UCLA instructors honored at annual Distinguished Teaching Award ceremony

Bruin instructors who showcase educational innovation and outstanding instructional service were recently honored at the annual Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching award ceremony. The awards are sponsored by the UCLA Academic Senate Committee on Teaching and the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center. 

The Distinguished Teaching Awards are UCLA’s highest honors for teaching. The awards recognize recipients in three categories: senate faculty, non-senate faculty and teaching assistants. 

Recipients were chosen based on a range of criteria, including:

• Student success
• Use of innovative teaching methods
• Instructor efforts to foster an inclusive learning environment
• Community outreach activities
• Teaching ratings.

UCLA School of Nursing Teaching Assistant Rey Paolo Roca was one of only five UCLA teaching assistants to be selected for this prestigious honor. Working in the emergency medicine department, Roca notices students feel lost or overwhelmed by the environment. Ultimately, he aims to be someone who helps empower students to learn and seek out support when they need it.

“Asking for help is OK, and we’ll be there to help,” Roca said.

In celebrating the contributions of these outstanding educators, the Night to Honor Teaching also illustrates how instructional excellence remains a key priority on campus more broadly. The elevation of teaching is outlined as Goal 4 of UCLA’s Strategic Plan, underscoring the key role effective instruction will play in the university’s future success.

“[This event] gives us a special moment to collectively reflect on the critical role of teaching within a leading research institution like UCLA,” noted interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt in his welcoming remarks. “While research often commands attention at universities of our scale, we have worked diligently to ensure that teaching excellence does not fade into the background. Our honorees tonight are powerful examples of this commitment in action.”

The awards ceremony carries on UCLA’s tradition of honoring its talented instructors. The Alumni Association gave the first teaching awards to Academic Senate members beginning in 1961. Over the years, these awards expanded to include non-senate faculty and teaching assistants. 

The Night to Honor Teaching was established in 1983 by former executive vice chancellor Rich and overseen by UCLA’s Office of Instructional Development, which has since become the Teaching and Learning Center. In 1995, the event became known as the Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching to recognize Rich’s contributions as founding director for OID and passionate advocacy for teaching excellence.

Distinguished Senate Faculty Award

The Distinguished Senate Faculty Award recipients for 2024 are professors Leisy J. Abrego, Jeff Eldredge, Raymond Knapp, Hannah Landecker, Eric Min and Nina Rabin.

Distinguished Non-Senate Faculty Award 

The Distinguished Non-Senate Faculty Award recipients for 2024 are professors Rana Khankan, Peter L. Reich and Stephen Tobin.

Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award

The Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award recipients for 2024 are Suzanna Donato, Jordan Hugh Sam, Rey Paolo Roca, Elizabeth McQueen and Kyle Scott.