At Exeter, great teaching and support makes a lasting impact. The Teaching Awards are our opportunity to celebrate the academics and staff who have shaped your university experience — those who inspire, support and go above and beyond.

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We’re delighted to announce the shortlisted nominees for the Teaching Awards this year. The ceremony is coming up on 26 November, and we’ll be sharing the winners with you here soon after!

Fairer Society Award 

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This award recognises a member of staff who has demonstratedan outstanding commitment to social justice.

Dr Aparna Mahiyaria 

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The passion and way in which they teach their modules'content, particularly advocating for social justice and raising questions aboutpower and colonial narratives, inspires a similar enthusiasm in their students.

Dr Faryal Khalid 

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They delivered engaging and interesting modules, engaging with students to reach their full potential beyond grades. They encourage students to take on leadership roles within groups and how to advocate for their own ideas within groups. They are an excellent role model for women in STEM.

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Dr Stanley Gyoshev 

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They have shown impeccable consideration that different students come from different backgrounds. They take time to ensure content is well understood and are very generous during their office hours, often going above and beyond to ensure students do well.  

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Greener World Award 

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Recognising a member of staff who has demonstrated anoutstanding commitment to sustainability.

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Dr Melinda Martin-Khan 

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 They demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability byactively embedding it into the learning experience. Rather than approachingsustainability as a theoretical concept, they created an interactive andresearch-based learning environment where we could explore real-worldchallenges.  

Dr Rebecca Sandover 

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They ensure sustainability is at the forefront of multiple modules in the curriculum. They not only have knowledge on sustainability but ensure everyone knows how they can be more sustainable on a day-to-day basis, as well as advocating for their own sustainable initiatives nearby.

Professor Ulrike Zitzlsperger 

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They spearheaded the environmentally concerned module. Their philosophical approach broadened horizons and encouraged students towards wanting to contribute to a sustainable, fair planet.  

Healthier Community Award 

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Recognising a member of staff who has demonstrated anoutstanding commitment to student wellbeing

Abbigail Horrocks 

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They go out of their way to help students and do everything within their power to make the experience at university a healthy and happy one. They also run 'Weekly Wellbeing Sessions' and have always been a friendly face.

Dr Gina Collins 

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They have been a constant source of support as Senior Tutor for the course, setting up regular meetings to discuss any challenges students were experiencing. They always respond with both empathy and practical solutions which makes students feel less alone with their situation.

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Dr Rebecca Baker 

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 Most lecturers support their students to complete their specific module, but they support students to complete their entire degree, and they don't turn anyone away whether they have a question about their module, another module or turn up exasperated at the annoyances of life.

Accessible Education Award 

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This award recognises a member of staff who continuouslyworks hard to ensure that the curriculum and their teaching is inclusive andaccessible for all students.

Dr Joe Holloway 

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They make it easy to approach them about accessibility queries / concerns by explicitly stating their approach to accessibility and explaining the different ways that people with ILP's can approach them from the offset of the seminars. If more teaching staff approached accessibility in the way that they do, the overall experience of university would be significantly more accessible  

Matt Lawrence 
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They have an extraordinary ability to take something that feels completely overwhelming and somehow make it feel manageable. They take time to understand the situation before helping you work through options, ensuring you understand what support is available and what needs to happen next. You never feel as though your problem has simply been dealt with and forgotten. They genuinely invest in the outcome.

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Simon Hayhoe 
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They don’t just teach inclusion, but they live and breathe it in every interaction, embedding its principles into the way they show up for students, not just as an academic concept but as a daily practice. They modelled inclusion, centring marginalised voices in classes, framing difference as a strength rather than a complication, and ensured no one was overlooked or silenced.  

Inspirational Teaching Award 

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Recognising a member of staff whose course content and delivery inspires students to actively engage in their learning through creative methods which make their teaching innovative and different.

