ISE lecturer awarded Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award
Published: Nov 14, 2023 12:25 PM
By Carla Nelson
Erin Garcia, a lecturer in the Auburn University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), was honored with the Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award at Auburn University’s 17th annual Faculty Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 9.
The award recognizes the outstanding teaching of undergraduates. Each year, Auburn recognizes its faculty members’ achievements in teaching, research, creative scholarship and outreach with several honors.
ISE doctoral student Madison Evans submitted a nomination letter in support of Garcia. She wrote that she could not think of another professor more deserving of the award.
“Dr. Garcia provides rigorous and engaging classes, schedules large blocks of office hours, and is a mentor to many students,” she wrote. “It is hard to try to put into words what Dr. Garcia means to the department as well as what she means to me personally.”
She added that Garcia has taught eight different undergraduate classes for the department and is preparing for a new course in the spring. As a graduate student and instructor of record, Evans wrote that she is aware of the difficulty of preparing for a new class.
“Despite the difficulties, Dr. Garcia will teach a new class to meet the department’s or her colleagues’ needs,” she wrote. “This flexibility and desire to be helpful is above and beyond what is required of her job position and makes her an invaluable department member.”
ISE faculty members Yadrianna Acosta-Sojo and Greg Purdy also submitted letters of recommendation.
Garcia was Acosta-Sojo’s mentor in Auburn University’s New Faculty Scholar Program when she joined the ISE faculty two years ago. She wrote that Garcia provided valuable input during her first-year struggles as a faculty member.
“She will make sure that she is available to answer the questions of the students who can’t quite get something right by hosting additional office hours,” Acosta-Sojo wrote. “She will also have multiple communication channels for the students to connect with her and answer questions. Dr. Garcia’s contributions go far beyond her instructional responsibilities.”
In his nomination letter, Purdy told the selection committee that Garcia is the epitome of what this award strives to recognize.
“She always provides the highest quality educational experience in the classroom and constantly evolves her pedagogy to provide new opportunities for students to connect with the material,” he wrote. “Erin has a remarkable ability to foster a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, inspiring students to reach their full potential. Her dedication to teaching excellence has a profound and lasting impact — not only on the students she mentors — but also on our academic community as a whole. Erin’s impact extends far beyond the classroom and has left an indelible mark on our entire department.”
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
Erin Garcia, pictured with Auburn University President Chris Roberts, was honored with the Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award at Auburn University’s 17th annual Faculty Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 9.
