Alumni invited to recognize professors’ lasting impact

“The impact of an exceptional faculty member often transcends the classroom. It's not just about the content they taught, but how they inspired a lifelong curiosity, resilience and a commitment to excellence that alumni carry with them in their careers and lives,” says Toni Weiss, executive director of Tulane’s Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) and the Lawrence MvD Schloss Senior Professor of Practice in the Department of Economics.

For many alumni, full reflection on the professors who shaped their paths often happens years after graduation. Tulane University offers the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching and the Suzanne and Stephen Weiss Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching to honor those educators whose influence continues to resonate with alumni.

Weiss says, “Years after graduation, alumni often recall not just what they learned, but how a faculty member inspired them to persevere, think critically and strive for more. These are the individuals we celebrate with these awards.”

Presented annually during Unified Commencement, these teaching awards carry significant meaning for their recipients. Alumni nominations, in particular, hold a unique weight due to the perspective time brings, Weiss notes.

“The faculty who leave the deepest mark on our alumni are those who challenge them to see the world — and themselves — in new ways. These are the educators who spark a transformation, helping students discover strengths they didn’t know they had.

“We want to honor those faculty who pushed students to think differently, to embrace challenges and to take bold steps toward growth. These are the educators whose influence shapes not only their students' success but their confidence in facing the world beyond our campus.”

In 2024, Ricardo Cortez, the Pendergraft William Larkin Duren Professor in the Department of Mathematics in the School of Science and Engineering, and Adeline Masquelier, professor in the Department of Anthropology in the School of Liberal Arts, received the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching. Carrie Wyland, senior professor of practice in the Department of Psychology in the School of Science and Engineering, was awarded the Suzanne and Stephen Weiss Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

To nominate a professor for the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching, click here, and for the Suzanne & Stephen Weiss Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, click here.

As we start a new year, now is the perfect opportunity to take a moment and honor the faculty who provided the insights, guidance and encouragement that shaped your journey.

Nominations close on Monday, February 10, 2025.