Nine faculty members were nominated by their colleagues and received these prestigious, annual awards from the college.
By Izabela Zaluska
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is recognizing nine faculty members for their outstanding contributions to the classroom and community during the 2024-25 academic year with Collegiate Teaching, International Engagement Teaching, and Outstanding Outreach and Public Engagement awards.
Collegiate Teaching Award
The Collegiate Teaching Awards are presented each year to faculty who demonstrate outstanding performance in the classroom, laboratory, or studio.
Rachel Klevar, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Rachel Klevar is an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Klevar is the supervisor of the general education CLAS Core elementary Spanish courses and teaches a wide variety of face-to-face and online Spanish classes.
Klevar is committed to evolving as an educator, learning about emerging technologies and methodologies, and finding new ways to connect with her students and teaching assistants. She wants her students to leave her classes with both a solid understanding of the Spanish language and as confident, engaged citizens of the world.
“Rachel is an extraordinary teacher, mentor, and colleague who supports student learning in our department through all facets of her work,” Spanish and Portuguese chair Amber Brian said. “She is exceptional and worthy of this esteemed recognition.”
Anna Morrison, Department of Cinematic Arts
Anna Morrison is an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Cinematic Arts. Morrison is also a writer and filmmaker with an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Morrison’s work has appeared in dozens of literary journals, and she published her first book of poems in 2023.
Morrison’s pedagogy is based in empowering students through telling their personal stories and conducting creative research. Her students learn how to research, keep extensive notes and journals, develop their writing process, and write original screenplays. She exposes her students to various facets of the industry, including career possibilities and how to collaborate with others.
“Her work in and beyond the classroom has created a terrain for a strong and positive student community to take root, with ripple effects stretching right across the department,” cinematic arts chair Michael Cowan wrote in a nomination letter.
Ksenia Nosikova, School of Music
Ksenia Nosikova is a professor in the School of Music and a renowned pianist. Nosikova has earned widespread acclaim in the world of classical music for her exceptional artistry and profound interpretations.
Nosikova enjoys working with young musicians and provides one-on-one instruction to students, guiding their short-term pianistic needs and helping shape their vision of long-term aspirations and goals.
“She has proven that she champions her students’ individuality, mentors them toward their specific career goals, and never falters in her commitment to their professional and personal growth,” Tammie Walker, School of Music director, wrote in a nomination letter. “Her passion for teaching music and for enhancing the piano program of the School of Music is without limits.”
Katlyn O'Shaughnessy, Department of Rhetoric
Katlyn O'Shaughnessy is an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Rhetoric. O’Shaughnessy focuses on trauma-sensitive pedagogy, working to research and advocate for trauma-informed teaching and administrative practices across the university.
O'Shaughnessy builds a collaborative and consistent environment in her classroom. Her teaching and training focus on building confidence, bolstering student self-worth in an accessible and practical way.
“Professor O'Shaughnessy's exceptional record of accomplishment in teaching, unparalleled TA mentorship, hiring, and training, and widespread contributions to curriculum in the department, college, and profession make her an ideal candidate for this honor,” rhetoric chair Cinda Coggins-Mosher wrote in a nomination letter.
Elise Pizzi, Department of Political Science
Elise Pizzi is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science. Her primary research focuses on public goods provision in developing countries, specifically the local politics of drinking water provision in rural China.
To Pizzi, building community in the classroom is critical for inclusive engagement. She is committed to innovating and adapting in the classroom based on student needs and feedback.
“Elise is an ideal recipient of the Collegiate Teaching Award because of her commitment and work to promote student learning inside and outside the classroom on a topic that most students are incredibly interested in,” political science chair Brain Lai wrote in a nomination letter.
David Supp-Montgomerie, Department of Communication Studies
David Supp-Montgomerie is an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Communication Studies. In his classes, Supp-Montgomerie, seeks to create affirming and intellectually rigorous classrooms focused on nurturing students’ civic and scholarly voices.
His teaching is centered on engaging students through active participation and inclusive strategies that lower barriers to entry for all learners. His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that all learning should be engaging, inclusive, and intentional.
“David has distinguished himself as one of the best teachers that I have seen in my two-plus decades in the department,” communication studies department chair Kembrew McLeod wrote in a nomination letter. “I am beyond grateful for the high quality of education he delivers to our undergraduate students, because he helps our majors see the world differently.”
International Engagement Teaching Award
The International Engagement Teaching Award is jointly awarded with UI International Programs and acknowledges those who foster international learning experiences for students.
Kristine Muñoz, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Kristine Muñoz is a professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and Global Health Studios in the Division of Interdisciplinary Programs.
Muñoz’s goal is to create a safe intellectual and emotional space where students can question the world and their place in it. Recognizing that now few can afford year-long study abroad, she has created various alternative opportunities, including virtual study abroad, funding for research trips, inviting international speakers, and embedding cultural immersion into coursework through literature and projects.
“During her 30 years at the University of Iowa, Professor Muñoz has demonstrated excellence in fostering international engagement through her innovative teaching methods, interdisciplinary approaches, and dedicated service work,” Denise Filios, associate professor and former department chair, wrote in a nomination letter.
Harry Stecopoulos, Department of English
Harry Stecopoulos is a professor in the Department of English. Stecopoulos teaches courses on modern U.S. literature, African American literature, transnational American Studies, the energy humanities, and creative writing.
Stecopoulos approaches literature as a national and a global phenomenon and urges his students to think about imaginative writing in mobile and expansive terms. His students acquire new knowledge about other societies and the United States, regardless of if they are in Iowa or travelling outside the country for study abroad.
“Professor Stecopoulos is the model of the globally engaged scholar and teacher, both introducing American students and scholars to other parts of the world and welcoming students and scholars from other countries to Iowa to study literature and creative writing in a global context,” English department chair Loren Glass wrote in a nomination letter.
Outstanding Outreach and Public Engagement Award
The Outstanding Outreach and Public Engagement Award honors a CLAS faculty member who has engaged in activities that bring the University to broader communities in significant and sustained ways.
John D’Agata, Department of English
John D’Agata is a professor in the Department of English and Director of the Nonfiction Writing Program. D’Agata is an internationally renowned writer of creative nonfiction.
His books include Halls of Fame, About a Mountain, and The Lifespan of a Fact, which was adapted into a Broadway play starring Daniel Radcliffe, Cherry Jones, and Bobby Cannavale, and has since been produced more than two dozen times around the world.
“Creative nonfiction in and of itself is a publicly engaged genre, and the students whose work Professor D’Agata has supported has connected Iowa to communities around the world,” Loren Glass, English department chair, wrote in a nomination letter.