Foundation honors five UVA faculty members for excellence in teaching
The Jefferson Scholars Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 faculty teaching awards. Five faculty members from the University of Virginia were honored during a ceremony at the Foundation last week and received awards totaling $25,000.
Each year, the Foundation invites deans and department chairs across the University to nominate outstanding educators for its Award for Excellence in Teaching. Nominations for the Hartfield Excellence in Teaching Award are submitted by department chairs and the dean within the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science. Recipients are selected by a review committee composed of current UVA faculty.
Award for Excellence in Teaching
Jeremy Middleton, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the third-year Pediatric Clerkship at the School of Medicine, was honored for his extraordinary ability to cultivate a supportive and intellectually engaging learning environment. As the faculty member responsible for introducing medical students to pediatrics during their required clinical rotation, Middleton is known for taking a personal interest in each learner and fostering a culture in which curiosity and thoughtful questioning are encouraged.
Suzanne Moomaw, chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning in the School of Architecture, was recognized for her innovative and community-focused teaching. Over her 17 years at the University, Moomaw has created experiential learning opportunities that connect students directly with pressing global and local challenges. Through initiatives such as the Urban Sustainability Lab and international study programs focused on sustainability, she connects students with real-world planning challenges and encourages them to explore the broader civic impact of their work.
Stephen Parks, professor in the Department of English, was honored for his work connecting academic writing to real world civic engagement. Since joining UVA in 2019, Parks has built upon his national reputation as a leading advocate for community-based writing and public scholarship. Through his courses, students learn how writing can influence communities and public conversations. Parks is the founder of New City Community Press, a literacy initiative that supports urban youth in using writing as a tool for self-expression and empowerment. His global engagement includes co-founding Syrian for Truth and Justice, an organization dedicated to human-rights journalism and investigative reporting.
Hartfield Excellence in Teaching Award
John “Robbie” Hott, associate professor of computer science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, was honored for his outstanding impact on students across the department’s curriculum. Hott teaches courses ranging from foundational programming to advanced electives, often instructing hundreds of students across multiple sections. Despite the scale of his teaching responsibilities, students consistently note the welcoming and interactive atmosphere he creates in the classroom. Known for balancing professionalism with authenticity, Hott encourages students to ask questions openly and engage deeply with challenging material.
Robert Kelly, the Thomas Goodwin Digges Professor Materials Science and Engineering and former co-director of the Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering, was honored for decades of exceptional teaching and mentorship. Kelly has advised and mentored generations of students and researchers at every stage of their careers. His graduate students have earned numerous honors, including multiple recipients of the Electrochemical Society’s Morris Cohen Award for outstanding research in corrosion science and engineering. Colleagues and former students describe his mentorship as patient and deeply invested in the development of young scientists.
