Office of the Provost

Sheri Benton
Senior Lecturer, Department of English Language & Literature
College of Arts and Letters

• Holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in English Language and Literature both from The University of Toledo.
• Became a Lecturer at The University of Toledo in 2013 and achieved rank of Senior Lecturer in 2022.
• Recipient of The University of Toledo Outstanding Teaching Award from the Department of English and Composition Program in 2014.
• Received fellowships from the Composition Institute for Teaching Excellence in 2017-18, 2019-20, and Fall 2022.
• Member of the Faculty Senate 2022 to present.
• Chaired the Shapiro Endowment Committee from 2016-2021 and co-chaired from 2021-22.
• Presented at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, the College English Association Annual Conference, and the Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning.
• Has been actively involved with online teaching and has completed training including the University of Toledo Learning Ventures Online Teaching Certificate, ADA Compliance and Online Courses, Online Course Design Certificate, and the Applying the QM Rubric.
• Her chair describes her as “a model of teaching excellence” and as having “a particular talent for finding new ways to help students develop the essential skills of good writing and demonstrate writing’s applicability to their future careers and lives.”
• Receives consistently high teaching evaluations in all of her courses and glowing comments from students referencing her teaching style and her beneficial class assignments.
• Benton was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2024.

Dr. Jillian Bornak
Associate Lecturer, Department of Physics & Astronomy
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Established record as an outstanding and dedicated educator 
• Holds a B.A. in Physics from Syracuse University, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from New Mexico State University
• Joined The University of Toledo as an Associate Lecturer in 2013
• Received The University of Toledo Shining Star Award in February 2015 for dedication and commitment to improve the student experience
• Awarded The University of Toledo Outstanding Teaching Award in 2017
• Consistently uses innovative and experiential teaching strategies to engage students
• Published peer review articles and presented work at numerous venues
• Served on organizing committee for UToledo’s hosting of the 2018 American Physical Science – Ohio Section Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP)
• Receives consistently high teaching evaluations in all her courses, including the large lectures.  One student remarked: “Speechless. She is an amazing instructor. I highly advise and recommend making this class mandatory, for it is that great with how she teaches it. A very great teacher who makes the course understandable.” Another student wrote, “I love the professor; she motivates students to stay in track and uses lots of methods to help us learn.”
• Bornak was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2022.

Dr. Claire Cohen
 Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts and a Ph.D. in Polymerization Catalysis/Organometallic Chemistry from Cornell University.
• Following previous teaching assignments at The University of Toledo, she became a Lecturer at UToledo in 2007 and achieved rank of Senior Lecturer in 2016.
• Recipient of The University of Toledo Outstanding Teaching Award in 2016.
• Serves as Director of General Chemistry from 2013-2021 and 2023 to present.
• Chaired the General Chemistry Committee 2013-2021 and 2023 to present.
• Served as coordinator of Organic Chemistry 2021-22
• Served on the Ohio Department of Higher Education TAG chemistry course certification committee in 2017.
• Publications include a lecture guide for CHEM:1090, “Polycarbonates Made Using Highly Selective Catalysts,” and “Flavin Mononucleotide as a Probe for Dopant Encapsulation in Sol-Gel Siicates.”
• Her department chair comments that Dr. Cohen’s significant service activities demonstrate her dedication to the department and the University community.
• Receives excellent student evaluations, with one student commenting, “Dr. Cohen is absolutely amazing!” and another writes “One of—if not the best professors/teachers I have ever had. She made the most complicated topics easy to understand.”
• Cohen was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2024.

Dr. Todd Crail
Associate Lecturer, Department of Environmental Sciences 
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Established record as an outstanding and dedicated educator
• Holds a B.A. in Biology from Bluffton University, a M.S. in Biology, and a Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Toledo
• Joined The University of Toledo as an Instructor in 2012, followed by the positions of Lecturer (2012-2015), and Associate Lecturer (2015-present)
• Previously was awarded the Edith Rathbun Service Award and UToledo Teaching Award
• Consistently uses innovative and experiential teaching strategies to engage students
• Has published numerous peer reviewed scholarly articles
• Presented work at local, state, and national venues
• Provides learning opportunities for students in the UToledo Honors program, in the greenhouse, rain and native gardens at UToledo, and in community gardens around the city, Toledo Metroparks and nature preserves in the region
• Receives consistently high teaching evaluations in all his courses, even the large lectures. One student remarked, "I learned more in this course than I have in all of the other courses I have taken at UToledo combined. Todd found a way to teach us all the actual material we needed to know while teaching us life lessons and how to be better people, while finding ways to take better care of our environment. The knowledge I have gained from this course will stay with me through the rest of my life. I really can't say enough good things about this course"
• Crail was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2021.