Claire Cahill 

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They bring learning to life in a way that is intellectually stimulating and genuinely enjoyable. Their lectures are fun, interactive and full of active learning, creating an environment where students are encouraged to think, participate and apply concepts in practice. Rather than relying on traditional delivery, they use innovative approaches to bring the subject to life and keep learners fully involved.  

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Courtney Tremlett 

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Their knowledge and patience are exceptional, but it is the humanity and accessibility they bring to education that make the greatest difference. They don't simply teach students who already know how to navigate university; they help ensure that those who don't are given the tools to do so. They identify where a student is starting, builds the foundations and develops their knowledge from there, without ever making them feel inadequate for not already knowing.  

Dr Alyson Mercer 

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They have taken on convenorship of a core module which prepares students for their third-year dissertation. They have approached this module with great creativity - pioneering a collaboration with a faculty at Falmouth university, the module now offers students a 'practice' based pathway that enables a well scaffolded and supported experiential learning pathway, where students develop valuable skills and experience.  

Dr Chris Grosvenor 

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They are inspiring and the entire module was made with care and effort to ensure all students were included and enjoyed it modules. The feedback we received on assessments was helpful, detailed and personalised to each student’s chosen fandom. This really showed how much they cared about each of their students and was rooting for their success.  

Dr Constantine Manolchev 

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They are always energetic, constantly checking up on their students, and providing motivation to go above and beyond. Students can see the passion for teaching in their eyes. They bring the inspiration into the lecture theatre and always push their students even in society endeavours and many more!

Dr Joseph Costello  

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What makes them exceptional is their ability to communicate science. They have a remarkable talent for explaining complex concepts in a way that is accessible and intellectually engaging. Their lectures never feel like someone reading information from slides. Instead, they feel like a story unfolding. They have a way of building curiosity and excitement, leaving you constantly wanting to know what comes next.

Dr Tausif Bordoloi 

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Their workshops encourage discussion, reflection, andcritical thinking, making them a very engaging and effective learning activity.They show a strong level of attention to detail in the way the module isstructured, extremely clear assessment briefs, well organised, and easy tofollow, making expectations transparent and reduced confusion

Emily Kreider 

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They encourage students to think independently, trust their ideas and give them the confidence to develop their own creative voice, while always being there with thoughtful guidance when they need it. They care deeply about people’s wellbeing and are always enthusiastic about their passions, ambitions and creative work. They bring warmth, intelligence, creativity and joy into every space they teach.

Pauline Tedesco 

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Their friendly and understanding approach and ability to explain the same process in a multitude of ways enabled everyone to understand the theories taught, whilst incorporating their own research into to what they delivered. Their care for every single person in the class created an environment where everyone wasn’t afraid to admit if they didn’t understand things.  

Professor Louise Lawrence 

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Their engaging, informal and discursive approach to socially relevant issues is refreshing. When points are made and concepts discussed, it feels like a communal learning environment where ideas freely bounce off each other. The guest speakers they got to talk over zoom really added to understanding of topics and showed how these areas of research can be studied at a higher level to improve social outcomes and reduce prejudice.  

Rebecca Hindley 

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From the outset, they create an environment that is fundamentally different from traditional tutor-led sessions. Rather than simply delivering content, they encourage students to think independently, challenge assumptions, create their path, and engage in meaningful, forward-thinking discussions. They create an atmosphere where constructive challenge is encouraged and where intellectual curiosity can flourish.

Simon Andrew 

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They represent what good teaching in a clinical-academic setting can be: creative, prepared, warm, and quietly raising the bar for everyone around them. Their teaching helps students stay engaged combining clinical credibility with genuinely creative, innovative teaching that makes students actively want to engage with their learning.

Supervisor of the Year Award 

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The Dissertation, Project or Thesis supervisor who hasprovided great inspiration, support and guidance to students undertakingacademic research at any level.

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Dr Adnan Isin 
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They are approachable, supportive, and willing to explain things again when something was not clear. This makes a big difference because it created an environment where you feel comfortable asking questions. They combine strong subject knowledge with patience, care, and a genuine willingness to help students succeed.  

