Faculty Honored for Excellence in Teaching at College Convocation

Florence Abad Turner and Annachiara Mariani received awards for Excellence in Teaching at the 2023 College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Convocation. 

Florence Abad-Turner, Distinguished Lecturer of French

Excellence in Teaching Awards: Lecturer

Abad-Turner’s teaching style and choice of relevant materials promote a relaxed yet very studious classroom atmosphere in which students take pleasure in learning. One of her students powerfully describes the quality and long-lasting impact of her work as a teacher: “The sign of a good teacher is when you find their class difficult while taking it, but when you see that teacher after the course, you treat them like a celebrity, and Madame Abad-Turner embodies this sentiment. She challenges you in the classroom while truly investing in you as a student, person, and language learner outside of the classroom.”

Abad-Turner is an exceptional instructor who consistently demonstrates a passion, a commitment to teaching, and a talent for inspiring and motivating students to achieve their full potential.

Annachiara Mariani, Associate Professor of Italian

Excellence in Teaching Awards: Senior

Mariani is an exceptional teacher who creates an interactive and collaborative classroom environment that stimulates a desire to learn in each of her students.

One comment that repeatedly comes out in the student evaluations is that Chiara is the most energetic, passionate, and enthusiastic teacher they have had in their college experience. Students appreciate the critical thinking skills they develop in her classes and admire and respect the point she constantly makes: that studying another language and culture is meaningful and relevant because of its ability to promote tolerance, understanding, and communication in a global perspective. Chiara’s students also praise her unparalleled dedication outside the classroom. As one of her students said, “I’ve never seen or had a professor where so many students flock to her after or before class and have huge smiles on their faces.”

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