The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recognizes Teaching Assistants (TAs) who have made distinguished contributions to Syracuse University by demonstrating excellence in significant instructional capacities, such as classroom teaching, laboratory or studio instruction, leading recitation or discussion sections, or assisting senior faculty members with high-enrollment courses. TAs are nominated by their departments and must present a teaching portfolio for review.
2026 Outstanding TA Awardees Photos by Lars
2026 Outstanding Teaching Assistants
Rachel Ameen, Geography and the Environment
Sarah Appedu, Information Science and Technology
Zachery Robert Barrows Gonzalez, Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Almila Basak, Political Science
Julia Janina Viola Baumgarten, Physics
Caroline Anne Bowling, Architecture
Shannon Burth, Mass Communications
Kirstin Len Clear, Human Development and Family Science
Rein Desbiens, Chemistry
Iwona Franczak, Sociology
Antonio Freiles, Philosophy
Aliza Haskal, English
Jaihyun Jeon, Business Administration
Kennedy Reed Jones, Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Xiangjing Kong, Psychology
Shivam Kumar, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Yifan Cheng Li, Economics
Liam Victor Lieblein, Philosophy
Ash Lienemann, Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Tyler Logie, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Desiree Laurel Martin, Mathematics
Kerry McNamara, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Zaidao Mei, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Fasika Minda Melese, Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation
Chelsea Renea Morton, Social Science
Amanda Qi Ni, Women’s and Gender Studies
David Aanuoluwa Okanlawon, Anthropology
Gizem Ozyazici, College Science Teaching
Urmi Manoj Parekh, Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition
John Sackey, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
Sergio Saravia Lopez, Sociology
Karie Nicole Schmitz, Mathematics
Lauren Sdun, Physics
Soham Sinha, English
Sabrina Marie Traver, Mathematics
Jenna Marie Walmer, Psychology
