2025 Celebration of Teaching Awards
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2025 Celebration of Teaching Awards.
Margaret Echelbarger - Excellence in Teaching Innovation
Assistant Professor, Marketing, College of Business
Margaret Echelbarger is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Area of the College of Business. Her research explores how children develop as consumers, with a particular emphasis on financial decision making and the factors that shape children’s understanding of money, value, and ownership. Dr. Echelbarger’s work has been widely published and has informed academic and public discussions about early economic socialization. She is also deeply committed to fostering equitable and inclusive scholarship, ensuring that her work and professional practices reflect and promote diverse perspectives in research and in the broader academic community.
I’m grateful to be recognized for my teaching innovation with this award. I’ve fostered a dynamic learning environment that emphasizes innovative teaching, accessibility, and inclusion. I engage students with real-world applications through an evolving library of guest speakers, pre-recorded expert conversations, and course extensions like an Instagram page and Discord channel that reinforce learning in relevant, low-pressure ways. By curating diverse, up-to-date resources rather than relying on a traditional textbook, I ensure students have access to the latest insights and industry-relevant knowledge while promoting equitable access to course materials.
Tracy Trimboli - Excellence in Assessment
Clinical Instructor, School of Nursing
Professor Trimboli, MS, RN, is a Clinical Instructor and PhD candidate at Stony Brook University School of Nursing, where she also earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership. With over two decades of diverse clinical and leadership experience, she brings real-world insight into her teaching. A dedicated mentor and advocate for experiential learning, Professor Trimboli is recognized for her student-centered approach and commitment to educational excellence. Her scholarly interests include invisible illness and aging in place. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Eastern Nursing Research Society, and the Gerontological Society of America.
I strive to create an engaging, supportive, and equitable environment where every
student can succeed. I work to design assessments that are accessible and meaningful,
utilizing timely feedback and real-time adjustments to meet students' needs. I am
honored to receive this award for excellence in assessment and grateful to be a part
of such a supportive community within the School of Nursing.
Robert Nocito - Excellence in Experiential Education
Clinical Assistant Professor & Assistant Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Nocito is an emergency medicine physician who has dedicated his career to delivering
immediate, high-impact care to patients in critical moments. After two decades in
private business, driven by a passion for helping others, he made the bold decision
to pivot into medicine. His journey into emergency medicine was fueled by a commitment
to not only providing exemplary care but also mentoring the next generation of healthcare
professionals.
Rooted in Suffolk County, New York, Dr. Nocito is deeply invested in the well-being
of his community. As a former student at Stony Brook University, he saw a unique opportunity
to connect the diverse undergraduate pre-health student population with the resources
and opportunities offered by the Stony Brook Medical Center. This vision led him to
create the Pathways to Healthcare program, a unique initiative designed to bridge
the gap between aspiring healthcare professionals and real-world experiences. Currently
serving as an attending faculty member in the Department of Emergency Medicine at
Stony Brook, Dr. Nocito continues to oversee and grow the Pathways to Healthcare program
in collaboration with the academic campus and career center. The program provides
undergraduate students with rare insights into various healthcare fields through hands-on
clinical experiences and mentorship opportunities, helping to shape the future of
healthcare. Dr. Nocito remains passionate about both patient care and education, eager
to contribute to the next wave of healthcare professionals and continue to serve his
community through impactful mentorship and clinical practice. He has been the recipient
of numerous teaching and educational awards, including the “Career Readiness Champion”
and “Excellence in Teaching” award.
I have embodied excellence in experiential education by designing and delivering an
EXP+ course, “Pathways to Healthcare,” that seamlessly integrates hands-on, real-world
experiences with academic learning outcomes, fostering deep student engagement and
career readiness. Through structured reflection & continuous mentoring, I ensured
that students critically connected their experiential learning to discipline-specific
competencies. My course also cultivated meaningful partnerships with community and
industry stakeholders, enhancing both the impact and relevance of the learning experience.
