Three University of Georgia faculty members have received the institution’s highest recognition for sustained excellence in instruction, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship.
The 2025-2026 Meigs Professors are Jennifer A. Brown, professor and director of graduate studies in the department of communication sciences and special education in the Mary Frances Early College of Education; Moon Jung Jang, associate professor in the Lamar Dodd School of Art in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; and Teena Wilhelm, associate professor in the department of political science in the School of Public and International Affairs.
“Our newest Meigs Professors are transforming the student experience through innovative instruction, real-world experiential learning opportunities and dedicated mentorship,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Their deep commitment to excellence positions our students for success, not only in the classroom but also throughout their lives.”
The Meigs Professorship highlights the university’s commitment to academic excellence, the importance of student learning experiences and the central role of instruction in UGA’s mission.
Jennifer A. Brown
A member of the UGA faculty since 2013, Brown encourages students to reflect on how and why they learn and to consider the broader impact their work will have on others.
Brown has taught more than 200 courses, including required undergraduate and master’s courses in communication sciences and disorders, First-Year Odyssey seminars and GradFIRST seminars. She is widely recognized for her use of clear instructional models aligned with course objectives and her use of learning lab activities and simulation-based learning, which allow students to practice clinical case studies before beginning in-person placements.
“Dr. Brown’s record reflects a deep, sustained and multifaceted commitment to student engagement,” said Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, senior associate dean for academic programs in the College of Education. “She not only excels in classroom instruction but also fosters student growth through research, clinical training and mentorship.”
Beyond her classroom, Brown has facilitated more than 150 experiential learning opportunities through mentored research in her Child Communication Lab and community-engaged service-learning initiatives in local schools. She is currently leading the development of a new online educational specialist program in speech-language pathology to help meet workforce needs across Georgia.
Brown’s previous honors include the 2022 Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2025 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education.
Moon Jung Jang
Jang, who joined UGA in 2008, is celebrated for her innovative approach to “visual storytelling through design systems” and for fostering a design-centered learning culture. She defines graphic design as a multifaceted discipline that creates holistic visual narratives in a complex global society.
In 2015, Jang founded C-U-B-E, an experimental design lab that serves as a multifunctional space for exhibitions, workshops and collaborative practice. Her commitment to interdisciplinary teamwork is reflected in her role as co-investigator on a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant for the Geometry, Research, Outreach and Visualization Initiative, a partnership with David T. Gay, a professor in the department of mathematics. This project allows graphic design, art and mathematics students to work together on visualizing complex mathematical ideas for public outreach.
Students describe her impact as “otherworldly,” with many saying her course is one of the best experiences they have had at UGA.
“Professor Jang’s visual fluency and creativity helped us address the difficulties in communicating abstract math, and she shared her unique insight and experience with others so naturally,” a former student said. “It almost feels magical to learn from her.”
Jang is a four-time recipient of the Student Career Success Influencer Award, and her former students hold leadership roles at major companies including Apple, Google, Delta Air Lines and Instagram. In 2024, she received the prestigious Art and Design Education Award from the Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Association.
Teena Wilhelm
Since joining UGA in 2005, Wilhelm has demonstrated sustained dedication to high-quality instruction and student mentorship in the department of political science and the Criminal Justice Studies Program. She creates active, immersive learning environments that challenge students to apply legal and political theories to real-world contexts.
“I can think of no better educator, mentor or leader worthy of recognition for her impact in the classroom, the learning culture she fostered or the successes she facilitated in her students postgrad than Professor Teena Wilhelm,” said Cecilia A. Walker, a former student now working as a civil litigator.
Wilhelm is the founder and director of the UGA National Parks Program, a study away program that takes students across the western United States to study the politics and policies of public lands while visiting approximately 15 national parks and monuments. She also founded and advises the university’s undergraduate moot court team, offering students intensive preparation for legal careers.
In her efforts to make education more accessible, Wilhelm used an Affordable Learning Georgia Grant to revise her constitutional law curriculum. By using open education resources, she saved UGA students an estimated $27,000 annually. Her recent honors include the 2024 national Law and Courts Teaching and Mentoring Award from the American Political Science Association and the UGA J. Hatten Howard III Honors Teaching Award.
Recognizing excellence in teaching at UGA
Sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship includes a permanent salary increase of $6,000 and a one-time discretionary fund of $1,000. Recipients are nominated by their school or college and chosen by a committee consisting of 12 faculty members, two undergraduate students and one graduate student.
More information is available at https://provost.uga.edu/academic-excellence/honors-awards/teaching-awards-professorships/josiah-meigs-distinguished-teaching-professorships/.