Eight faculty members have been selected to win this year’s Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize exceptional teaching at the University of Oregon. 

The 2024-25 recipients are Lana Lopesi, Adell Amos, Mohsen Manesh, Marli Miller, Damian Radcliffe, Corrine Bayerl, Amanda Wojick and Naoko Nakadate. Each received a surprise visit this spring from administrators — including members of the Office of the Provost and on a few occasions, President Karl Scholz — who shared the news and gifted them with a crystal or Myrtlewood apple.  

Every year, the Distinguished Teaching Awards Committee reviews nomination submissions from all the schools and colleges to pick the winners.  

“Faculty from every corner of campus are engaging students in innovative, inclusive and transformative ways — and reading about these efforts was both humbling and inspiring,” committee chair Bjorn Smars said. 

When making their selections, the committee takes into account significant contributions to teaching at the university and the ways in which the individual enacts professional, inclusive, engaged and research-informed practices in their teaching. 

Due to the high caliber of the submissions, Smars said the committee had to make some tough calls. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to witness such powerful examples of teaching excellence and are honored to recognize just a few of the many who make such a meaningful difference in the lives of UO students,” he added. 

This year’s Ersted Award for Distinguished Teaching, which recognizes early career excellence, went to Lopesi, an assistant professor of Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies. Since joining the university in 2022, Lopesi has created five courses and developed the department’s first study abroad class, strengthening Pacific Islander Studies at the UO. 

Amos, Clayton R. Hess professor of law, received the Herman Faculty Achievement Award, which honors long-standing excellence in teaching and is the university’s highest teaching honor. With recent changes to the legal landscape at a national level, nominators said Amos has expertly adapted to meet the moment and prepare students for the future. Students called Amos “a superstar” and “truly an amazing professor.” 

The committee selected Manesh, Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Stewart professor of business law, to win the Herman Award for Online Education, which recognizes innovation and creativity in online or hybrid teaching. In 2020, Manesh transformed his course into an all-online experience with impactful asynchronous content and weekly Zoom sessions that prepare students for the bar exam. Each year, he updates the course to keep it fresh and relevant. Nominators said Manesh has been called a “technical virtuoso” for a reason. 

Miller, Radcliffe, Bayerl, Wojick and Nakadate each received a Herman Award for Specialized Pedagogy, which recognizes significant expertise in a particular area of teaching. 

As a senior instructor of Earth Sciences, Miller has earned the admiration of her faculty colleagues for learning her students’ names even in 400-student lectures. Department head Sam Hopkins said that Miller isn’t just an excellent teacher. 

“She is a pillar of our faculty community, a tireless advocate for the needs of students, and a creative and imaginative educator teaching some of the most difficult elements of our earth sciences curriculum,” she said. 

In the School of Journalism and Communication, Radcliffe teaches both large lecture courses and hands-on classes as a professor of practice. He supports student success through summer international study trips, an annual career-building trip to New York City and a speaker series that brings in high-profile experts. Nominators said he is “one of the world’s most significant thought leaders on social media, AI and emerging technologies.” 

Bayerl, a senior instructor in the Clark Honors College, has been with the university since 2012. She has taught at every level of the honors college, from helping new students through their first college course to mentoring seniors working to complete their thesis. Students have shared their deep appreciation for Bayerl’s detailed and constructive feedback. 

Since joining the College of Design in 2001, professor Wojick has made significant contributions to the university both inside and outside the classroom. In her art classes, Wojick highlights artists with diverse backgrounds and styles and includes thoughtful projects and course materials. Students said that she pushes them to get closer to their creative intuition.  

Lastly, nominators said senior instructor Nakadate has spent the past three decades shaping the Japanese language program at the university, bringing it into a prominent position in the field. During her time at the university, she has developed the Japanese Global Scholars program and taught at every level. Nakadate puts a clear focus on real-world communication and provides students with the opportunity to test their skills before each lecture. 

The best part of the awards process is seeing the reaction on students’ faces when the award is announced in their classroom, reports Renee Irvin, vice provost for academic affairs. 

“The room erupts into happy applause from the students,” she said. “Often faculty colleagues, tipped off ahead of time, come to join in the recognition. And this year, Professor Wojick’s family members brought the family dog to campus for the surprise announcement.” 

—By Chelsea Hunt, Office of the Provost Communications 
—Top photo: Clockwise, from top left: Naoko Nakadate, Amanda Wojick, Marli Miller, Corrine Bayerl, Lana Lopesi, Mohsen Manesh, Damian Radcliffe and Adell Amos.