Anu Andrews - The David L. Ferguson Award for Inclusive Teaching
Clinical Assistant Professor, Respiratory Care, School of Health Professions
Anu Andrews has been a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Respiratory Care Program at Stony Brook's School of Health Professions since 2022 and was an adjunct professor with the program prior to that. She is a proud child of immigrant parents and an alumni of Stony Brook University with over 20 years of clinical experience as a Respiratory Therapist in multiple states. Having worked with a variety of patient populations including neonatal, pediatric, and adult critical care, Anu is able to bring real world clinical experience into the classroom helping students connect and construct an understanding of how what they learn will be used in actual patient care scenarios. In her classroom, students engage in small group case studies and hands on labs, in addition to classroom lectures, which helps students connect didactic with experiential learning. She varies her teaching style to promote inclusive practices and scaffolding as necessary to ensure all of her students feel supported and seen. Anu strives to help students become identity conscious practitioners by showing how their varied backgrounds and journeys can help them connect with their classmates and future patients. With an open door office policy, Anu creates an open dialogue inside and outside the classroom, fostering relationships and a safe place to learn. Anu continues to strive to model and learn more inclusive practices by participating in professional development courses such as CELT's Inclusive Pedagogy Course.
I am honored to have been chosen for the Excellence in Inclusive Teaching award. I
feel that I have embodied inclusivity in my teaching by creating an open dialog with
my students while striving to be their ally and safe space. I am open about who I
am and my shortcomings which I feel lets students be more open about their struggles.
I try to always support them academically, professionally and personally emphasizing
the importance of inclusivity and equity in healthcare and in life.
M Love - The Brooke Ellison Award for Accessible Teaching
PhD Student and Instructor, Linguistics
M is a PhD student and instructor from Puerto Rico studying Linguistics, with an emphasis on Computational Semantics. They also work under a Turner fellowship from the Center for Inclusive Education, where they receive their pedagogical training. Outside of academia and science communication, they are a huge fan of Magic: the Gathering and their pet cats!
My teaching philosophy can be boiled down to the following: compassion first, education
second. This philosophy has led me to redesign LIN 405 (Research Writing in Linguistics)
from the bottom up, basing its new design off a mastery-based teaching style. By providing
multi-modal lectures and assignments, a classroom space where everyone is equidistant
from the instructor, and flexibility in terms of how deadlines work for students,
my classroom experience is designed to allow any student to express their knowledge
regardless of their background.
Darya Likhacheva - Excellence in Teaching - Teaching Assistant Award
Teaching Assistant, PhD Student, Psychology
Darya Likhacheva is a Ph.D. student in Social & Health Psychology at Stony Brook University. She received a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Health Studies from Berea College. Her research sits at the intersection of health psychology, social psychology, and critical approaches to research methodology, with a focus on how psychological processes shape health behaviors and outcomes. She is equally passionate about teaching and mentoring undergraduates. She has taught foundational courses like Statistical Methods as well as more creative electives like Positive Psychology and the Psychology Behind Reality TV.
I approach my teaching assistant roles with both gratitude and a strong sense of responsibility.
I see them as meaningful opportunities not only to support students academically but
also to build genuine connections. Regardless of class size, I make an effort to get
to know the students I interact with outside of lectures. I enjoy the creative challenge
of adapting my explanations to meet their needs, whether that means simplifying difficult
concepts or offering deeper questions to push advanced learners further.
Sheri R. Levy - Excellence in Teaching an Online Course
Full Professor, Psychology
Sheri R. Levy, Ph.D., has been a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook University since 1999 and has served in numerous roles including Chair of the Psychology Department, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Director of Graduate Studies. She is a social and developmental psychologist who conducts basic and applied research. With interdisciplinary and international collaborators, she studies the interrelated topics of ageism, aging, climate anxiety, climate change education, human rights, intergenerational relations, and poverty. She conducts lifespan research in several countries and uses a multi-method approach. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and she considers teaching and learning from students to be among the many wonderful joys and benefits of being a professor. She has developed 4 new courses in the Psychology Department, and she is deeply honored and appreciative to have received several teaching and mentoring awards.
