Three University of Georgia faculty members have been named recipients of the Richard B. Russell Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the university’s highest early-career honor for outstanding and innovative instruction.
The 2025-26 Russell Award winners are:
- Gaelen R. Burke, professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences;
- Matthew Evans, associate professor of entertainment and media studies in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication; and
- Ingie Hovland, assistant professor of religion and women’s and gender studies in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
“This year’s recipients of the Richard B. Russell Awards have demonstrated a passion for advancing excellence in undergraduate instruction at the University of Georgia,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Their use of innovative teaching approaches and their embrace of active-learning principles create a rigorous, engaging and valuable classroom experience for their students.”
The Russell Awards recognize faculty early in their academic careers who have demonstrated a commitment to student success through creative and original teaching and effective mentoring. Each recipient receives a $10,000 award supported by the Richard B. Russell Foundation in Atlanta.
Gaelen R. Burke
An internationally recognized expert in insect-microbe interactions, Burke integrates active learning into her research to help students build scientific literacy. Since joining the department of entomology, she has redesigned core courses to emphasize the relevance of insect science to human well-being and environmental health.
In her signature “Insects and the Environment” course, Burke utilizes hands-on demonstrations — such as using M&M’s to teach experimental design and bringing live “insect ambassadors” to class — to encourage student engagement. Her commitment to instruction extends to departmental leadership, where she is currently leading the revitalization of the entomology undergraduate program to enhance student recruitment and learning outcomes.
“I aim to use evidence-based teaching strategies to engage students in the process of science through active learning and involvement in practical and research experiences,” Burke said.
She has mentored 44 undergraduate researchers, several of whom have won awards for their presentations or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications. Her colleagues note that she treats teaching as a scholarly endeavor and continually works to improve instructional outcomes across her department.
Matthew Evans
Evans specializes in screenwriting and focuses on preparing students for professional careers in the film and television industry. He designed and continues to teach the popular screenwriting workshop “Writing for Television” and leads required introductory and advanced writing courses, as well as a First-Year Odyssey seminar.
Evans uses a workshop methodology that mirrors a professional writers’ room environment. This approach prioritizes revision as a critical component of the writing process, with a grading philosophy centered on student improvement rather than the immediate production of a polished final product. In these sessions he encourages students to take ownership of their creative growth and gain confidence in their artistic voices.
“My ultimate goal as a teacher, beyond students earning festival accolades or industry awards, is for them to harness and have confidence in their own unique voices and to be willing to engage in open dialogue with one another,” Evans said.
Evans’ commitment to professional excellence is evident by his mentees, who have earned 21 national awards for their creative work. Students frequently describe him as a “shining light” whose workshop-style classes foster a collaborative and supportive environment for constructive criticism and intellectual growth.
Ingie Hovland
Hovland is a dedicated scholar of teaching and learning who has transformed the undergraduate experience by emphasizing advanced reading and critical thinking skills in the humanities. She has designed innovative instructional materials, including a course workbook that guides small-group learning and demonstrates how to read in discipline-specific ways.
“There is no way to get through her courses without having to think deeply and truly analyze and apply the content,” one student wrote.
Hovland employs a suite of unique classroom exercises, such as visual mapping of concepts, to help students take ownership of their learning and bridge the gap between initial comprehension and critical analysis. Her impact reaches across the university through her leadership of faculty learning communities and campus-wide workshops focused on supporting student readers across a wide range of disciplines.
Hovland’s research on undergraduate reading has been published in leading international journals, and she has shared her expertise in multiple campus workshops. Her colleagues note her ability to create welcoming classroom communities where students take ownership of their own learning.
Elevating undergraduate instruction
Nominations for the Russell Awards are submitted by deans and reviewed by a committee of senior faculty members and undergraduate students. Tenure-track faculty members who have worked at UGA for at least three years and no more than 10 years are eligible to be nominated.
For more information and a list of past winners, visit provost.uga.edu/academic-excellence/honors-awards/teaching-awards-professorships/richard-russell-awards-for-excellence-in-undergraduate-teaching/.