The Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows experience is designed to bring together mid-career and senior faculty who have demonstrated strength in the classroom and are interested in working on initiatives that further enhance student learning. This is an "invitation" program that is an honor for those on campus who are already successful in their careers and who have the potential of providing leadership in teaching and learning to their colleagues as well.

2025-26 Cohort: Developing DBER Leaders

This year's Hesburgh program will provide an opportunity for faculty to develop or refine Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) skills to address questions about teaching and learning in their respective disciplines. Weekly topics will support participants as they design their own projects. Example topics include: framing the educational problem by locating the relevant empirical literature, designing the study using quant/qual/mixed method research approaches, and optimizing learning analytics to better understand the factors influencing teaching and learning and the environments within which they occur. 

Apply HERE by August 15th:  Hesburgh Award Nomination Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible? 

This program is designed for faculty with at least five years of experience teaching in higher education or who have achieved any of the following ranks: Associate and Full Professors, Senior and Principal Academic Professionals, Senior and Principal Lecturers, Senior and Principal Research Scientists.

When does the program take place? 

Fellows will meet together regularly through the fall semester and work on their own projects for the remainder of the year. 

How do I apply? 

Selection of Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows occurs through a combination of nomination, recruitment, and schedule compatibility. If you are interested in this cohort, you can nominate yourself or speak with your department chair/school director or a former Hesburgh Fellow and request that they nominate you for the experience. 

What resources are available?

Financial support will be available to support the education research project of each participant up to $500. 

What would I be committing to?

The fellows will meet regularly throughout the fall based on everyone's schedules. During those meetings and with the help of CTL faculty, fellows will develop educational research projects including 1) developing research questions, 2) identifying measures of cognitive, affective, and socio-cultural variables, 3) develop data collection and analysis plans, and 4) begin the IRB approval process.  During the spring, fellows will continue to develop their projects independently with regular individual consultations with CTL faculty. Finally, fellows are invited to create a 'research in progress' poster for the Celebrating Teaching Day poster session in March 2026. 

How is this program funded? 

The program was piloted in 1998 and institutionalized in 1999 with proceeds from the Hesburgh Award, which was presented by TIAA-CREF. 

How can I get more information about the program as a nominator or potential participant? 

Please email Amanda Nolen for details. She can also connect you with past fellows if you would like a peer perspective.

Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows develop teaching and learning projects to implement in their courses, which they share these during Celebrating Teaching Day. Projects done by Fall 2019 Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows include

• “Learning Science Better with the Intentional Use of Language” by Faisal Alamgir, Materials Science and Engineering, Associate Professor
• “Bringing Physics to Life: New Content and New Approaches for Teaching Introductory Physics of Living Systems” by JC Gumbart, Physics, Associate Professor
• “Peer Review of Assignments” Alexander Lerch, Music, Associate Professor
• “Beneficial Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention for Incoming Undergraduate Students” by Paul Verhaeghen, Psychology, Professor, Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows; Monica Halka, Georgia Tech Honors Program, Associate Director

Current and Past Hesburgh Award Cohorts

Past Hesburgh Award Cohorts

Fall 2022 Fellows

• Ed Greco, Physics, Senior Academic Professional
• Hui Zhu, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Senior Academic Professional
• Amit Jariwala, Mechanical Engineering, Senior Academic Professional
• Teresa Snow, Biological Sciences, Senior Academic Professional
• Michael Buchanan, Scheller College of Business, Senior Lecturer
• Ennis Parker, School of Building Construction, Professor of Practice
• John Threadgill, School of Building Construction, Professor of Practice
• Lauren Stewart, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Associate Professor

Fall 2021 Fellows

• Amy D'Unger, History and Sociology, Senior Academic Professional
• Mike Evans, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Senior Academic Professional
• Gabe Kwong, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Kamran Paynabar, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Associate Professor
• Pamela Pollet, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Senior Academic Professional
• Raghu Pucha, Mechanical Engineering, Senior Academic Professional

Fall 2020 Fellows

• Hayriye Ayhab, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Professor
• Doug Flamming, History and Sociology, Professor
• Hamid Garmestani, Materials Science and Engineering, Professor
• Sakis Mantalaris, Biomedical Engineering, Professor
• Mohan Srinivasarao, Materials Science and Engineering, Professor

Fall 2019 Fellows

• Faisal Alamgir, Materials Science and Engineering, Associate Professor
• JC Gumbart, Physics, Associate Professor
• Alexander Lerch, Music, Associate Professor
• Peng Qiu, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Jarek Rossignac, Interactive Computing, Professor
• Paul Verhaeghen, Psychology, Professor