My approach to teaching is student-centered, and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to teach online courses, which allows me to tailor my courses to a wide range of students, to provide students with greater flexibility and accessibility, and to foster a more inclusive, welcoming learning environment. I try to facilitate engaging and meaningful instructor-student and student-student interactions through learning-by-doing, experience-based, and collaborative activities that I hope will also ignite an excitement about the applications of the course material. I use activities that aim to foster critical thinking and problem solving skills applied to the theories, methodologies, results, and everyday applications of the course material. Putting students' insights and perspectives into action, I implement changes in my courses each semester, and I am extremely grateful to the truly wonderful and inspiring students and teaching assistants involved in my online courses - thank you all!
Gregory A. Ruf - Excellence in Teaching an In-person Course
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, Asian & Asian American Studies.
Greg Ruf (Assoc. Prof.; Undergraduate Program Director; Asian & Asian American Studies) is a sociocultural anthropologist specializing in the study of Chinese society, culture, and history. He teaches a variety of China-related courses, at all levels of instruction, several of which are cross-listed with Anthropology or History. A member of the SBU faculty since 1995, Ruf has been very active in curriculum development, having helped establish several new academic programs and serving in numerous administrative capacities, at both the graduate and undergraduate level, in several different departments. Recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the College of Arts and Sciences Godfrey Teaching Excellence Award, he has been involved with Honors College, the Undergraduate Colleges Freshman seminars, and the Living Learning Centers. In addition to his in-person teaching, he regularly offers online (remote) courses during summer and winter sessions.
I strive to make all my courses inclusive and engaging, bringing an enthusiasm for
the material that I hope inspires and motivates students to pursue deeper understanding
on their own initiative. My courses are not for everyone, but they could be for anyone:
I set high standards and rigorous expectations, with a demanding workload of extensive
readings and a diverse set of assessment exercises, employing a combination of lecture,
discussion, and peer-based active learning. Clear communication, strict fairness
and consistency in grading, and a deferential respect for student questions, opinions,
and concerns are key to fostering collaborative and successful communities of inquiry.
There is nothing more rewarding than finishing the semester to an ovation from your
students.
Elizabeth Bojsza - Provost’s Outstanding Lecturer Award
Assistant Professor of Practice, Alda Center, School of Communication and Journalism
Elizabeth Bojsza (BOY sha), or E-Beth as she likes to be called, is passionate about
community engagement, empowering voices, and asking good questions. She has been a
faculty member at Stony Brook University for over two decades, and has taught over
25 distinct courses on both the graduate and undergraduate level. She is currently
a curriculum designer and facilitator for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.
She finds it incredibly rewarding to apply the skills of analysis and feedback that
she honed as a theater artist to designing curricula and facilitating experiential
learning for scientists and healthcare professionals. She holds a Master of Fine Arts
in theater and has trained instructors and teachers in various contexts including
non-profit theater and higher education. Bojsza regularly teaches Foundations of Science
Communication, which introduces graduate students across several different programs
to audience-centered science communication, and recently taught a graduate elective
in Exploring SciArt. She is the curriculum lead for the Alda Healthcare Experience,
which offers experiential communication training for healthcare professionals. She
is also the program director for the Academy of Civic Life , a pre-college program
for local high school students to earn Stony Brook University college credit learning
about democracy and civic engagement.
Tara Rider - Provost’s Outstanding Lecturer Award
Senior Lecturer, Environmental Studies, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Dr. Tara Rider is a senior lecturer at Stony Brook University in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences with a multidisciplinary background in history, marine studies, and sustainability. Her research focuses on how nature, gender, and race are entwined with questions of power, culture, and identity.
I work to create and maintain a dynamic and interactive classroom in which students learn actively. By encouraging learning on two levels – the basic and fact-oriented level and a more complex and challenging level involving critical thinking – I give my students the building blocks to reach their goals. Throughout my teaching experiences, I have stressed critical thinking and real-world applications of the concepts and topics we examine, often with a focus on experiential learning.
