NDSU faculty and instructional staff are successfully using innovative instructional techniques across campus. Innovative instruction promotes student learning and success at NDSU, and we want to recognize the instructors who make this difference for our students. Do you know an instructor who deserves recognition for their efforts to improve teaching and learning on campus? Nominate them for our new monthly Innovation in Teaching Award. 

The Office of Teaching and Learning has established this monthly Innovation in Teaching Award to expand recognition and awareness of instructors who are successfully using innovative teaching strategies. This award recognizes individuals who have exhibited creativity to elicit high levels of student engagement and learning in their classroom environment.

Nominations can be made by any member of the NDSU community. Award recipients will receive special recognition from the President's office. Each nomination for this monthly award will be entered to win a $100 gift card to be drawn LIVE at our annual Teaching and Learning Conference.

To submit a nomination, click the button below.

This annual award has evolved over the last few years. The award was established in 2021 as a way to recognize instructors who were successfully implementing the HyFlex method of teaching that accompanied the pandemic. The following year (2022) the award was renamed the Innovation in Teaching Award and was intended to recognize instructors who were successfully using a variety of innovative instructional strategies. The award evolved once again the following year (2023) to offer a way to recognize more instructors who use innovative instructional strategies and became a monthly award that culminates in an end of the year award selected from one of the many nominees throughout the previous year.  

Though the name of the award has changed, the spirit of innovative instruction is the thread that binds each year's recipients. All previous year's recipients are listed below.

• Ahmad Al Asady, in the Department of Management and Marketing
• Maria Alfonseca Cubero, in the Department of Mathematics
• Hailey Alvey, in the Department of Psychology
• Lisa Arnold, in the Department of English
• Alyssa Backes, in the School of Nursing – Sanford, Bismarck
• Benjamin Balas, in the Department of Psychology
• Stephenson Beck, in the Department of Communication
• Bradley Benton, in the School of Humanities
• Erika Berg, in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Warren Christensen, in the Department of Physics
• James Clifton, in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems
• Martin Coleman, in the Department of Psychology
• Danielle Condry, in the Department of Microbiological Sciences
• Carol Cwiak, in the Department of Landscape Architecture/Emergency Management and Disaster Science
• Emmanuel Dadzie, in the Department of Communication
• Jessica Danielson, in the Department of Counselor Education
• Ramona Danielson, in the Department of Public Health
• Marty Douglas, in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
• Thomas Duffy, in the Department of Statistics
• Heather Fischer, in the Department of Architecture & Interior Design
• Luke Gibbon, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Blake Gilbert, in the Department of Psychology
• Eric Gjerdevig, in the Department of Management and Marketing
• Roberto Gomes, in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Roger Green, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Thomas Gustad, in the Department of Microbiological Sciences
• Kyle Hackney, in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
• Stuart Haring, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Elizabeth Hilliard, in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
• Erik Hobbie, in the Department of Physics
• Yongtao (David) Hong, in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems
• Hyeongjin Jeon, in the Department of Management and Marketing
• Kalpana Katti, in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Julie Ketterling, in the School of Nursing
• Sarah Kirkpatrick, in the Department of Landscape Architecture/Emergency Management and Disaster Science
• Alex Knopps, in the Department of Psychology
• Thomas Krumel, in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• Maxx Kureczko, in the Department of Mathematics
• Chau Le, in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Grant Lebahn, in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Chiwon Lee, in the Department of Plant Sciences
• Andrew Lexvold, in the Department of Statistics
• Zhibin Lin, in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Zoltan Majdik, in the Department of Communication
• Sanku Mallik, in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Sijo Mathew, in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Deona McEnery, in the Department of English
• Christi McGeorge, in the Department of Human Development and Family Science
• Lisa Montplaisir, in the Department of Biological Sciences
• Andrew Myer, in the Department of Criminal Justice
• Blaine Novak, in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Morgan O'Brien, in the Department of Mathematics
• Greg Oswald, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Peter Oduor, in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geospatial Sciences
• Taylor Pfarr, in the Career and Advising Center 
• Candace Philbrick, in the Department of Human Development and Family Science
• Harun Pirim, in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
• Carrie Anne Platt, in the Department of Communication
• Alex Radermacher, in the Department of Computer Science
• Ronald Ramsey, in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design
• William Refling, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Darrel Ross, in the School of Natural Resource Sciences
• Ellen Rubinstein, in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
• Kolby Schaeffer Fraase, in the School of Nursing
• Travis Seaborn, in the School of Natural Resource Sciences
• Andrea Smith, in the Department of Management and Marketing
• Leretta Smith, in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
• Matthew Smith, in the Department of Biological Sciences
• Sara Sunderlin, in the School of Design, Architecture, and Art
• Eric Syvertson, in the Department of Visual Art
• Jodi Tangen, in the Department of Counselor Education
• Annie Tangpong, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Brooke Thiel, in the Department of Youth Development, Family and Agricultural Education
• Rachel Thompson, in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems
• Umamasheshwara Rao Tida, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Lindsey Unterseher, in the School of Nursing – Sanford, Bismarck
• Kyle Vanderburg, in the Department of Theatre Arts
• Bryce VanVleet, in the Department of Human Development and Family Science
• Jessica Vold, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Yechun Wang, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Wen Wang, in the Department of Human Development and Family Science
• Sofia Wentz, in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
• Todd West, in the Department of Plant Sciences
• David Westerman, in the Department of Communication
• Heath Wing, in the Department of Spanish and Global Studies
• Nathan Wood, in the School of Education
• Dena Wyum, in the Department of Human Development and Family Science

