Excellence in Online Teaching Award

About the Award

This award seeks to acknowledge and reward those faculty teaching Global Campus courses who go the extra mile to inspire and engage students in learning, support and care about students, and encourage students to do and be their best.

Annually, currently enrolled students receive an email invitation to nominate an instructor who fits this description by answering the questions at right. Nominated instructors are also assessed on responsiveness and engagement in the online course space.

2022-2023 Award Winner

Shawna Herzog

WSU Names Shawna Herzog Winner of Excellence in Online Teaching Award

Shawna Herzog, assistant professor for Washington State University’s Department of History, is the winner of the 2022-23 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is sponsored by WSU Global Campus.

Herzog, who specializes in the history of imperialism, gender, modern Britain, and slavery in the Indian Ocean, was one of 46 online instructors nominated for the award.

“For me, this is the best kind of award—the kind given based on the feedback of students,” said Herzog. “They are the ones who matter the most and who ultimately decide if what I am teaching them is valuable.  So, receiving an award like this makes me feel appreciated and valuable.”

Read the full article about Herzog in the WSU Insider.

  • Tim Blankenship
  • Jesse Byrd
  • Linda Cook
  • Chris Cooney
  • Vanessa Cozza
  • Lee Daffin
  • Tor de Vries
  • Wendy Ewest
  • Christopher Foss
  • Mary Garcia
  • William Kabasenche
  • Joseph Kremer
  • Carrie Lane
  • Eric Malain
  • Judith McDonald
  • Jack McNassar
  • William Merck
  • Mindy Morgan
  • Kevin Murphy
  • Jason Porter
  • Tiffany Prizzi
  • Keith Rieger
  • Sarah S. Roley
  • William “Dr. Bill” Schlosser
  • Nishant Shahani
  • Julie Staggers
  • Mandy Strey
  • Alexandra Stubblefield
  • Raymond Sun
  • Amanda Thiel
  • Jennifer Thigpen
  • Carrie Vielle
  • Danhong Zhang

Previous Award Winners

Karl Krotke-Crandall

Karl Krotke-Crandall, lecturer for Washington State University’s Department of History, is the winner of the 2021-22 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is in it’s sixth year.

Krotke-Crandall was one of 40 online instructors nominated for the award.

“I’m honored to be selected, and a little surprised. It can be challenging to know what type of impact I make as an educator in an online environment,” said Krotke-Crandall. “To see the comments from my students is heartwarming and validates my aims to provide them with an engaging learning environment.” 

Read the full article about Krotke-Crandall in the WSU Insider.

Aaron Whelchel

Aaron Whelchel, associate professor of history, is the winner of the 2020-21 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is now in its fifth year.

 Whelchel was one of 43 online instructors nominated for the award and a total of 86 nominations were received from students.

“Dr. Whelchel has an obvious enthusiasm for the material he presents,” said Robert Fisher, one of the students who nominated Whelchel, in his nomination form. “He gathered wonderfully thought-provoking content, often primary sources, that encouraged me to challenge what I thought I knew about the world.”

Read the full article about Whelchel in the WSU Insider.

Jack McNassar

Jack McNassar, a Washington State University Global Campus anthropology instructor, is the winner of the 2019-20 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is now in its fourth year.

McNassar was one of 36 online instructors nominated for the award and a total of 82 student nominations were received.

“Professor McNassar continually inspired me and the other students in the course,” said Markayla Thornhill in her nomination of McNassar. “He is open for questions, and he always responds in such a kind and caring way … his encouraging words made everyone want to be a better student and do their best work.”

Read the full article about McNassar in the WSU Insider.

Photo: Jason Porter.
Jason Porter

Jason Porter, associate professor of accounting in the WSU Carson College of Business, is the winner of the 2018-19 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is sponsored by Academic Outreach & Innovation.

Porter is one of 35 instructors nominated for the award. He will receive $3000 and a trophy in recognition of his win. Nick Braasch, an accounting major and one of eight students who nominated Porter, said in his nomination, “Dr. Porter has gone above and beyond my expectations. His instructional videos and class discussion sessions have been extremely thorough and well explained.” 

Read the full article about Porter in the WSU Insider.

Lee Daffin
Lee Daffin

Lee Daffin, WSU clinical associate professor of psychology, is the winner of the 2017-2018 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. Academic Outreach & Innovation (AOI) sponsors the student-nominated annual award, now in its second year.

Kelly Dunn, a senior majoring in psychology, was one of the six students to nominate Daffin, stating in her nomination, “Dr. Daffin has inspired me to pursue my interests and through that I was able to pick a program for grad school that I had been struggling with for two years. I can’t think of a professor who deserves this more than he does.”

Read the full article about Daffin at WSU Insider.

Katy Fry
Katy Fry

Katy Fry, clinical assistant professor of history, received the student-nominated Excellence in Online Teaching Award.

“Dr. Fry was very responsive and dedicated to the online classroom. She pushed us to do our best by providing very specific feedback on assignments, by taking the time to clarify and thoroughly explain assignments and expectations, and by providing many sources for help.”

Nominations

Instructors will be ranked according to criteria such as:

  • Timely, clear, and constructive feedback
  • Clear communication and guidance
  • Active participation
  • Student involvement and interaction
  • Sense of inclusivity, belonging, and community
  • Diverse voices and viewpoints

Nominate your instructor now for the 2023-2024 academic year (closes on March 22, 2024)