Outstanding Teaching Assistants Recognized at Graduate School Ceremony

The University’s top teaching assistants were recognized by the Graduate School with the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

The important work and contributions of teaching assistants were recognized yesterday at a ceremony hosted by the Graduate School.

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is given to teaching assistants who have demonstrated excellence in the role through activities such as classroom teaching, laboratory or studio instruction, leading recitation or discussion sections or assisting senior faculty members with high-enrollment courses.

“Teaching assistants are vital to the undergraduate experience,” says Graduate School Dean Peter Vanable. “They bring energy and important insights to their academic disciplines and are dedicated to the students with whom they work. I thank this year’s award winners for their contributions to the University’s academic mission.”

The 2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awardees, representing the top 3.5% of the TA workforce, are:

• Agathe Baggieri, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Karisa Bridgelal, writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Caroline Capuano, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Yu-Wei Chang, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jing Cheng, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Gargi De, civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ayşenur Değer, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Julie Harnett, teaching and curriculum, School of Education
• Tori-Ann Haywood, sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Elise Hegarty, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elana Israel, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Benjamin Kaufman, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Harneet Kaur, social science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Pyeonghwa Kim, information science and technology, School of Information Studies
• Hannah Kimbrell, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Amanda Kingston, cultural foundations of education, School of Information Studies
• Connor Knowlan, communication and rhetorical studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Koch, earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elise Krespan, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Gabriella Larson, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Adarsh Raghuram, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Abhishek Samlodia, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Hector I. Sanchez, history, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Victor Sholl, philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• Nathalie Uwamahoro, electrical engineering and computer science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Josiah van Egdom, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Ying Xu, human development and family science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Awardees are nominated by their departments and must present a teaching portfolio as part of the review process.