Teaching, research and creativity are the hallmarks of an excellent educator. Each year, TCU deans bestow two of the highest university-level awards—the Deans’ Teaching Award and the Deans’ Award for Research and Creativity—to outstanding faculty members for their dedication to excellence.

Each award accepts only eight finalists: one from each of the six colleges and schools, and one each from Humanities and Social Sciences from the AddRan College of Liberal Arts. Nominees must be full-time faculty members employed by TCU for at least five years.

All deans meet to discuss the nominees and vote on the three winners for each award. Each award winner receives $2,500.

Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg will announce the 2021 winners on April 28.

Here are the 16 finalists:

Deans’ Teaching Award - Finalists

The Deans’ Teaching Award honors TCU faculty members who are nominated by their peers for demonstrating an exceptional dedication to teaching and teaching-related activities.

Michelle Bauml, Clotilda Winter Professor of Education and Associate Professor of Early Childhood/Social Studies Education, College of Education

Robert Bittle, Associate Professor of Engineering, College of Science & Engineering

Phil Esposito, Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Kinesiology and Director of the Undergraduate Program, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Beata Jones, Professor of Professional Practice in Business Information Systems, Neeley School of Business

Alex Lemon, Professor of English, AddRan College of Liberal Arts

Penny Maas, Associate Professor of Theatre, College of Fine Arts

Paul Witt, Professor of Communication Studies, Bob Schieffer College of Communication

Amina Zarrugh, Assistant Professor of Sociology, AddRan College of Liberal Arts 

Deans’ Award for Research and Creativity - Finalists

The Dean’s Award for Research and Creativity honors faculty members who produced the highest quality research as a creative activity, recognized nationally/internationally.

Joshua Bentley, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer College of Communication

Gregg Cantrell, Professor of History and Director of Graduate Studies, AddRan College of Liberal Arts

Shana Clor-Proell, Associate Professor of Accounting, Neeley School of Business

Lori Diel, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and Professor of Art History, College of Fine Arts

Sarah Hill, Professor of Psychology, College of Science & Engineering

Joseph Darda, Associate Professor English, AddRan College of Liberal Arts

Sarah Quebec-Fuentes, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, College of Education

Meena Shah, Chair, Professor and Graduate Program Director of Kinesiology, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Congratulations to all the finalists. Winners will be announced April 28.