The President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence represents the highest level of achievement in teaching given at the University of Iowa.

The Council on Teaching seeks nominations of outstanding faculty members with sustained records of teaching excellence and a strong commitment to student learning outcomes in and out of the classroom. Three clinical-track or tenure-track faculty members and one instructional-track or adjunct faculty member will be selected to receive this award, which carries a $3,000 honorarium.

Nomination is not restricted to Collegiate Teaching Award recipients or nominees, but having been previously recognized for teaching excellence (e.g., collegiate awards, professional association awards) will be strongly considered. The President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence can only be received once.

The Council regards the following qualities as evidence of teaching excellence. It is not expected that nominees will have demonstrated all of these qualities, nor engaged in all such activities.

  • A sustained record of teaching excellence at the University of Iowa (usually 10 years or more) 
  • Previous recognition for excellence in teaching at the University of Iowa
  • Innovative curriculum development/enhancement for required and elective courses, with instruction suited to a variety of student learning styles
  • Mentorship of individual undergraduate and graduate/professional students
  • Mentorship of student groups or organizations
  • A demonstrated commitment to promoting an inclusive and accessible learning environment for students of all backgrounds and identities, both in and out of the classroom
  • A genuine interest in student welfare and the career success of former students
  • Educational outreach which improves instruction in Iowa primary and secondary schools

Colleges may submit up to three nominations on behalf of clinical-track or tenure-track faculty, and up to two nominations on behalf of instructional-track or adjunct faculty.  

Only nominations submitted by collegiate deans will be considered for this award. DEOs or faculty members who wish to nominate should contact their collegiate dean’s office to initiate the process.

Colleges are encouraged to use a collaborative and inclusive nomination process that involves faculty, administrators, and students. The collegiate dean's nomination letter must provide clear evidence of meaningful participation by students in the nomination and selection process.

Nomination materials must be combined into one PDF file and submitted by the nominee's collegiate dean's office to council-on-teaching@uiowa.edu by noon on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 (the day before Thanksgiving).

Submission packets must include:

  • A completed President and Provost Award Cover Sheet.
    • Note: Click "Open on Desktop" then "Fill & Sign" under Tools to complete the form.)
  • A brief statement (not to exceed two pages) of the nominee's teaching philosophy and practices.
  • An abbreviated CV (not to exceed five pages) which includes the following:
    • A brief professional history (degrees received, faculty positions held, including relevant dates).
    • A narrative summary or table of courses taught in the past five years, including the number of student contact hours.
    • A list summarizing other undergraduate or graduate teaching-related activities, including mentoring, advising, and/or curriculum development or enhancement.
    • A list of teaching awards (or nominations) received at the University of Iowa.
    • Note: Do not include scholarly publications, research grants, or administration/service positions held unless they demonstrably relate to teaching.
  • Five recent letters of support from current and former students, including at least one letter from a former student describing how the nominee demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning through teaching.
  • Two recent letters of support from faculty colleagues describing the nominee's record of contributions to teaching excellence. One of these letters should come from the nominee's DEO.
  • A compilation of student comments (not to exceed one page) from course evaluations, the Center for Teaching Thank-a-Teacher program, or similar sources.
  • A letter from the nominee's collegiate dean explaining the college's nomination process and why the college chose to nominate this candidate. The letter must provide clear evidence of meaningful participation by students in the nomination and selection process.
Nancy Abram's intro to marketing strategy class

Past recipients of the President & Provost Award for Teaching Excellence, with their teaching departments.

2022-23

  • Mitchell Kelly - Educational Psychology
  • David Murhammer - Chemical & Biochemical Engineering 
  • Lorie Reins-Schweer - Law
  • Joseph Yockey  - Law

2012-13

  • Alexander, Meredith - Theatre Arts
  • Hendrix, Stephen - Biology
  • Lang, Cornelia - Physics/Astronomy
  • Rubenstein, Peter - Medicine

2021-22

  • Kathleen Andersen - Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • Samuel Burer - Business Analytics
  • Donna D'Alessandro - Pediatrics
  • Colleen Mitchell - Mathematics

2011-12

  • Bradley, Jr. A. Allen - Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Christensen-Szalanski, Jay - Management and Organizations
  • Sheerin, Caroline - Law
  • Tate, Jodi - Psychiatry

2020-21

  • Mary Noonan – Sociology and Criminology
  • Elizabeth Oakes – Music
  • Lisa Segre – Nursing
  • Madeline Shea – Biochemistry

    2010-11

    • Heidger, Paul - Anatomy and Cell Biology
    • Kostina, Irina - Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures
    • Peters, John Durham - Communication Studies
    • Pettys, Todd - Law

      2019-20

      • Abram, Nancy -  Marketing
      • Elias, Stella Burch - Law
      • Kleinschmit, Julia - Social Work
      • Raghavan, Suresh - Biomedical Engineering

        2009-10

        • Hauserman, Nancy - Management and Organizations
        • Houge, Todd - Finance
        • Parkin, Gene F. - Civil and Environmental Engineering
        • Pienta, Norbert J. - Chemistry

          2018-19

          • Anderson, Dawn Baker - Law
          • Rodgers, Vincent - Physics and Astronomy
          • Sharp, William J. - Surgery
          • Stewart, Greg - Management and Organizations

            2008-09

            • Bergus, George - Family Medicine
            • Bezanson, Randall - Law
            • Brown, Kenneth - Management and Organizations
            • Kamerick, Kathleen - History

              2017-18

              • Gruca, Thomas - Marketing
              • Knight, Megan - Rhetoric
              • Suneja, Manish - Internal Medicine
              • Vecera, Shaun - Psychological and Brain Sciences

                2007-08

                • Buss, William - Law
                • Emery, Mary Lou - English
                • Gordon, Joel - Internal Medicine
                • Just, Craig - Civil and Environmental Engineering

                  2016-17

                  • Durham, Meenakshi Gigi - Journalism & Mass Communication
                  • Jessop, Julie - Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
                  • Larsen, Russell - Chemistry
                  • Oetting, Thomas - Ophthalmology

                    2006-07

                    • Kletzing, Craig - Physics and Astronomy
                    • Lawry, George - Internal Medicine
                    • Thompson, Edward - Nursing

                      2015-16

                      • Kruger, Anton - Electrical & Computer Engineering
                      • Matheson, Dan - Health & Human Physiology
                      • Weeks, Daniel - Biochemistry
                      • Williams, Rachel - School of Art & Art History, Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies

                        2005-06

                        • Bai, Er-Wei - Electrical and Computer Engineering
                        • Heimer, Karen - Sociology
                        • Marshall, Leslie - Nursing

                          2014-15

                          • Coggins-Mosher, Cinda - Rhetoric
                          • Cowles, Mary Kathryn ("Kate") - Statistics and Actuarial Science
                          • Rosenbaum. Marcy - Family Medicine
                          • Sanders, Sara - Social Work

                            2004-05

                            • Dove, Edwin - Biomedical Engineering
                            • Folsom, Ed - English
                            • Stensvaag, John-Mark - Law

                              2013-14

                              • Aquilino, Mary - Community and Behavioral Health
                              • Holstein, Jay - Religious Studies
                              • Mote, Gale - Management and Organizations
                              • Schmidt, Thomas J. -  Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                                2003-04

                                • Densen, Peter - Internal Medicine
                                • Finkelstein, Michael - Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine
                                • Mangum, Teresa - English