Fall 2018 Fellows

• Peter Brecke, International Affairs, Assistant Dean for Information Technology and Associate Professor
• Betsy DiSalvo, Interactive Computing, Associate Professor
• Alper Erturk, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Yuhong Fan, Biological Sciences, Associate Professor and Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Scholar
• David Goldsman, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Director of Master's Programs and Professor
• Adegboyega Oyelere, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Professor
• Manu Platt, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor, Diversity Director, STC on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS), and GRA Distinguished Scholar
• Jerry Ulrich, Music, Associate Professor and Director, Choral Activities

Fall 2017 Fellows

• Federico Bonetto, Math, Associate Professor
• Xu-Yan Chen, Math, Associate Professor
• Caroline Genzale, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Melissa Kemp, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Xiaoliang Li, Modern Languages, Associate Professor of Chinese
• Pete Ludovice, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Associate Professor
• Alex Orso, Computer Science, Professor and Associate School Chair
• Jenny Singleton, Professor of Psychology at University of Texas at Austin
• John Wise, Physics, Dunn Family Associate Professor
• DJ Wu, Scheller College of Busines, Ernest Scheller Jr. Chair in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization; Professor; Area Coordinator, Information Technology Management

Spring 2017 Fellows

• Matthieu Bloch, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Associate Professor
• Phillip First, Physics, Professor
• Nora Cottille-Foley, Modern Languages, Associate Professor of French
• Dennis Hess, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor and Thomas C. DeLoach, Jr. Chair
• Charles Kemp, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Zhiwu Lin, Mathematics, Professor
• Fumin Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Professor
• Ying Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Associate Professor

2015 Fellows

• Pamela Bhatti, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Hyesoon Kim, Computer Science, Associate Professor
• Wendy Kelly, Chemistry, Associate Professor
• Eric Overby, Scheller College of Business, Associate Professor
• Olivier Pierron, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Ignacio Taboada , Physics, Associate Professor

2014 Fellows

• Roberta Berry, Public Policy, Associate Professor & Director - GT Honors Program
• Jason Freeman, Music, Professor and Chair
• Michael Leamy, Mechanical Engineering, Professor
• Anton Leykin, Mathematics, Professor
• Milena Mihail, Computer Science, Associate Professor
• Elliot Moore, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Associate Chair-Academic
• Meisha Shofner, Materials Science Engineering, Associate Professor and Interim Executive Director of Renewable Bioproducts Institute

2013 Fellows

• Vicki Birchfield, International Affairs, Professor and Co-Director for the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies
• Sasha Boldyreva, Computer Science, Associate Chair-Academic, Professor; Coordinator, M.S. in Information  Security
• Nisha Botchwey, City and Regional Planning, Associate Professor
• Leslie DeChurch, Professor of Communication Studies, Northwestern University
• Yu Jeffrey Hu, Scheller College of Business, Sharon A. and David B. Pearce Professor
• Robert Kirkman, Public Policy, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies - Student Advising
• Jian Luo, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Associate Professor
• James Rhett Mayor, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor
• Jake Soper, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Professor

2012 Fellows

• Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Associate Chair for Global Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and Professor
• Frank Dellaert, Interactive Computing, Professor
• Nicholas Feamster, Professor of Computer Science, Princeton University
• Michael Goodisman, Biological Sciences, Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education
• Narin Hassan. Literature, Media & Communication, Associate Professor and Director of Outreach and Community Engagement
• Koert Van Ittersum, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Well-Being, University of Groningen
• Deirdre Shoemaker, Physics, Professor
• Donggang Yao, Materials Science & Engineering, Professor
• Alasdair Young, International Affairs, Professor and Co-Director for the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies

2011 Fellows

• Federico Bonetto, Math, Associate Professor
• Facundo Fernandez, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Vasser Woolley Foundation Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry
• Al Ferri, Mechanical Engineering, Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
• King Jordan, Biological Sciences, Associate Professor and Director, Bioinformatics Graduate Program
• Julia Melkers, Public Policy, Associate Professor
• Michael Nitsche, Literature, Media and Communication, Associate Professor
• Milos Prvulovic, Computer Science, Professor and Associate School Chair
• Bill Winders History and Sociology, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies

2010 Fellows

• Jeffrey Davis, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Associate Professor
• Mark Ferguson, Chair and Professor of Management Science, University of South Carolina
• Plamen Iliev, Mathematics, Professor
• J. Carson Meredith, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor and J. Carl Pirkle Sr. Faculty Fellow
• Jennifer Michaels, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Retired Professor
• Colin Potts, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
• Juan Rogers, Public Policy, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies - Recruiting and Admissions
• Stephen Ruffin, Aerospace Engineering, Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Programs

