The Russell Foundation established three teaching awards in 1992 to recognize excellent undergraduate instruction by early career faculty members. The $10,000 awards are presented annually at the UGA Faculty Recognition Banquet. To learn more about the Richard B. Russell Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, please visit https://provost.uga.edu/academic-excellence/honors-awards/teaching-awards-professorships/richard-russell-awards-for-excellence-in-undergraduate-teaching/. 

The 2025-26 Russell Teaching Award winners are Gaelen R. Burke, Matthew Evans, and Ingie Hovland. 

An internationally recognized expert in insect-microbe interactions, Burke integrates active learning into her research to help students build scientific literacy. Since joining the department of entomology, she has redesigned core courses to emphasize the relevance of insect science to human well-being and environmental health. In her signature “Insects and the Environment” course, Burke utilizes hands-on demonstrations — such as using M&M’s to teach experimental design and bringing live “insect ambassadors” to class — to encourage student engagement. Her commitment to instruction extends to departmental leadership, where she is currently leading the revitalization of the entomology undergraduate program to enhance student recruitment and learning outcomes. “I aim to use evidence-based teaching strategies to engage students in the process of science through active learning and involvement in practical and research experiences,” Burke said. She has mentored 44 undergraduate researchers, several of whom have won awards for their presentations or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications. Her colleagues note that she treats teaching as a scholarly endeavor and continually works to improve instructional outcomes across her department.

Evans specializes in screenwriting and focuses on preparing students for professional careers in the film and television industry. He designed and continues to teach the popular screenwriting workshop “Writing for Television” and leads required introductory and advanced writing courses, as well as a First-Year Odyssey seminar. Evans uses a workshop methodology that mirrors a professional writers’ room environment. This approach prioritizes revision as a critical component of the writing process, with a grading philosophy centered on student improvement rather than the immediate production of a polished final product. In these sessions he encourages students to take ownership of their creative growth and gain confidence in their artistic voices. “My ultimate goal as a teacher, beyond students earning festival accolades or industry awards, is for them to harness and have confidence in their own unique voices and to be willing to engage in open dialogue with one another,” Evans said. Evans’ commitment to professional excellence is evident by his mentees, who have earned 21 national awards for their creative work. Students frequently describe him as a “shining light” whose workshop-style classes foster a collaborative and supportive environment for constructive criticism and intellectual growth.

Hovland is a dedicated scholar of teaching and learning who has transformed the undergraduate experience by emphasizing advanced reading and critical thinking skills in the humanities. She has designed innovative instructional materials, including a course workbook that guides small-group learning and demonstrates how to read in discipline-specific ways. “There is no way to get through her courses without having to think deeply and truly analyze and apply the content,” one student wrote. Hovland employs a suite of unique classroom exercises, such as visual mapping of concepts, to help students take ownership of their learning and bridge the gap between initial comprehension and critical analysis. Her impact reaches across the university through her leadership of faculty learning communities and campus-wide workshops focused on supporting student readers across a wide range of disciplines. Hovland’s research on undergraduate reading has been published in leading international journals, and she has shared her expertise in multiple campus workshops. Her colleagues note her ability to create welcoming classroom communities where students take ownership of their own learning.

Text by Mike Wooten - https://news.uga.edu/three-faculty-receive-ugas-highest-early-career-teaching-award/ 

Past Winners

2025-2026
Gaelen R. Burke
Matthew Evans
Ingie Hovland

2024-2025
Harrison P. Frye
Glenna L. Read
Alexander T. Strauss

2023-2024
Jill Anderson
Richard Hall
Laura Zimmerman

2022-2023
Gino D'Angelo
Jillian Bohlen
Krista Capps

2021-2022
Jennifer A. Brown
Paul Pollack
Julie Stanton

2020-2021
Jennifer Birch
Jonathan Peters
Emily Sahakian

2019-2020
Tessa Andrews
Tim Samples
Jerry Shannon

2018-2019
Vera Lee-Schoenfeld
Amy Pollard
Sarah Shannon

2017-2018
Christine Albright
Michael Cacciatore
Alex Reed 

2016-2017
Kelly Dyer
Sonia Hernandez
John Mativo 

2015-2016
Robert Beckstead
Kimberly Skobba
Zachary Wood 

2014-2015
Peter Jutras
Andrew Owsiak
Jennifer Palmer 

2013-2014
Anthony Madonna
Maria Navarro
John Schramski 

2012-2013
John Knox
Shari Miller
Ronald Pegg 

2011-2012
James Byers
Joseph Goetz 
Gary Green 

2010-2011
Wesley Allen 
John Maerz 
Kaye Sweetser 

2009-2010
Tracie Costantino 
Brock Tessman 
Craig Wiegert 

2008-2009
Gayle Andrews
Richard Menke
Lance Palmer 

2007-2008
Patricia Richards
George Contini
Mitos Andaya 

2006-2007
Jason Cantarella
Linda Renzulli
Jaroslav Tir 

2005-2006
Peggy Brickman
Audrey A. Haynes
David Mustard 

2004-2005
Jeffrey D. Berejikian 
Takoi Hamrita 
Rodney Mauricio 

2003-2004
Jody Clay-Warner 
Denise S. Mewborn 
Marisa Anne Pagnattaro 

2002-2003
Carolina Acosta-Alzuru
Rhett Jackson
Martin H. Kagel 

2001-2002
Ann Hollifield
Stefanie A. Lindquist
Marc L. Lipson 

2000-2001
Benjamin C. Ayers
David H. Downs
Reuben A. Buford May

1999-2000
James E. Coverdill
Randi N. Stanulis
Clark Wolf 

1998-1999
Victoria Davion
Richard M. Ingersoll
Katherine Kipp 

1997-1998
Marie Annette Chisholm
Elizabeth Pate
Lynne M. Sallot 

1996-1997
Alan R. Dennis
Peg Graham
Jay W. Rojewski 

1995-1996
Robert G. Boehmer
Noel Fallows
Tricia A. Lootens 

1994-1995
Jere W. Morehead
Scott A. Shamp
David S. Williams

1993-1994
Cham E. Dallas
James P. Gilbert
Catherine M. Jones 

1992-1993
Christy Desmet
Robert E. Hoyt
Steven C. Turner 

1991-1992
Peggy Kreshel
Edward J. Larson
Janice Simon