The College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize one outstanding teacher in each of the following four categories: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Tenure-Track Faculty, and Associate Professor. Full professors, who are eligible for the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award, are not eligible for this award.
Jeff LaQuatra, Instructor of Music, Guitar
Jeff LaQuatra received this award for his ability to push students to their limits and equip them with the skills to tell stories through their music. He makes sure to teach students “how to be expressive musicians, not just guitar players” by taking the time to understand the individual needs of each student. (Contract, Continuing, and Adjunct Faculty Category)
Madeleine Cort, Graduate Student, M.M. Music Education
As a student nominator reports, Madeleine Cort holds students to “a standard that would push us to learn, but still remained flexible to understanding what the class needed to succeed.” Cort’s ability to provide students with a learning environment that encourages progress over performance is what earned her this year’s award. (Graduate Teaching Assistant Category)