Excellence in Teaching Awards

Since 1992, the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association has annually honored faculty throughout the university who excel in the art of teaching. The nomination and selection methods differ by school, but students must be involved in the process. Besides the Alumni Association award, the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences offers additional teaching, advising, and mentoring awards to instructors and faculty advisers who inspire their students, and to teaching assistants who demonstrate expertise in the classroom.

Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, staff, and alumni may submit nominations. Nominations must include the name and department of the nominee, as well as a description of what makes this teacher, adviser, or mentor different from others at Homewood.

For faculty awards, any professor, instructor, or lecturer who has taught at any level on a regular basis in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences for at least three years may be nominated. Faculty are ineligible to win the same award more than once in three years.

For teaching assistant awards, nominations must include the name and department of the TA.

Awards Criteria

Consider the criteria below as you prepare your nomination, and please use specific, concrete examples in support. The nominee does not need to represent all criteria, and nominations based on other criteria are welcome as well.

Exceptional instructors and advisors are consistently:

• Engaging students – Students who actively engage with the content learn more than passively listening. Mentors who listen to and engage with mentees can provide advice that is more relevant and more easily accepted. What strategies did the nominee use to make their teaching or interactions more student-centered and provide opportunities for students to actively engage?
• Building community – Learning is a social process. Developing a relationship with the instructor or mentor leads to long-term benefits for students. How did the instructor help students learn by connecting with their peers, the instructors, or other relevant communities?
• Influencing and inspiring students – Ultimately the instructor’s or adviser’s role is to help students learn and develop. How did the nominee motivate students to exceed their expectations inside and outside of the classroom, help them learn difficult concepts, or prepare them to pursue opportunities inside and outside of Hopkins?
• Promoting diversity and culture of inclusion – Instructors and mentors should engage all students, regardless of background. Promoting a culture of inclusion also encourages students to learn from the peers’ diverse experiences. How does the nominee facilitate a learning environment or advising relationship that encourages the discussion of serious questions and expression of diverse opinions while also providing all students, regardless of their background, the opportunity to achieve their potential?
• Developing relationships beyond the classroom – Faculty members influence students the most when their relationship goes beyond the classroom. When students believe that faculty care about them as both student and a person, the relationship becomes transformative.  How does the nominee go above and beyond to influence students outside of the classroom? How does the nominee cultivate a personal and meaningful relationship with students?

For nominations in the Krieger School of Arts and Science, please fill out the Krieger Teaching Award Nomination form. Please contact Brittany Kane with any questions.

The 2024 nomination deadline is March 25, 2024.

Other Krieger School Awards

Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award

This award is given to a faculty member in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences who demonstrates excellence in teaching and mentoring of graduate students.

Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Advising Award

This award is given to honor a faculty member in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences who has demonstrated a dedication to undergraduates and their education though excellence in advising.

Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Teaching Assistant Award

This award honors the best graduate teaching assistants in the School of Arts and Sciences. These teaching assistants are commended for the care and concern they take with their subject and their students.

Other Awards

Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award

Funded by the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association, this award recognizes excellence in teaching. Past recipients have been honored for their enthusiasm in the classroom, interest in their students, and ability to teach complex and difficult information. An award will be given both to a Krieger School of Arts and Sciences nominee and a Whiting School of Engineering nominee.

The George E. Owen Teaching Award

This award was established by the 1982 Student Council to honor George E. Owen, who was dean of the Homewood Faculties. It is awarded annually by the Student Council for outstanding teaching and devotion to undergraduates. The award may be given to a faculty member in either the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences or the Whiting School of Engineering.

Winning faculty cannot win again for three years.