The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has selected 17 outstanding faculty members to receive the 2025 Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
The award winners represent all 16 of North Carolina’s public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Recipients were nominated by special committees at each institution and selected by the Board of Governors Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs.
“As a former educator, I have the deepest appreciation for our university professors and their commitment to our students,” said UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy. “These talented faculty have dedicated their lives to mentoring and supporting our students, and we are grateful for their service. Congratulations to all on these awards.”
Each of the winners will receive a commemorative bronze medallion and a $12,500 cash prize. The recipients will be honored at each of their institutions at a future date.
Award winners:
Appalachian State University
Charlie Chen
Professor, Computer Information Systems
East Carolina University
Laura Levi Altstaedter
Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies
Elizabeth City State University
Adetayo Victor Adedeji
Professor of Physics
Fayetteville State University
Amanda Virelles
Professor of Music
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Liesl K. Jeffers-Francis
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
North Carolina Central University
Antonio Baines
Associate Professor of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Elizabeth Peeples
Instructor of Humanities
NC State University
Clyde E. Sorenson
Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology
University of North Carolina Asheville
Evelyn Chiang
Professor of Psychology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Yaiza Canzani
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Erik J. Byker
Professor, Department of Reading, and Elementary Education
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Kimberly Petersen
Professor of Organic Chemistry
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Matthew R. Hassett
Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Dmitri Vorobiev
Associate Professor of Piano
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Zachary T. Long
Associate Professor of Biology and Marine Biology
Western Carolina University
Channa Ruwan De Silva
Professor of Chemistry
Winston-Salem State University
Dr. Dawn Hicks Tafari
Associate Professor of Elementary Education