iSchool Honors Faculty with Inaugural College Awards for Excellence
The School of Information at the University of Arizona is pleased to announce the winners of our 2024 Faculty Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in teaching and research. This year’s recipients have demonstrated exceptional dedication, making significant contributions to the field and our academic community in a time of rapid educational, technological and cultural transformation.
Instructional Excellence Award
Senior Lecturer Rich Thompson and Lecturer Emily Thomas have been honored with the iSchool 2024 Instructional Excellence Award, awarded by the college’s academic leadership team. Both lecturers are recognized for their exceptional commitment to delivering high-quality education and for their innovative teaching methods that have profoundly impacted student learning.
Student’s Choice Award for Teaching Excellence
Assistant Professor of Practice Andrew Kemp-Wilcox has received the iSchool 2024 Student's Choice Award for Teaching Excellence. This accolade reflects the high esteem in which he is held by iSchool students, emphasizing his engaging teaching style and ability to inspire.
Research Excellence Award
Associate Professor Steven Bethard has been awarded the iSchool 2024 Research Excellence Award. Recognized for his influential research in natural language processing and machine learning, Dr. Bethard’s work has significantly impacted several disciplines, illustrated by his impressive publication and citation records. His research, including pioneering work using BERT—one of the first large language models—continues to shape the future of informatics and data science. Dr. Bethard was nominated by the School of Information Peer Review Committee, which says, “Given Steve’s deep expertise in natural language processing and machine learning, it is noteworthy that his work is interdisciplinary in nature…. The iSchool is honored to have him on the faculty.”
Teaching Excellence Award
Assistant Professor of Practice Daniel Charbonneau has earned the iSchool 2024 Teaching Excellence Award, a testament to his profound impact on student engagement and success. Known for his dedication and innovative teaching methods, Dr. Charbonneau teaches several foundational courses and has been in charge of the Senior Capstone program, one notably improved under his guidance. His commitment extends beyond the classroom through the tutoring lab he established, which has significantly enhanced student support and learning outcomes. Dr. Charbonneau was nominated by the School of Information Peer Review Committee, which notes, “Through his student-centered approach to teaching, tutoring and mentoring, Dan has a huge, positive impact on student engagement and success in and beyond the classroom. He deserves formal iSchool recognition for his important contributions and his excellence in teaching.”
iSchool Interim Dean Catherine Brooks expressed her admiration for the awardees. “This year’s award recipients exemplify the spirit of excellence we strive for at the School of Information,” she says. “Their dedication to education, research and student success not only elevates our institution but also impacts the broader field of information science. We are proud to have such inspiring individuals among our faculty.”
The School of Information congratulates all the award winners for their outstanding contributions and looks forward to their continued success and innovation.
Learn more about the dynamic faculty (and their research) at the School of Information, and explore ways you can support iSchool faculty.