Commitment to Education
ASU Outstanding Teaching Award
In 1999, John Teets established the John W. Teets Outstanding Teaching Award to recognize student-nominated professors and teaching assistants as elite members of the academic community.
This award is student-driven; it is determined by a student committee based on nominations from students. Award recipients receive stipends in the amount of $7,000 for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award; $7,000 for the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award; and $3,000 for the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant.
The John W. Teets Outstanding Teaching Award is presented to professors who:
- Inspire academic excellence, stimulate students to become active participants in their own learning and take pride in motivating students to do their best work;
- Evidence a commitment to and enthusiasm for their students;
- Possess a contagious love of knowledge;
- Show enthusiasm for the development of students as well as for the subject matter of the classes they teach;
- Strive, during each class session, to create a high quality learning environment;
- Serve as mentors to link students to careers, professions or programs they wish to enter;
- Are available to students beyond posted minimum office hours;
- Have the ability to challenge students while distilling and synthesizing complex information to make it more understandable;
- Are sensitive to the values and needs of a diverse student populace;
- Have earned the respect of their students;
- Exhibit creative and innovative teaching strategies in the continuous and sustained pursuit of teaching excellence.
The John W. Teets Outstanding Teaching Award will be presented to graduate assistants who:
- Show enthusiasm for student success and for the subject matter of the classes they teach;
- Go above and beyond the requirements to provide their students with meaningful understanding of the subject matter.
Current Recipients
| Year | Award | Name | Department |
| 2023-24 | Graduate Teaching | Denis Sosyura | Finance |
| 2023-24 | Undergraduate Teaching | Chris Neck | Management and Entrepreneurship |
| 2023-24 | Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | Elena Ayyoub | Accounting |
Full List of Previous Recipients
John W. Teets Awards honor legacy, celebrate teaching