Dr Andrew Griffiths 

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They are exceptionally kind, considerate and motivating helping students to achieve more than I they thought they could. They guided the process smoothly, making progress feel easy and feedback was comprehensive and thorough. They are truly devoted to the department and every single student in it.

Dr Kristofer Allerfeldt 

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From the first meeting, they had a knack of making you feel at ease about your work and you always leave meetings feeling lighter than going in. They enabled development of a serious passion for the topic and their wisdom and confidence are truly life changing.  

Dr Robert Ellis 

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They are consistently supportive, approachable, and generous.. Their commitment to their student’s success is evident in everything they do. Their supervision extends far beyond expectation, combining exceptional research expertise with genuine dedication to student development, creating an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed.

Dr Xingchen Zhang 

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Their supervision helps you move from feeling uncertain about a broad and challenging topic to producing a detailed final report with a clear methodology, evaluation and conclusion. You learn how to think more like a researcher: questioning results, checking assumptions, and explaining limitations honestly.

Professor Chris Scotton 

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They are an outstanding scientist and educator, and what makes them exceptional is the genuine care, time and attention they give to their students. Their confidence in your abilities encourages you to think more ambitiously about your future and changes the way you see your own potential. They provide thoughtful and constructive feedback, answering questions even outside normal working hours, and treat every idea with respect.  

Academic Excellence Award 

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A member of staff who excels in all areas with astudent-centred approach to teaching and/or supervision.

Dr Helena Hastie 

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They are approachable, encouraging and genuinely invested in your development. They always make time for questions, provide thoughtful feedback and help develop confidence in your ideas. Their support makes what could have been a stressful and overwhelming process feel manageable and rewarding.

Dr Kimberley Hockings 

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During the planning and delivery of group presentations, they were helpful, encouraging, giving constructive feedback and advice to elevate performance in future summative assessments. Their approach to teaching through small-group discussions and presentations is different to anything else experienced so far at university, but it has been incredibly effective for learning, retention, and critical evaluation skills.

Dr Sally Rogers 
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Their time, compassion, persistence and willingness to find solutions has changed students experience of university. It is what genuine inclusion in education looks like. Not providing an easier route or expecting less from somebody because their circumstances are different, recognising the barriers in front of them and doing everything reasonably possible to ensure those barriers do not determine their potential.

Jeanne Volschenk  

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They have been an outstanding Academic Mentor. Their empathy is evident in everything they do, and it is clear that they always put their students at the forefront, supporting them to achieve their full potential. Their level of support makes a significant difference; they are truly one in a million.

Pauline Tedesco 
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Their excellent and comprehensive teaching during their module has broken down what is complex ocean physics in a digestible way while maintaining the core passion of the subject which is compelling. They have excelled as a lecturer and supervisor notably by their teaching approach and compassion but also massively by their generosity.  

Professor Karen Anderson 

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They are an incredibly kind and supportive supervisor and human. They go above and beyond consistently to ensure all of their students are supported and inspired. During the field course to Scotland, they ensured every student there was supported not only during academic activities but outside of them to.

Professor Pascale Aebischer 

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They went above and beyond for their class. Their ability to adapt classes was phenomenal, highlighting clear attention and care for all their students. Their sociable approach to lessons allowed the class to 'gel' nicely, breaking down the 'awkwardness' that often comes with seminars. Their classes felt like a fun book club, rather than a stuffy class full of people who didn't really want to be there.  

Educator of the Year Award 

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A staff member who offers a tailored approach to teaching,assessment and feedback.

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Courtney Tremlett 

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Their calmness, kindness, and their readiness to listen is critical to their support for their students. Their support builds confidence, self-belief and trust, enabling students to excel beyond what they thought they could achieve.

Dr Misan Afinotan  

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In their teaching, they have a clear passion for the subject that is infectious. They have a knack for breaking down complex legal concepts and making them feel accessible and relevant. Their enthusiasm for the material makes it easier to engage with what can otherwise be quite a dense and challenging area of law.

Dr Robin Shail 

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They consistently demonstrate how to observe, interpret, and think like a field geologist. These experiences are not simply excursions, but carefully guided opportunities to develop practical skills, confidence, and independent reasoning in real geological settings. Their enthusiasm for the geology of Cornwall is infectious, and they have a unique ability to turn even complex structural relationships into something engaging and intuitive.

Dr Sandra Kröger  

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 Through their teaching they have consistently demonstrated innovation, dedication, and an outstanding commitment to student learning and development. What has most distinguished their teaching is their innovative use of the “Leminar” format. They stand out because of the care, enthusiasm and authenticity they bring to her role as an educator.

Dr Sarune Savickaite 

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Throughout the course, they consistently collected student feedback and adapted the module to support areas students found more challenging. They provided weekly summaries, checklists, and practice questions which helped structure learning and made the content feel much more manageable. It was obvious their passion was, both for the subject itself and forteaching.  

Dr Stephen Hesselbo 

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Their lectures made what can be a complex subject genuinely engaging. Their practicals are equally valuable and varied, combining data from real scientific publications with fossils, sediment cores and thin-section analysis. Their teaching goes beyond simply delivering the content of a module: they help build a solid foundation in geology, develop an interest in sedimentological research, and become a more independent and confident geologist.

Edward Branford 

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They are an incredibly friendly, reliable and helpful presence throughout the whole course, successfully introducing the cohort to several topics new to many but critical for understanding of the whole course. They made sure to timetable extra lectures as required and maintained consistent and frequent office hours to ensure everybody had adequate support.  

Marcus Hibbeln 

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They start each seminar with the questions and test our knowledge. They encourage partner work and the atmosphere they create makes you feel supported to ask all the questions.. Their support regarding coursework is out of this world. They help you to help yourself instead of revealing an answer. Every step of the way they are there to help with any issue and are so down to earth and kind.  

Tom Knowles 

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They demonstrate their enthusiasm for the subject, and dedication to teaching it, in every tutorial. They can clearly explain concepts to students and can relate concepts to their own field of study, making topics accessible and interesting. They are always happy to take time to make sure students understand their explanation and has no trouble in tailoring explanations to fit different students’ needs.

Student Partnership Champion 

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A member of University staff who is approachable and personable, and is always willing to promote co-creation and student involvement in education.

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Daniel Moore 

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Their aura is very friendly and welcoming. They make students feel welcome and are open to students' suggestions taking these on and, making adjustments to help their students settle in and get the best from their programs.  

Dr Richard Jobson 

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They approach students in such a friendly and comfortable way. Although they must speak with an immeasurable number of students each day or week, they will always remember previous conversations or details students have mentioned, showing a genuine care for their students’ academic career and their personal wellbeing as well.

Dr Yogendra Singh 

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They are always approachable and take the time to answer questions, whether during seminars or afterwards. No matter how simple or complex the question is, they respond with patience and enthusiasm and are always willing to help students. They frequently share wider insights, practical examples, and perspectives that helped connect theories to real-life situations.  

Course of the Year Award 

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A degree programme or individual module whose staff workcollectively to provide an outstanding student experience for those studyingit, including effective use of student feedback to improve the teaching of theprogramme itself.

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MA Theatre Practice 

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The course is passionate, dynamic and inspiring, and the staff consistently go above and beyond with their time, care and support for students. That sense of belonging cannot be measured by a spreadsheet, but it changes lives. It gives confidence, independence and the freedom to explore personally and creatively.  

MSc Systems Thinking in the Public Sector 

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The team consistently work together to create an environment where students are supported academically, professionally and personally. Students are encouraged to learn from one another's experiences and bring workplace challenges into discussions and assignments. This creates a rich learning environment where theory and practice are constantly connected.

MSci/BSc Natural Sciences 

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Every member of the teaching team is incredibly supportive, approachable and genuinely care about the students on the course. Staff are genuinely interested in students’ ideas for the research they want to perform, are supportive and gave suggestions of how they can refine, promoting an environment where everyone felt like they had a real opportunity to do research.

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