Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship
The Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship recognizes RIT’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students for their excellence in innovation, teaching, and developing the next generation of leaders.
The following awards are presented at the annual spring event:
- Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
- Eisenhart Award for Innovative Teaching
- Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Student Learning Outcomes
- The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
- Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring
- The Isaac L. Jordan, Sr., Faculty Pluralism Award
- The Outstanding Teaching Award for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
- Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Distinguished Professor Designation
- The Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching
- The Trustees Scholarship Award
Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship 2026
Save the Date
Dinner and Ceremony
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
5:00 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center
Congratulations to the 2025 Awardees:
Provost’s Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
- Luke Kurlandski, Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award
- Marissa Tirone, College of Art and Design
- Dina Newman, College of Science
Provost's Excellence in Student Learning Outcomes Award
- The Sustainability Ph.D. program, Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Provost’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
- New Advisor: Rachael Waldrop Caveney, Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
- Experienced Advisor: Jennifer Kamish, Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Provost's Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
- Larry Alfonso Villasmil Urdaneta, College of Engineering Technology
Isaac L. Jordan, Sr., Faculty Pluralism Award
- Katrina Overby, College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Teaching Award for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
- Danny Maffia, National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Corinna Hill, National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Distinguished Professor Designation
- Andreas Savakis, Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching
- Nancy Valentage, College of Health Sciences and Technology
- Lea Michel, College of Science
Trustees Scholarship Award
- Sandra Rothenberg, Saunders College of Business
- Grover Swartzlander, College of Science
- Richard Zanibbi, Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
Read about the awardees in the 2025 Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship Award Program