Michelle Davidson
Senior Lecturer, Department of English Language & Literature
College of Arts and Letters

• Holds a B.A. in Communication/Print Journalism and an M.A. in English Literature from The University of Toledo.
• After teaching part-time at UToledo, appointed to Lecturer in 2004 and currently holds the title of Senior Lecturer.
• Recipient of a University of Toledo Center for Teaching Innovative Teaching Award.
• Recipient of the University of Toledo Provost Faculty Fellowship for "Prioritizing Co-Requisite Success through Collective Action." 
• Completed three fellowships in the Composition Institute for Teaching Excellence (CITE), including one that sparked the development of the Composition Program's Showcase of Student Writing. 
• Presented at the National Council for Teachers of English Annual Convention, Computers and Writing, College English Association of Ohio, and the Tri-University Conference on Composition and Writing Instruction.
• Exemplary work in online education includes receiving a Certificate in Online Teaching and a Certificate in ADA Compliance in Online Teaching.
• Accepted papers include "Positioning First Year Students as Developing Scholars : Boosting Belonging , Connectedness, and Self-Efficacy," “In This Space, No One Can Hear You Scream: The Problem of Audience for New Media Texts in Traditional Media Spaces,” “Write Me Back!—Teaching Writing with Interactive, Process-Based Feedback Dialogues,” "Publish and Flourish: Real Writers Writing to Real Audiences In and Out of the Composition Classroom," 
• One of her colleagues writes, “Michelle has received the highest annual evaluation feedback from her chair and college dean and consistent praise from her students.”
• A former student comments that “Michelle Davidson is the type of professor who nurtures her students’ educational growth. She was always prepared, set forth engaging content, and was up to date on current controversial topics for our class to delve into.”
• Davidson was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2024.

Katharine Fisher
Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 

• Established record as an outstanding and dedicated educator. 
• Holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada and an M.S in Mathematics from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
• Joined The University of Toledo as an Instructor in 2004, followed by the positions of Lecturer (2005-2008), Associate Lecturer (2008-2014), and Senior Lecturer (2014-present).
• Received the College of Natural Science and Mathematics Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.
• Co-authored the textbook Interactive Applied Calculus (January 2020).
• Engaged in professional development opportunities and presented at local, state and national venues.
• Served as a course coordinator for several courses in her discipline.
• Served as a mentor and supervisor for teaching assistants.
• Used innovative ways for teaching synchronous online live streamed classes.
• Served as one of the program coordinators for Summer Math Camp.
• Received consistently positive student teaching evaluations that demonstrate student success and excellence in teaching.  One student commented on her teaching:   “Loved her!!  She was my most favorite teacher by far.”  Another student commented: “Amazing professor, she made hard topics easy to understand.”
• Fisher was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2020.

Jacalyn Flom
Senior Lecturer, Department of Management
John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation

• Passionate and experienced teacher in the field of business
• Holds a B.B.A. and a M.B.A. from The University of Toledo
• Joined The University of Toledo in 2001 as a Visiting Instructor, promoted to Associate Lecturer in 2009 and Senior Lecturer in 2013
• Strong record of teaching and student-centeredness. From her teaching philosophy she notes, “I believe that each student can achieve, and I work to develop an environment for success and social belongingness. I do not ask if there are any questions. Instead, I ask if I can explain something again from a different perspective.”
• Served as professional reviewer in her discipline
• Awarded Outstanding Visiting Instructor Award in 2003 and 2008
• Recipient of “Student Shout Outs” in 2020 and 2021 for teaching excellence
• Actively involved in service at the department, college, and university levels
• Authored several peer reviewed articles
• Several of her students commented on her teaching: “I think that the instructor did an excellent job this semester in having patience with students and conducting herself professionally. It was very important to me that I felt important to her and I did.” Another student said, “She explained things very thoroughly and made sure to over explain the most difficult parts. She took the time to make sure we understood things. Great professor. She makes this class fun and informative.”
• Flom was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2022.

Sally Harmych
Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Hymych joined The University of Toledo faculty in 2003 and achieved rank of Senior Lecturer in 2015. She Holds a B.S. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from The University of Toledo. She was named a National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences in 2015 and was the recipient of The University of Toledo Outstanding Teaching Award in 2009.

Dr. Harmych cultivates a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment, encourages active learning and provides students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquire.  Her teaching philosophy states that she “refuses to be a barrier to her students’ success.” Her department chair notes that she is a wonderful colleague and provides invaluable service to the broader community while serving as “a magnet and guiding light for our students.”

She has provided service on numerous departmental, college and university committees, including service as a faculty mentor for the Summer Scholars Program and participation in the Student Experience Project

She receives consistently high teaching evaluations in all her courses, including large lectures that include nearly 200 students from a wide range of colleges.  One former student remarked: “Because of Dr. Harmych’s unconditional support and encouragement, I have grown up from a hesitant freshman student to a confident second-year medical student pursuing my lifelong passion of medicine.” 

Another former student noted:  “She has offered me comfort when I have grieved, advice when I have struggled, an ear when I have vented, encouragement when needed, and laughter always. As my time at UT will come to an end soon, I know that my relationship with Dr. Harmych will not.”

Harmych was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2023.

Teresa Keefe
Department of Information, Operations and Technology Management
College of Business and Innovation

Teresa Keefe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Operations and Technology Management in the College of Business and Innovation. Ms Keefe has been teaching at U.T. since 2004, continuously developing new and innovative courses, incorporating new technologies, and providing active learning experiences for her students, including flipped classes and service learning, all contributing to student retention and graduation rates.

