Student-nominated awards spotlight teaching impact

President Fowler (left) presents a Drazek Award to Michelle Fukuyama, PhD, at the 鱨վ in Asia commencement ceremony in Okinawa, Japan on April 18, 2026.

Each year, 鱨վ presents its highest honors for teaching excellence: the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Awards and the 鱨վ Teaching Recognition Awards, recognizing faculty who embody the university’s global commitment to education that transforms lives. 

On May 13, 2026, the university recognized 11 faculty members as Drazek Award recipients (an honor which can only be received once in a professor’s career). Another 12 faculty received 鱨վ Teaching Recognition Awards for notable teaching achievements. 

“When our graduates tell us why 鱨վ worked for them … they start with an individual, and with the name of someone who saw and heard them,” said 鱨վ President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, in a global, virtual ceremony. “That is the work of our faculty, and it lies at the heart of the learning experience we work so hard to provide.”

 Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Awards 2026

Teaching Recognition Awards 2026

  • Mike Ball, School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology

  • Keith Diener, JD, School of Business

  • Melissa Donovan, EdD, 鱨վ in Europe

  • Misty Blue Green, First Year Experience

  • Anne-Marie Harcrow, 鱨վ in Europe

  • Roger Kingston, DSL, School of Business

  • Ed Lowe, EdD, School of Integrative and Professional Studies

  • Bradley Price, 鱨վ in Europe

  • Hinako Takahashi-Breines, PhD, 鱨վ in Asia

Award recipients from 2002 to 2026 can also be found on the Wall of Honor webpage.

At the ceremony, more than 800 adjunct faculty were recognized for reaching milestone teaching anniversaries, from 260 celebrating five years of service to 19 who have been with the university 30 years or more. One—Harpal Dhillon, PhD—celebrated a career spanning a remarkable 50 years.

In addition to 175 full-time collegiate faculty, 鱨վ’s global team of adjunct faculty includes more than 4,800 practitioner instructors, many of whom hold professional roles in the fields that they teach. Some 35 percent of 鱨վ faculty also have a connection to the U.S. military, as a veteran, active-duty servicemen, reservist, or military spouse. 

About the awards

The Drazek Award is named for Stanley J. Drazek, who served as the second chancellor of what is now 鱨վ and who championed excellence in higher education for nontraditional students, particularly those in the military.

Nominees for the Drazek and Teaching Recognition Awards are chosen by 鱨վ students, who take time out of their demanding schedules to recognize professors who made a difference in their academic journeys. Nominators must describe how a professor built positive relationships, stimulated intellectual growth and enjoyment of learning, connected course content to professional work, and demonstrated responsiveness to students’ needs and goals. Once nominated, professors must provide materials demonstrating their commitment to excellence in teaching, including course syllabi, data about their work with 鱨վ, a statement about their teaching philosophy, and a teaching portfolio.

The selection committee grants the award based on the content of the nomination and supporting data, while also considering the professor’s commitment to 鱨վ, record of teaching excellence and high academic standards, and evidence of effective, innovative teaching methods.

鱨վ will spotlight Drazek award winners in the coming weeks in the Global Media Center, adding links above when new profiles are available.