Kaitlyn Holshouser, (left) Curriculum & Instruction-Urban Elementary Education, and Jules Maguire, English, recently received the respective Teaching Assistant and Instructor of Record award in the Graduate School's 2020-21 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards.
The two were selected from 31 nominees. Holshouser was selected for the innovative ways she embeds concepts into course activities to give students an opportunity to practice teaching strategies. Maguire was lauded for her use of language and storytelling to connect concepts students learn in class with their experiences outside the classroom.A recording of the virtual awards presentation is available on YouTube.
The Graduate School hosts the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards annually to honor top TAs nominated by faculty supervisors for their work. The awards, one to the top Teaching Assistant and one to the top Instructor of Record, recognize outstanding and innovative teaching techniques.
“This award reinforces the importance of teaching as a core function and inspires faculty and students to be engaged and attentive to the educational mission of the university,” said Tom Reynolds, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School.
Graduate Teaching Assistants play an important role assisting department chairpersons, faculty members, and other professional staff in teaching courses, developing teaching materials, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
Dr. Judith Krauss coordinates efforts to support graduate teaching assistants through the Center for Graduate Life, including Graduate Teaching Assistant training offered at the start of the fall and spring semesters. She also offers workshops on a variety of teaching-related issues each semester.
Graduate students interested in obtaining a graduate research or teaching assistantship should contact their academic department directly. For more information about administrative assistantship opportunities, please visit The Graduate School’s Funding for Graduate Education pages.