Innovation Award: Dr. Vindhya Pathirana, Mathematics

Undergraduate Advising Awards

  • Outstanding New Professional Staff Advisor: Lyn Alexander, School of Pharmacy
  • Outstanding Professional Advisor: Ramón Espinoza, Center for Access and Postsecondary Success
  • Outstanding Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mary Anne Amalaradjou, Animal Science
  • Outstanding Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matthew Singer, Political Science

Honors and Enrichment Awards

  • Honors Faculty Member of the Year: Dr. Ryan D. Talbert, Sociology
  • Tanaka Award for Innovative Undergraduate Advising: Dr. Stephanie Singe and Dr. Brian Aneskievich

Undergraduate Research Mentorship Excellence Awards

  • Dr. Benjamin Sinder, Orthopedic Surgery
  • Dr. Mallory Perry-Eaddy, Nursing
  • Charlotte Fuqua, Graduate Student, Chemistry

Edward C. Marth Mentorship Award (Graduate School)

  • Dr. Željko Bošković, Linguistics

First Year Experience Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Instructor Awards

  • FYE Teaching Innovation Award: Fany Hannon, Dean of Students
  • FYE Impact Award: Daniel Facchinetti, CETL
  • FYE One UConn Award: Wiley Dawson, UConn Hartford
  • FYE Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor: Sarah Cooper, Graduate Student, Educational Leadership
  • FYE Teaching Excellence Award: Annie Casarella, Center for International Students & Scholars

First Year Experience Peer Mentor Awards (John T. Szarlan Award)

  • Anytra Culbreath Evans, Undergraduate Student, HDFS & Sociology
  • Lucas Denucci, Undergraduate Student, Chemical Engineering
  • Stephanie Mora-Gutierrez, Undergraduate Student, Psychological Sciences