A personal interaction with a professor may be the difference between a student skirting by or exceeding expectations. Members of UNC Greensboro faculty understand that responsibility. Each year, the University celebrates those who go out of their way to develop teaching methods that best meet Spartans’ needs.
The recipients of the 2025 Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards and Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award all encapsulate that mission. Their students regularly speak about how these educators assuage their fears and challenge them to be their very best.
Mary Settle Sharpe Alumni Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. Jonathan Zarecki, associate professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Archaeology
A comment from a student in one of Dr. Jonathan Zarecki’s courses stood out to him: “It doesn’t matter how an assignment sticks in someone’s head; it just matters that it does.”
He adapted that notion into a teaching philosophy centered on making meaningful experiences for students. “Students often come to college viewing history as boring, or requiring an inordinate amount of memorization,” he says. Finding ways for students to relate the lesson to their own lives is key.
He partnered with the non-profit Kallion.org, which teaches leadership through the study of the humanities. Thanks to those resources, Zarecki crafted assignments that encouraged students to reflect on the ramifications of historical events on civil, legal, and social life in the Roman Republic. The comments from the students at the end of class demonstrated that they appreciated the way Roman history left its mark on their lives.
He leads a biannual trip to Rome for a monthlong study of ancient history. Closer to home, he combines a showing of the science fiction film “WALL•E” with Livy’s account of the sack of Rome and Herodotus’ account of abandoning Athens to escape the Persians. “By starting from where they are in the modern era, contemplating our planet’s future, and ending in the past, reflecting on the history of war and displacement,” says Zarecki, “we come to a common ground that allows students to explore ancient themes amid a familiar set of narratives.”
Zarecki’s style set the tone for Michael J. Bell, who says Latin 101 was one of his first classes at UNCG. He was so impressed that he enrolled in classes because Zarecki was the instructor. Roman Law was one example., “I knew that if anyone could make a course on ancient legal customs riveting and worthwhile to an archaeology student like me,” he says. “It would be Dr. Zarecki.”
A history professor must notice the speed at which current events shape generations. In his Ancient Warfare class, Zarecki realized that newer students were becoming removed from large-scale U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. He reconfigured the course to focus on short, weekly writing exercises comparing ancient conflicts with more recent conflicts and society’s attitude toward them.
Dr. Joanne Murphy, department head of Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Archaeology, praised his creativity in developing courses that hook students based on their hobbies outside academics. “While consistently maintaining the highest academic standards, Jon is committed to making Classics more accessible and interesting to changing student demographics,” says Murphy.
Zarecki is now creating the department’s new online curriculum. That means switching to teaching virtual classes, but he is up to the challenge. He says, “I believe this philosophy will serve me especially well in the online learning context where the experience of meaningful discovery is much more individual.”
James Y. Joyner Alumni Teaching Excellence Award
Dan Hale, assistant professor of animation
Dan Hale, assistant professor of animation, began his teaching career at UNCG in the fall of 2020. While beginning the job at the front end of the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced significant challenges. But he was inspired by words from Chancellor Gilliam: “There are so many things that are outside of our control right now, but what we can control is how patient we are and how kind we are with each other.” In that spirit, he approached every class with a fresh perspective for himself and his students.
Hale teaches 3D modeling and animation, storyboarding, and capstone classes. In each, he emphasizes patience, kindness, and honesty – the core of his teaching philosophy. His methods reassure students of their capabilities even when making mistakes while encouraging them to celebrate every achievement. Given the complexities of animation, he made it a point to be transparent about his own personal challenges, hoping to show students that even experienced animators must find creative solutions.
Animation graduate Juno Rose says, “Professor Dan Hale was patient, caring, and always took the time to make sure each student was guided effectively. Facilitating and encouraging creativity was always his priority.”
Passionate about creating a framework for the BFA concentration in animation for UNCG, he developed a well-structured curriculum and helped to secure a $140,000 departmental grant to further its expansion. In just two years, the program became one of the largest in the School of Art.
Hale consistently improved classroom engagement and fostered comfort between his students and himself. He says, “What I hear most from students entering our program is the desire to share a vision and tell their stories. To accomplish this, however, it is crucial that we all feel secure enough to share our stories honestly and be willing to listen to the stories of others with empathy, building a community founded upon trust.”
This spirit of collaborative thinking has forged meaningful, industry-level experience for students within the program. Last year’s production, “Lochborne,” was a student team capstone project and the first student-animated film at UNCG. It featured contributions from each School within the College of Visual and Performing Arts and was submitted to several film festivals.
Dr. Heather Holian, associate director of the School of Art and Hale’s mentor, says, “He inculcates his students with a community-oriented mentality that will enable them to succeed in this incredibility competitive industry.”
Across the department, Hale’s vision for the program is grounded in collaboration, creativity, and student growth. “The art of animation demands technical skill, but an animator’s most valuable asset is their unique perspective,” he says.
Anna Maria Gove Alumni Teaching Excellence Award
Spencer Russell, senior lecturer of chemistry and biochemistry
Spencer Russell, senior lecturer of chemistry and biochemistry, practices six ideologies for teaching at UNCG: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. In this position for a decade, he has worked hard to establish a positive classroom environment. “I do not view myself as having more authority than students about what’s best for their learning process,” he says.
Chemistry is difficult for many students, he says, but he successfully captures their attention by illustrating abstract concepts and mathematics through examples such as chemical demonstrations. One of his former students, Delilah Pinkey, says, “Coming to UNCG and seeing that I would be taking chemistry made me very nervous, because I knew I wasn’t good at chemistry. Professor Russell helped me calm those nerves down and he really helped me understand chemistry.”
He also teaches data analysis and interpretation in the new Minerva’s Academic Curriculum (MAC). For first-year students new to the transition to college, taking a course that’s not within their field is particularly daunting. He responds with an open mind, making necessary adjustments to the coursework to keep them engaged and participating. Among his instructional techniques, he provides pre-recorded videos with example problems they might encounter. He says, “I coordinate with the Academic Achievement Center to secure tutors and academic coaches for my students. Recognizing that students are diverse learners, and not one resource fits all, I try to provide as many resources as possible.”
For former student Jiayi Chen, conversations with Russell seemed like talking to a friend more than a teacher. “Professor Russell’s support was always genuine. He always greeted us with a smile and encouraged us to challenge ourselves,” she says.
Russell says he understands the needs of students as he continues to learn alongside them. His teaching philosophies, styles, and methods will constantly evolve over time. He says, “Every semester that I teach, I find myself less focused on chemistry and more focused on the student. In the end, I want them to be mentally, physically, emotionally, and academically well.”
Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award
Dr. Kimberly Petersen
This year’s recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award is a champion for student research. Dr. Kimberly Petersen has played a key role in many Spartans’ success stories. She has fostered a sense of belonging in the classroom and spearheaded mentorship that led them to scholarships, fellowships, and biomedical confessions.
“What really encouraged me and surprised me early on was how much faith Dr. Petersen seemed to have in me. Even with only one full semester of organic chemistry under my belt she asked my input on problems or challenged me to think through aspects of my research,” says Kyla Stingley ’15 ’17 MS, one of her former students.
Read more about the ways Petersen has left an impact and example.
Story by Janet Imrick and Lauren Segers, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
