Whitney Gegg-Harrison, Jack Downey, and James McGrath approach undergraduate teaching in distinctive ways that resonate with their students.
This year’s recipients of the Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching teach vastly different subjects, yet they have a lot in common. According to their students and colleagues, in the classroom they’re innovative, experimental, and empowering.
The 2023 recipients, all faculty in Arts, Sciences & Engineering at the University of Rochester are:
- Jack Downey, the John Henry Newman Chair in Roman Catholic Studies in the Department of Religion and Classics
- Whitney Gegg-Harrison ’14 (PhD), an associate professor with the Writing, Speaking, and Argument program
- James McGrath, the William J. Kenan Jr. Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
Established in 1997 by University Trustee and Board Chair Emeritus Robert Goergen ’60 and his wife, Pamela, the award recognizes distinction in undergraduate teaching among faculty in Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Nominations come from students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The winners were chosen by Jeffrey Runner, dean of the College; Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences; and Duje Tadin, chair of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences who served as interim dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.
“Every year I am amazed at the creative ways our faculty engage our students inside and outside of the classroom,” Runner says. “This year is no exception with three outstanding examples of why the Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching was created: to acknowledge the creativity, skill, and care with which our faculty do their jobs.”
