The Office of Service-Learning annually recognizes faculty excellence with the Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award and the Service-Learning Research Excellence Award.
Applications for the 2026 Service Learning Awards are now open and due by Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Nominations by deans and department heads, faculty colleagues, or self-nominations are accepted. Nomination/application packets should follow the stated guidelines and be assembled into a single PDF for submission.
Service-Learning Research Excellence Award
The Service-Learning Research Excellence Award was established in 2011 to recognize UGA faculty for excellence in research related to or resulting from academic service-learning. Academic service-learning integrates relevant community service with academic coursework and structured reflection to enhance student learning, develop civic responsibility, and address community needs.
Award recipients receive a $2,500 faculty development award. Award winners will be announced in January and recognized at UGA’s annual faculty recognition banquet during Honors Week.
Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award
The Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award was established in 2011 to recognize UGA faculty for excellence in developing, implementing, and sustaining academic service-learning opportunities for UGA students in domestic and/or international settings. Academic service-learning integrates relevant community service with academic coursework and structured reflection to enhance student learning, develop civic responsibility, and address community needs.
Award recipients receive a $2,500 faculty development award. Award winners will be announced in January and recognized at UGA’s annual faculty recognition banquet during Honors Week.
Read About Past Years’ Award Winners
Other Awards
Additionally, faculty holding Professor or Associate Professor rank may apply or be nominated for the Engaged Scholar Award, offered through the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. The OSL is also pleased to be able to support faculty nominations for UGA-internal recognitions (such as campus teaching awards) and external awards for engagement and service-learning (e.g., by the Gulf-South Summit, IARSLCE, ESC, Campus Compact, etc.). Please contact the OSL director or assistant director with questions about award nominations or support letters.
Past Recipients of the Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award:
Caroline Young, 2024
David L. Chiesa, 2024
Katie Darby Hein, 2023
Kim Skobba, 2023
Katherine Melcher, 2022
Gary T. Green, 2021
Candice Hollenbeck, 2021
Sarah Shannon, 2020
Kristina Jaskyte Bahr, 2020
Caree Cotwright, 2019
Elizabeth Davis, 2019
Cecilia Herles, 2019
Melissa Landers-Potts, 2018
Jerry Shannon, 2018
Carol Britton Laws, 2017
Sungkyung Lee, 2017
Emily Sahakian, 2016
Gretchen Thomas, 2016
Kris Irwin, 2015
Michael Marshall, 2015
Betina Kaplan, 2014
Corey W. Johnson, 2013
Katherine F. Thompson, 2013
Stacey R. Kolomer, 2012
Deanna McEwen, 2012
Pratt Cassity, 2011
Gwynn Powell, 2011
Past Recipients of the Service-Learning Research Excellence Award:
Jon Calabria, 2023
Gary T. Green, 2022
Lance Palmer, 2020
Joseph W. Goetz, 2019
Abigail Borron, 2018
Tiffany Washington, 2017
Kimberly Skobba, 2016
Peter Smagorinsky, 2014
Su-I Hou, 2011