The University’s annual Awards for Innovations in Teaching and Learning recognize faculty members who have shown exceptional dedication, innovation, and effectiveness in the classroom through recent and specific achievements in teaching.
The latest winners were recognized during the faculty-staff spring kickoff in Millard Auditorium on Feb. 4.
Meeting the awardees:
Peggy Mitchell Beauregard, associate professor of mathematics, and Taylor Bellagamba, assistant professor of mathematics, from Hillyer College, are gifted educators who share this award for the advancements they have made with four foundational math courses for students majoring in STEM fields. In many cases, these students enter college with math backgrounds that are in need of strengthening, and many are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds that require extra considerations. Beauregard and Bellagamba use methods that promote punctuality, increased comprehension, and accessibility to calculators and online learning tools to ensure that they all participate fully without financial barriers.
Kristal Cloft, assistant professor of applied mathematics in the College or Arts and Sciences, uses extraordinary creativity and dedication to transform the teaching of mathematics on campus. She approaches every class with a focus on what students truly gain from their learning experience, blending innovation with empathy. Cloft's pioneering use of 3D digital and printed models brings complex mathematical ideas vividly to life, helping students visualize and explore abstract concepts with clarity and excitement. Beyond technology, her performance-based assessments encourage critical thinking, communication, and confidence, making her classroom a model of active, student-centered learning.
Gengyun Le-Chan, assistant professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, demonstrates a deep commitment not only to students’ learning but also to strengthening our broader teaching community through evidence-based innovation in pedagogy. His innovations, which integrate game-based learning and artificial intelligence, are nothing short of spectacular. Evidence of Le-Chan's success is abundant, from increased student participation to greater confidence in critical thinking and problem-solving. He systematically studies his teaching, gathers mid-semester feedback, and shares his findings through conferences and scholarly manuscripts.
Shreya Malhotra, visiting assistant professor of economics in the Barney School of Business, has been at UHart only since the beginning of 2023, but her influence on students’ educational experience has been substantial and immediate. Malhotra prepares students to be as career-ready as possible. She has overhauled the term project process so that students can tap into real-world data from the Global Finance Database, which they use to analyze stock returns. Malhotra provides step-by-step instructions, motivates them, and bridges the gap between theory and real-world skills—ensuring that 100 percent of her students graduate with the digital proficiency that 83 percent of today’s employers demand.
Jennifer McLeer, assistant professor of psychology, has revolutionized the classroom experience with her Career Prep Sandwich model—a method that seamlessly integrates career development into academic coursework. The concept is as elegant as it is effective: students spend the first and last days of the semester—the “bread”—focusing exclusively on professional translation. They begin by analyzing real-world job ads to identify skill gaps, and they end by converting their coursework into polished résumé bullets and interview talking points. Using this approach to complement the classically academic "meat" of the semester, McLeer delicately threads the needle between practical career applications and abstract critical thinking.
Hashini Mohottala, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, focuses on the development of creative and accessible teaching tools for mechanics and the study of the human body. Because her courses attract students from fields such as physical therapy, exercise science, and health science, frequently they arrive with limited background in algebra or physics. Mohottala found a way to bridge this gap by designing engaging, pragmatic, enjoyable, discipline-relevant methods that help students see physics not as abstract theories, but as practical knowledge directly connected to their future professions.