2026 Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
By student body referendum in 1989 and initiation of a special student fee, the Student Undergraduate Teaching Awards were established to recognize outstanding undergraduate instruction by both faculty and teaching assistants. In 2004, an addendum to the referendum established a staff award to recognize a staff member’s specific contributions to the undergraduate experience at Carolina. A committee comprised of students reviewed the teaching nominations on the basis of demonstrated and consistent teaching excellence, success in positively affecting a broad spectrum of students both in and outside the classroom and creation of a dynamic learning environment. The staff award nominations were reviewed on the basis of demonstrated excellence in service, dedication to undergraduate students, and in positively affecting a broad spectrum of Carolina undergraduate students. Winners receive a certificate and a monetary award.
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Mallory Alman
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Environment, Ecology and Energy Program
“Compared to other teaching assistants I have had, Mallory stands out for her approach to instruction. She made difficult concepts more accessible by proactively addressing common mistakes and framing them as learning opportunities rather than failures. Importantly, she allowed students the space to work through problems independently while remaining readily available to provide guidance when needed.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Rebecca D. Black
House Manager, Carolina Performing Arts
“She runs her huge team flawlessly with meticulous attention to every detail, but what truly sets her apart is the mentorship and care she offers to each and every student on the team. Rebecca’s impact goes far beyond what I think most of her colleagues realize. She takes the time to know each team member personally, celebrating their successes, supporting them through challenges, and helping them build the confidence and professionalism they’ll carry into their future careers.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Rachel V. Briggs
Teaching Associate Professor, Anthropology
“She created a classroom environment where students feel engaged, respected, and genuinely excited to learn. Her teaching makes complex anthropological concepts approachable by connecting them to real-world examples. She was clear in her expectations, gave thoughtful feedback, and encouraged students to grow intellectually rather than focus solely on grades.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Aubrey Hart
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Italian
“He has such passion for both Italian and teaching, an invaluable combination that creates such a comfortable learning environment. In fact, I wasn’t certain about taking the fourth level of Italian, but as soon as my professor told me that Aubrey was teaching the course, my friend and I knew we had to continue with Italian–past the required three levels.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Caroline Henderson
Instructor, Clinical Laboratory Science
“Ms. Henderson consistently creates engaging content and a welcoming environment for students. … All of my classmates look forward to seeing her in the classroom or lab, and many of us feel comfortable enough with her to ask for letters of recommendation or references for job applications. … She is greatly deserving of an award centered on positive impact in student lives—every day in class is a good day when Ms. Henderson is teaching!”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Evan Isaacson
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Journalism and Media
“Rather than simply teaching research as a technical skill, he challenges students to think about the ethical implications of data, the power of insights, and the responsibility communicators hold when presenting findings. Class discussions are interactive and thoughtful, often built around real-world case studies that require students to defend their reasoning and analyze multiple perspectives. His energy and enthusiasm make students want to participate, and he fosters a classroom culture where questions are welcomed and intellectual risk-taking is supported.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: DD Lewis
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Journalism and Media
“Her teaching has had a strong and lasting impact on my academic experience. One of DD’s greatest strengths is how clearly she explains difficult concepts. I go to her office hours every week, and she always takes time to walk me through course materials step by step. She explains ideas in simple and practical ways. She never rushes. She listens carefully to my questions and makes sure I truly understand before moving on. Because of her help, I have gained a much stronger understanding of public relations research.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: James Douglas McCollum Jr.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Communication
“‘He is constantly making the material engaging and productive, while always allowing collaborative opportunities to work with other peers. The environment in his classroom is extremely positive as he always makes sure that no one is bringing each other down. Even in instances when we give critiques based on others’ speeches, he asks us to use the sandwich method (one positive, one critique, and another positive).”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Dulcinea Muñoz Gomez
Teaching Assistant Professor, Romance Studies
“Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I looked forward to her class. I knew that I would be actively engaged, instead of sitting through a boring lecture, and that I would laugh, cheer, and have meaningful conversations every single class period. …We were free to make mistakes, as she would gently correct them, and always excited to engage with each other, as well as Dulcinea. This created a classroom that was fun. A classroom that I was excited to spend 50 minutes in.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Aliza Nedimyer
Teaching Assistant Professor, Exercise and Sport Science
“The coursework I initially expected to find dull was instead engaging and laid a strong foundation for how I now view physical activity in society. I have felt enormously encouraged to continue pursuing my education and have been fortunate to gain unforgettable experiences because of Dr. Nedimyer’s belief in me and her ability to cultivate a supportive learning environment.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Anthony F. Patterson, PhD
Teaching Associate Professor, Exercise and Sport Science
“With his help, I have been able to better understand the industry I want to work in and gain more experiences to put on my résumé. Tony has also been a mentor in helping me figure out my post-graduate plans, talking to me about graduate school and job opportunities. He continuously sends me potential programs, scholarships, awards, and internships that fit my goals. He is consistently there for me if I need any help academically, always having a solution or being able to find the right answer.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Laura Sonday
Assistant Professor, Organizational Behavior
“The way she speaks is clear, eloquent, and intentional, which makes complex leadership ideas feel practical and applicable. She is never boring. Ever. Her energy is steady, positive, and engaging. You can tell she genuinely cares about what she is teaching and about the people in the room. That consistency matters. She shows up every class prepared, present, and focused on helping us grow.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Kym Weed
Associate Professor, English and Comparative Literature
“I came to Dr. Kym Weed’s Introduction to Health Humanities course with a single major in Neuroscience, and I came out with a second major, English with a Concentration in Science, Medicine, and Literature. …I had never conducted humanities research before, but this did not deter Dr. Weed because she saw my passions in mental health narratives and helped me build my budding ideas towards a full, independent research project on the depiction of mental health in fiction.”
Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards
Recipient: Lillian Zwemer, PhD
Teaching Assistant Professor, Biology
“She is witty, passionate about Biology, and encouraging. I have genuinely loved learning in this class because of how Dr. Zwemer presents the material in an accessible way, provides support mechanisms, and truly engages learners throughout their journey of growth in Biology. I am so happy I have had the opportunity to learn from her, understand how personalized my experience at UNC can be, and become more excited about my future in upper-level Biology courses.”