2009 Fellows

• Robert Braun, Dean of College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder
• Jonathan Clarke, Management, Associate Professor
• Aaron Lanterman, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Professor
• Joel Sokol, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Professor
• Adam Stulberg, International Affairs, Associate Chair/Research and Neal Family Chair Professor
• Marc Weissburg, Biological Sciences, Professor
• Han Zhang, Management, Steven A. Denning Professor in Technology & Management; Professor;Faculty Director, Denning Technology & Management Program

Past Hesburgh Award Teaching and Learning Projects

• Discussion Starters: Increasing and Improving Classroom Discussion by Betsy DiSalvo, Associate Professor, Interactive Computing, 2018
• Use of Office Hours to Create an Inclusive Learning Culture by Melissa Kemp, Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor, 2017
• Modernizing the Honors Physics II Lab by John Wise, Associate Professor, Physics, 2017
• Experiential Learning in Two-Sided Market Pricing: A Field Experiment by Dongjun Wu, Professor, Scheller College of Business, 2017
• Encouraging Students to Take Intelligent Risks: The Importance of Play, Mindset and Motivation in Teaching, Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellows, Spring 2017
• In-Class Activities and Teaching of Quantum Mechanics by Ignacio Taboada , Physics, Associate Professor, 2015
• Musical Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Studio Course with Artists in Residence by Jason Freeman, Professor and Chair, Music, 2014
• Hands-On Demonstrations of Dynamics using an IPhone and Other IT, by Michael Leamy, Professor, Mechanical Engineering 2014
• Clicker Engagement in a "Large" Intro to Signal Processing Course by Elliot Moore II, Associate Chair-Academic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2014
• Going with the Flow: Bringing Laboratory Experiences and Assessment to the Classroom by Meisha Shofner, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Interim Executive Director of Renewable Bioproducts Institute, 2014
• The Meaning of Global Citizenship by Vicki Birchfield, Professor of International Affairs and Co-Director for the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, 2013
• Teaching a Theory Course to Students Interested in Applications by Sasha Boldyreva,  Associate Chair-Academic, Professor; Coordinator, M.S. in Information Security, Computer Science, 2013
• Built Enviornment and Public Health Clearinghourse (BEPHC) by Nisha Botchwey Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning, 2013
• Deploying Dream Teams in the Classroom: The My Dream Team Builder by Leslie DeChurch, Professor of Communication Studies, Northwestern University, 2013
• Considered Judgment...Hold the Judgment! An Evaluation Scheme for Practical Ethics Courses by Robert Kirkman, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies - Student Advising, Public Policy, 2013
• An Ongoing Project: Comparison of Traditional Classroom and Online Teaching by Jian Luo, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013
• Only Some of the Answers: Open-Ended In-Class Demonstrations as Tools to Enhance Student Learning by Jake Soper, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Professor, 2013
• Cultivating Teaching-Learning Networks by Adjo A. Amekudzi-Kennedy, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Associate Chair for Global Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and Professor, 2012
• Using Multiple Robot Platforms for an Introductory Robotics Perception Course by Frank Dellaert, Interactive Computing, Professor, 2012
• BISmark: Broadband Internet Service Benchmark by Nicholas Feamster, Professor of Computer Science, Princeton University, 2012
• Does Studying Bioethics Affect Student Values? by Michael Goodisman, Biological Sciences, Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education, 2012
• Circulating Narratives: Serialized Victorian Fiction and Collaborative Reading in the Georgia Tech Classroom by Literature, Media & Communication, Associate Professor and Director of Outreach and Community Engagement, 2012
• Black Hole Lab: Using Technology to Understand the Universe by Deirdre Shoemaker, Physics, Professor, 2012
• Assurance of Learning by ​Koert Van Ittersum, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Well-Being, University of Groningen, 2012
• Classroom Presentations with a Tablet Computer for Enhanced Learning and Teaching by ​Donggang Yao, Materials Science & Engineering, Professor, 2012
• Simulating the Global Politics of Technology Regulation by ​Alasdair Young, International Affairs, Professor and Co-Director for the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, 2012
• Development of Virtual Labs to Supplement Hands-On Learning by Al Ferri, Mechanical Engineering, Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, 2011
• A Voice in the Crowd: Encouraging Discussion in Large Undergraduate Classes by Julia Melkers, Public Policy, Associate Professor, 2011
• CoLab-Collaboration and Physical Computing 101 by Michael Nitsche, Literature, Media and Communication, Associate Professor, 2011
• Hands-On Computer Hardware Experience for Computer Science Students by Milos Prvulovic, Computer Science, Professor and Associate School Chair, 2011
• Helping Students Become Producers of Knowledge: Constructing Datasets to Understand Food Crises in the World Economy by Bill Winders History and Sociology, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, 2011