UVA recognizes faculty, grad students for excellence in teaching, public service

The University of Virginia honored 18 of its faculty members and five graduate students April 28 with awards recognizing excellence in teaching and a strong commitment to public service.  

The celebration, held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda, followed a ceremony earlier in the semester honoring the research achievements of faculty members. 

“UVA faculty members are extraordinary teachers and scholars, and they lead work that serves the public in meaningful ways,” interim Executive Vice President and Provost Brie Gertler said. “We celebrated faculty research achievements earlier this semester. Now, we celebrate faculty members and graduate student instructors whose contributions reflect the University’s commitment to offering a transformative education and making a difference beyond Grounds. I’m grateful to work alongside them.”  

Celebrating Our Shared History - VA250
Celebrating Our Shared History - VA250

Here are the winners of the 2026 University Teaching Awards: 

Mulholland Society Resident Teaching Award

  • Dr. Alyssa Martin, School of Medicine 

Excellence in Education Abroad Award

  • Stefano Grazioli, McIntire School of Commerce 

All-University Teaching Awards 

  • Vaia Abatzis, School of Medicine 
  • Ann Backof, McIntire School of Commerce 
  • Mark Beenhakker, School of Medicine 
  • Martin Block, School of Education and Human Development            
  • Amy Boitnott, School of Nursing 
  • Michaela DuBay, School of Education and Human Development 
  • Mark Floryan, School of Engineering and Applied Science 
  • Amanda Frost, School of Law 
  • Todd Sechser, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences 

Alumni Board of Trustees Teaching Award

  • Adrienne Ghaly, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences 

Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award

  • Ran Zhao, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
The winners of the Graduate Student Teaching Awards pose in group together for photo.

The winners of the Graduate Student Teaching Awards are, from left, Grant Seiter, Heather Christensen, Navya Annapareddy, Sareena Chadha and Lauren Parker. (Photo by Dan Addison)

Here are the winners of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate Student Teaching Awards: 

Arts and Humanities

  • Lauren Parker, Department of English 

STEM Disciplines

  • Heather Christensen, Department of Environmental Sciences 

Social Science and Education

  • Grant Seiter, Department of Economics 

Frank Finger Graduate Fellowship for Teaching

  • Sareena Chadha, Department of Psychology 

Class of 1985 Fellowship for Creative Teaching

  • Navya Annapareddy, School of Data Science 

 

The Public Service Award Winners pose together for photo.

The Public Service Award Winners are, back row, left to right, Randy Jones, Malinda Whitlow and Peter Alonzi; front row: Kyle Sturgeon and Amy Boitnott. (Photo by Dan Addison)

The University also recognizes faculty members for outstanding community-engaged scholarship. Here are the winners of the 2026 Public Service Awards: 

Collaborative Excellence in Public Service

  • Amy Boitnott, Randy Jones and Malinda Whitlow, School of Nursing 

Excellence in Public Service Awards: 

Sarah Richardson from the Writing and Rhetoric program, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences 

Pete Alonzi, School of Data Science 

Kyle Sturgeon, School of Architecture 

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