Aaron Garner Receives Priestley Teaching Prize
The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce that Aaron Garner, Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry, has been named the 2019 recipient of the Priestley Teaching Prize, which is awarded annually by the department.
The Priestley Prize was established in 2002 to recognize the best undergraduate teachers in the Department of Chemistry, as measured by the increase in learning and enthusiasm for the subject of the students in chemistry courses.
“Receiving the Priestley Prize is an amazing honor,” Garner notes, “and I'd like to thank the students, learning assistants, teaching assistants, and faculty that nominated me as well as my colleagues who helped me succeed.”
Garner was recognized for his work in Chem 110B, a course he developed to make chemistry more accessible to students in the life sciences; Chem 110, which introduces students to the basic principles of chemistry; and Chem 130, which is an introduction to general, organic, and biochemistry.
Garner credits his success in these courses to his efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for students. “I value the importance of the student-teacher relationships,” he explains, “...students are far more motivated when they recognize that the instructor cares about them and their success...I do my best to be as approachable as possible and to go beyond what is expected to help support my students’ learning.” One example of this approach is Piazza, an online discussion forum that Garner uses to connect directly with his students and to answer their questions. He notes that tools like these enrich students’ learning experiences.
The students agree that Garner’s efforts have made a real difference in their education. Those who nominated Garner for the award noted that his commitment to student success and passion for the subject made their classes more beneficial to them, even if chemistry wasn’t their favorite subject. Nominators also praised the comfortable, friendly environment in Garner’s classrooms and his skill in making chemistry accessible and understandable to students.
Phil Bevilacqua, head of the Department of Chemistry, adds, “I couldn’t be happier for Aaron. I co-taught CHEM 110B with him for the first two years of its existence and saw his teaching first-hand. Aaron is everything you could hope for in an instructor: inspirational, approachable, and a scholar. He brings great distinction to our teaching mission and we are lucky to have him as our colleague.”
The Priestley Teaching Prize will be formally presented to Garner in a ceremony in the coming months.