The School of Management and Labor Relations recognizes faculty teaching excellence each year through two awards, one focused within each of the school's academic departments. New for 2023, two additional awards have been added to expand on our recognition of teaching excellence within the school: the Best Required Course Award and the Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award.


Congratulations to the 2023 SMLR Teaching Excellence Award Winners!
Image of Kyra Sutton
Image of Kyra Sutton
2023 Teaching Excellence Awards
Image of Sheila Lawrence
Image of Sheila Lawrence
2023 Teaching Excellence Awards
Photo of Hadi El-Farr
Photo of Hadi El-Farr
2023 Teaching Excellence Awards
Photo of Jerry Liu
Photo of Jerry Liu
2023 Teaching Excellence Awards

James R. Chelius Award for Excellence in Teaching

The James R. Chelius Award for Excellence in Teaching was created by the Chelius family in honor of the late Professor James Chelius, who taught in the Human Resource Management (HRM) graduate program for 15 years. Students in the Department of Human Resource Management nominate a recipient and the selection is made by an HRM faculty committee consisting of the department chair and program directors.

We are delighted to honor Assistant Teaching Professor Kyra Leigh Sutton as the recipient of the 2023 James R. Chelius Award for Excellence in Teaching. 

Past Recipients of the James R. Chelius Award
2022 - Jessica R. Methot
2021 - Kyra Leigh Sutton
2020 - Peter Rokkos
2019 - Doug Coffey
2018 - Patrick Downes
2017 - Joseph McCune
2016 - Dave Ferio
2015 - Doug Coffey
2014 - Joseph McCune

Labor Studies and Employment Relations Faculty Teaching Award

The Labor Studies and Employment Relations Faculty Teaching Award recognizes the teaching excellence of a faculty member in the Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LSER). A call for nominations is initiated throughout the department inviting undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty to recommend a faculty member who exemplifies teaching excellence. The selection is made by a LSER faculty committee consisting of the department chair and program directors.

We are delighted to honor Assistant Teaching Professor Sheila M. Lawrence as the recipient of the 2023 Labor Studies and Employment Relations Faculty Teaching Award.

Past Recipients of the Labor Studies & Employment Relations Award
2022 - Naomi R Williams 
2021 - Tamara L. Lee
2020 - Francis Ryan
2019 - James Cooney
2018 - William Dwyer

Best Required Course Award

(New award for 2023)

The Best Required Course Award recognizes a faculty member for excellence in the preparation and delivery of a required SMLR course that represents critical learning in the field, stimulates additional learning beyond the course, and enables students to apply what they have learned to further their career. Undergraduate and graduate students along with faculty nominate a recipient and the selection is made by a committee of SMLR faculty.

We are delighted to honor Assistant Teaching Professor Hadi El-Farr as the inaugural recipient the Best Required Course Award.


Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award

(New award for 2023)

The Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award recognizes doctoral students for delivering meaningful, engaging, and inclusive learning environments and creating innovative teaching approaches or content within SMLR. The Ph.D. Program Director nominates eligible doctoral students, and upon review of the nominees’ supporting materials, the Dean, Department Chair, and Ph.D. Program Director make the final selections.

We are delighted to honor Ph.D. students Jerry Liu and Jiyoon Park as recipients of the inaugural Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award.