• Michael Christoffers, associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences
• Heidi Eukel, professor in the Department of Pharmacy
• Anthony Faris, baccalaureate and gallery coordinator in the School of Design, Architecture, and Art
• Verena Theile, associate professor in the Department of English
• Sofia Wentz, teaching assistant in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
• David Westerman, associate professor in the Department of Communication

• Brandon Foye, assistant professor in the School of Education
• Febina Mathew, associate professor in plant pathology
• Justin Pieterick, senior lecturer in the School of Education

• Ramona Danielson, assistant professor in public health
• Pratyush Mishra, graduate teaching fellow in mathematics
• Michael Preheim, graduate teaching fellow in mathematics
• Allison Sadowsky, assistant professor of practice in nursing

• Ahmad Al Asady, assistant professor in management and marketing
• Ali Amiri, assistant professor of practice in mechanical engineering
• Anastassiya Andrianova, associate professor in English
• Angela Hodgson, professor of practice in biological sciences
• Barney Geddes, assistant professor in microbiological sciences
• Benjamin Balas, professor in psychology
• Carrie Nelson, assistant professor of practice in nursing
• Chasity Odden-Heide, graduate research assistant in the School of Education
• David Froslie, lecturer in computer science
• Elizabeth Gilblom, assistant professor in the School of Education
• Eric Syvertson, assistant professor in visual arts
• Florin Salajan, professor in the School of Education
• Gulnar Aghabalayeva, graduate teaching assistant in mathematics
• Igathinathane Cannayen, associate professor in ag & biosystems engineering
• Jack Norland, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources
• Jason Kost, assistant professor of practice in landscape architecture
• Jeanne Frenzel, professor in pharmacy practice
• Jodi Tangen, professor in counselor education
• Kathryn Wissman, assistant professor in psychology
• Lan Hu, lecturer in computer science
• Lauren Gietzen, graduate teaching assistant in nursing
• Lisa Richter, associate professor of practice in pharmacy practice
• Maria Alfonseca Cubero, professor of mathematics
• Matthew Olhoft, senior lecturer in ag and biosystems engineering
• Matthew Smith, associate professor of practice in biological sciences
• Maxx Kureczko, lecturer in mathematics
• Nate Wood, associate professor in the School of Education
• Rebekah Oliver, associate professor of practice in plant sciences
• Roger Green, professor in electrical and computer engineering
• SJ Williamson, graduate teaching assistant in English
• Shannon David Misialek, associate professor in health, nutrition, and exercise science
• Stephanie Erickson, assistant professor of practice in nursing
• Steven Briggs, associate professor in political science
• David Steward, professor in civil and environmental engineering
• Taylor Houtz, graduate teaching assistant in mathematics
• Todd West, professor in plant sciences
• Zhaohui Liu, associate professor in plant pathology
• Zhibin Lin, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering

