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Auburn University recently honored eight faculty with the Vivian Ballenger Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, an award made possible by a generous gift made by Auburn alumni Jim and Bettye Ballenger in memory of Jim’s late mother, Vivian.

The award highlights faculty excellence in teaching and is given through a collaboration between the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) in partnership with the Auburn University Foundation via the Vivian Ballenger Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Eight COSAM faculty members received a one-time monetary award in recognition of their student-centric and high-quality instruction.

Asim Ali, Executive Director of the Biggio Center, is appreciative of and commends the strong collaborative relationship that exists between COSAM, its faculty and the Biggio Center and finds it gratifying to be able to be part of rewarding the efforts of deserving faculty.

"The Biggio Center is pleased to recognize engaged and innovative teaching in the College of Sciences and Mathematics through the Vivian Ballenger Memorial Award,” said Ali. “COSAM has been an excellent partner, particularly as we opened the new Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex (ACLC). This award allows us to celebrate the dedication of COSAM faculty and leadership working with the Biggio Center to ensure elevated learning experiences for our students."

Awardees include:

Dave Crisostomo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Heather Haskell, Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Melinda Lanius, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Luke Oeding, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Filip Pawlowski, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Rachel (Jennifer) Prado, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Min Zhong, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences

Samir Raouafi, Lecturer and Business Calculus Coordinator, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

More information about the award can be found on the Biggio Center’s website.