Teaching Honors for CALS Instructors

Four instructors from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences earned honors for their transformational teaching from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) in June 2016.

The Graduate Student Teaching Award rewards graduate students who excel as classroom teachers in the agricultural disciplines for a minimum of one year. To be named a winner, students must receive a statement of support from supervising faculty and submit both a self-evaluation and student evaluations, plus a statement of teaching philosophy, involvement of teaching outside the classroom and a description of their specific teaching involvement

Alyssa DeGreenia, Graduate Student Teaching Award

An alumni agricultural science major with minors in animal science, agribusiness and Extension education, Alyssa was offered an assistantship in the Agricultural Institute after graduation. As graduate assistant and tutor, she found her passion for education while helping develop several courses, a leadership program and an internship program. Her goal is to work in post-secondary education while preparing for a Ph.D. in agricultural education with an emphasis in leadership.

Whitney Phillips, Graduate Student Teaching Award

An alumni with a masters degree from the Department of Horticultural Science, Whitney found a passion for working with students while a CALS student herself. She expanded her love of teaching as a teaching assistant for multiple courses while working on her masters degree. After graduation, Whitney continues to develop her professional experience by working at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Teaching Award of Merit Certificates are awarded to up to two faculty members per university each year.

Joy Morgan, Teaching Award of Merit 

A triple alumni of CALS, Joy is a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, teaching both undergraduate and graduate students. In the six courses she teaches, Joy developed major revisions to allow students to gain valuable career skills, including service learning projects at the Reality Center in Durham and Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. These strong community partnerships have helped students gain a better understanding of diverse learners while serving others.

Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit Certificates are awarded to up to two students per university each year.

Melissa Tinling, Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit Certificate

Melissa is a current graduate student in the Department of Horticultural Science. She describes herself as dedicated to public service, and especially interested in hands-on youth education, sustainable community-based food security and urban green space and pollinator habitats. Her most recent project is a pollinator meadow slated for installation on Centennial Campus, for which Melissa plans to create an educational website about pollinator-friendly plantings.