• Allison Hursman, assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice
• Dmitri Kilin, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Lisa Arnold, associate professor, English Department
• Nate Wood, associate professor, School of Education
• Zahid Anwar, associate professor, Department of Computer Science

• Christopher Colbert, associate professor in chemistry and biochemistry
• Jamie Chen, assistant professor of practice in management & marketing
• Jun Chen, assistant professor in transportation, logistics, and finance
• Syeed Iskander, assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering
• Wenjie Xia, assistant professor in civil and environment engineering

• Danielle Condry, assistant professor of practice in microbiological science
• Jessica Vold, assistant professor in mechanical engineering
• Maxx Kureczko, lecturer in mathematics

• Abigail Burkett Vetter, assistant professor of practice in the School of Nursing
• Adam Marx, associate professor in the School of Education
• Adnan Akyuz, professor of climatological practice
• Alex Radermacher, lecturer of computer science
• Cassie Keogh, assistant professor of music
• Charlette Moe, associate professor of music and assistant director of choral activities
• Christi McGeorge, professor of human development and family science
• Christopher Byrd, assistant professor of animal sciences
• Curt Doetkott, consulting statistician in Information Technology
• Dane Mataic, assistant professor of sociology
• Dena Wyum, senior lecturer of human development and family science
• Eric Gjerdevig, lecturer of management and marketing
• G. Nazari, lecturer of mechanical engineering
• Gregory Cook, professor and chair of chemistry and biochemistry
• Heath Wing, assistant professor of Spanish
• Heidi Eukel, associate professor of pharmacy practice
• Holly Hassel, professor of English
• Jack Norland, associate professor in the School of Natural Resource Sciences
• Janet Page, assistant professor of mathematics
• Jennifer Momsen, professor of biological sciences
• Jenny Linker, associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences
• JoAnn Miller, University Distinguished Professor of music and director of choral activities
• Jodi Tangen, associate professor of counselor education
• Julie Ketterling, assistant professor of practice in the School of Nursing
• Kaitlyn Bock, doctoral graduate teaching assistant in criminal justice
• Kate Tulibaski, assistant professor of practice in the College of Business
• Kerrie Honrath, lecturer of health, nutrition and exercise sciences
• Kimberly Booth, assistant professor of practice in biological sciences
• Lisa Christenson, associate professor of practice in veterinary technology
• Martin Coleman, associate professor of practice in psychology
• Maxx Kureczko, lecturer of mathematics
• MIla Kryjevskaia, associate professor of physics
• Pinjing Zhao, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
• Rachel Richman, senior lecturer of microbiological sciences
• Sarah Crary, assistant professor in the School of Education
• Stacey Ostby, lecturer and vet technologist in animal science
• Stephen Disrud, lecturer in modern languages
• Thomas Gustad, instructor in microbiological sciences
• Wang Danling, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering

Congratulations to all the nominees for the 2022 Innovation in Teaching Award! Individuals listed are the nominees for the small and large enrollment award categories.

• Alexey Leontyev; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Allison Hursman; Department of Pharmacy Practice
• Heidi Eukel; Department of Pharmacy Practice
• Lisa Richter; Department of Pharmacy Practice
• Sara Berger; School of Nursing
• Stephanie Lemmer; Department of English
• Tori Rude; Department of Pharmacy Practice

The nominees listed are for both the Innovation in HyFlex Teaching and Inspiring Colleague awards:

• Beena Ajmera
• Enrique Alvarez
• Kimberly Booth
• Amitava Chatterjee
• Sajad Ebrahimi
• Rasha Hendawi
• Ben Laabs
• Stanley Ng
• Paul Omernik
• Mary Pearson
• Fred Riggins
• Jessie Rock
• Ellen Schwarz
• Lauren Singelmann
• Brad Strand
• Mark Strand
• Ryan Striker
• Laura Thomas
• Cheryl Wachenheim
• Nate Wood