
Pedagogical Mentorship Award
2023 Award Winner
Michelle Zoss, PhD, Department of Middle and Secondary Education
Dr. Michelle Zoss is an Associate Professor of English Education in the Department of Middle and Secondary Education. Dr. Zoss was nominated for the 2023 GTA Pedagogy Mentor Award by her advisee Ms. Karla Bradford-Humphrey. Ms. Bradford-Humphrey writes, “Dr. Zoss inspires me to teach with a spirit of equity and justice, to not be afraid to advocate because I’m overwhelmed with fear, and to speak with citational authority because the right people will listen and hear me. I can only hope to encourage others the way she has emboldened me. “ Congrulations to Dr. Zoss for receiving the GTA Pedagogy Mentor Award for 2023. We thank you for the dedication you show to your students and the help you provide them as they develop their own teaching.
Each year, graduate students will be asked to nominate a faculty member who has served as a teaching inspiration and mentor. The faculty member is someone who has served as an official or unofficial teaching mentor.
Nominees will be considered according to the following criteria:
1. Evidence of mentorship (as represented by the demonstration of effective and innovative teaching, one-on-one guidance, willingness to share expertise, and engagement with graduate teaching assistants).
2. Evidence of leadership (as represented by positions held in the department related to graduate student teaching development, presentations to graduate students, participation in co-teaching, observations, or other endeavors designed to improve graduate student teaching).
Mentors cannot “self-nominate.” All mentors must be nominated by graduate students from their departments.
Questions about this award can be sent to Jennifer Hall: [email protected].
Previous Winners
2022:Dr Rasha Ramzy, Associate Chair and Senior Lecturer, Communications
2021: Dr. Feng Yang, Kinesiology and Health
2020: Dr. Stephanie Gutzler, Biology
2019: Dr. Janice Fournillier, Department of Educational Policy Studies
2019: Dr. Julie Kubala, The Institute for Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies
2018: Dr. Elizabeth Lopez, Associate Professor, English
2017: Dr. Sandra Dwyer, Principal Senior Lecturer, Philosophy
2016: Mindy Stombler, Principle Senior Lecturer, Sociology