In support of the UNC System’s mission, the Board of Governors honors and recognizes excellence in areas of teaching, research, and public service through the following awards.


OLIVER MAX GARDNER AWARD

The Gardner Award is an annual award, first presented in 1949. It recognizes a member of the UNC System faculty who, during the current scholastic year, has made “the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.” The award is the highest honor the System confers on faculty. All faculty members, from across all 17 constituent institutions, are eligible.

Nominations for the 2025 Oliver Max Gardner Award are not currently being accepted. The 2025 awardee will be announced in May 2025.

2024

Dr. Craig Yencho

NC State University

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2023

Dr. H. Shelton Earp

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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2022

Dr. Yeoheung Yun

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

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2021

Ralph Baric

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Previous Recipients


THE GOVERNOR JAMES E. HOLSHOUSER, JR. AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

The Public Service Award is an annual award, created in 2007 to encourage, identify, recognize, and reward public service by faculty of the University. Faculty of any of the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina are eligible. At its August 2013 meeting, the Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution to rename the award after Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr.

Nominations for the 2024 Gov. James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award are not currently being accepted. The 2024 awardees will be announced on February 27, 2025.

2023

 Dr. Kuldeep Rawat

Elizabeth City State University

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2023

Mike Smith

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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2022

 Dr. Cherry Beasley

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

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2022

Bonnie Fusarelli

NC State University

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Previous Recipients


AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

The Teaching Awards were established in 1994 to underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support good teaching within the University. Every year, a faculty member from each constituent institution receives this award.

Nominations for the Excellence in Teaching Awards are not currently being accepted. The 2025 award recipients were announced on January 31, 2025.

2025 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

UNC Board of Governors selects recipients of 2025 Awards for Excellence in Teaching

Charlie Chen

Appalachian State University

Laura Levi Altstaedter

East Carolina University

Adetayo Victor Adedeji

Elizabeth City State University

Amanda Virelles

Fayetteville State University

Liesl K. Jeffers-Francis

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Antonio Baines

North Carolina Central University

Clyde E. Sorenson

NC State University

Evelyn Chiang

University of North Carolina Asheville

Yaiza Canzani

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Erik J. Byker

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Kimberly Petersen

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Matthew R. Hassett

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Dmitri Vorobiev

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Zachary T. Long

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Channa Ruwan De Silva

Western Carolina University

Dr. Dawn Hicks Tafari

Winston-Salem State University

Elizabeth Peeples

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics