Smeal Teaching Awards
Penn State Smeal College of Business is committed to cultivating a dynamic community where innovative educators thrive. From pioneering online course design to faculty-mentored doctoral teaching, our annual Teaching Awards recognize scholars who redefine business education. Discover the honors and criteria that celebrate instructional excellence across our undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., and online programs.
Fred Brand, Jr. Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Recognizes exceptional non-tenure track faculty who demonstrate outstanding dedication, innovation, and impact in undergraduate education. This award celebrates educators whose teaching inspires student success and sets a high benchmark for instructional excellence across Smeal’s undergraduate programs.
Undergraduate Student Teaching Excellence
Honors tenure-track faculty who bring academic rigor, cutting-edge research, and transformative teaching into the undergraduate classroom. This award celebrates educators who actively engage students in foundational business concepts and empower the next generation of business leaders.
Graduate Student Residential Teaching Excellence
Celebrates faculty who elevate graduate education through exceptional instruction in Smeal’s residential master’s programs. Recipients are recognized for fostering dynamic learning environments, mentoring emerging professionals, and preparing graduate students for high-level industry leadership.
Online Teaching Excellence
Recognizes faculty who redefine digital learning by designing and delivering engaging, high-impact online courses. This award honors educators who leverage innovative technology, collaborative platforms, and asynchronous strategies to connect with online learners worldwide.
Ossian R. MacKenzie Teaching Award
Named in honor of Smeal’s founding dean, this prestigious award recognizes doctoral students who exhibit exceptional talent and promise in university-level teaching. It highlights Ph.D. candidates who excel in the classroom while balancing advanced research and scholar development.
Ph.D. Student Teaching Excellence
Honors faculty who dedicate themselves to training and mentoring the next generation of business scholars. This award recognizes outstanding instruction in Ph.D.-level coursework, celebrating educators who foster scholarly rigor and advanced research capability.
Early Career Award for Teaching Excellence
Highlights rising educators—including assistant professors, clinical faculty, and instructors—who demonstrate extraordinary promise and impact in their first five years of university teaching. This award underscores Smeal’s commitment to cultivating and championing top teaching talent from day one.
Innovation in Teaching Award
Celebrates pioneering faculty and staff who advance learning through creative pedagogical tools, novel instructional methods, and experimental course design. This award recognizes visionaries whose educational innovations enhance student engagement and serve as models across the college.
Impact Award
Measures teaching excellence by its ultimate benchmark: post-graduation student success. Nominated directly by Smeal alumni, this award recognizes faculty whose classroom guidance, mentorship, and real-world instruction significantly shaped their graduates' professional careers.
Excellence in Business Ethics Education Award
Recognizes faculty who seamlessly integrate ethical leadership, corporate responsibility, and sustainability into undergraduate or graduate coursework. This award honors educators who equip students with the critical decision-making tools needed to navigate complex moral and strategic challenges in modern business.
Teaching Support Award
Honors the essential contributors—including teaching assistants, course designers, and administrative staff—who enable exceptional learning environments. This award recognizes the operational and creative support that ensures smooth, high-quality course delivery across Smeal programs.