One of her nominators also comments on the work she has done in building and updating undergraduate programs in information systems, including adding two minors. She is also faculty adviser to the Association for Information Technology Professionals and tirelessly mentors students, including those preparing for internships and for the Ball State Information Systems Case Competition, where they have received at least one prize every year.  In addition to her enviable teaching evaluations, the many nominators, recommenders, and endorsers for this award give her high praise and, and former students, now U.T. graduates working professionally, explain the impact she has had on their lives. Keefe has served on many departmental, college, and university committees and panels, including accreditation, diversity, and faculty development, as well as working in the community, for example, serving on the Board of Directors of the Community Credit Counseling Services and as an unpaid consultant to Owens-Illinois, working with their IT training and development manager and project management office in a variety of roles, including team member for a number of Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Projects. 

Keefe was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2017.

Michael A. Kistner
Senior Lecturer
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Arts and Letters

Professor Kistner holds a B.A. in Spanish and an M.A. in 18th to 20th Century Peninsular Literature, both from Bowling Green State University. 

• He became a Lecturer at The University of Toledo in 1997 and achieved the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2004.
• He received The University of Toledo Outstanding Teacher Award in 2022.
• He consistently receives excellent student evaluations with one student writing in a letter of support for his nomination, “His passion for the language, combined with his engaging teaching style, sparked my enthusiasm for learning a new language.” Another student commented, “Professor Kistner is an exceptional teacher.  He encouraged us all and made us comfortable with speaking Spanish.”
• Professor Kistner receives great satisfaction from students partaking in cultures outside of their own and believes it helps the students grow into individuals who are more caring, knowledgeable, and ready to move forward.  
• He received multiple grants from the Foy & Phyllis Penn Kohler Fund for International Studies and took several groups of UToledo students to study abroad in Toledo, Spain.  He states, “When I am abroad with a group of students, I am elated to see them using the language and interacting with the cultural norms of that country. I am honored and proud to share their lived experiences with them.”
• He was elected numerous times to represent his college on the Faculty Senate and has served on its Executive Council.
• He served several years as a member of the Daniel E. Quilter Scholarship Committee, as the faculty coordinator for the ESTO (Espanol en Toledo) Summer Study Abroad Program, and as chair of the Student Grievance Council.
• Appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2025.

Dr. Jeanne M. Kusina
Associate Lecturer, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies
College of Arts and Letters 

• Specialization in Ethics, Gender and Personal Identity.                                   
• Holds a B.S. (double major) in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Lourdes College (1993), an M.B.A. in Management from Tiffin University (1995), an M.A. in Philosophy from The University of Toledo (2004), and a Ph.D. in Applied Philosophy from Bowling Green State University (2014).
• Joined The University of Toledo as an Instructor (2009-2011), Visiting Instructor (2011-2014), Visiting Assistant Professor (2014-2015), Assistant Lecturer (2015-2018) and is currently an Associate Lecturer (2018-present).
• Actively engaged in scholarship with numerous peer-reviewed and invited publications.
• Engaged in professional development opportunities and has presented at local, state and national venues.
• Recognized as a UToledo Diversity Champion (2014).
• Recipient of the Innovations in Teaching Award: Exploring Writing Across the Curriculum (competitive, University-wide).  Internal grant awarded to investigate the impact of Writing-Intensive WAC courses (2018).
• Actively involved in the advisement and mentoring of graduate students.
• Strong record of teaching and student-centeredness.  Several of Dr. Kusina’s students commented on her teaching:  “Great class and instruction. Learned lots and will definitely look at the world differently after this.” Another student commented: “My love for this class was solely due to Dr. Kusina and her passion for not only the topic but for the passion and care she held for her students.” 
• Kusina was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2020.

 Dr. Susanne Nonekowski
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

Dr. Nonekowski has held a variety of teaching positions at the University of Toledo since 2001 and is currently an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, teaching courses in four different degree programs. As one of her nominators notes, Dr. Nonekowski is "often the earliest adopter of active learning methods such as 'clickers' and Blackboard chat rooms," adding that she "has embraced assessment," winning an Assessment Award in the College in 2014 and mentoring other faculty who are incorporating assessment in their courses. She also received an Innovations in Teaching Award in 2015 to add active learning in one of her courses, and she was nominated for a University Outstanding Teaching Award in 2010.  

Dr. Nonekowski's stellar teaching evaluations include multiple versions of student comments such as "Dr. Nonekowski is an amazing teacher"; "By far she was the best instructor I ever had";  "She lectured with enthusiasm"; "It is clear that the instructor really knows her stuff and her passion and understanding for the material had a great impact on my learning"; and "As usual, Dr. N knocked it out of the park as a teacher." Her many letters of support from alumni confirm and add to these accolades. In addition, Dr. Nonekowski has participated in numerous faculty development opportunities, served on many departmental, college and university committees, and actively engaged with the community, for example, receiving the Order of the Spark Award from the Boy Scouts of American, Eastern Shores Council, in 2016. She also served the President of the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Association of Women in Science in 2016-2017.  

Nonekowski was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2017.

Martin Ohlinger
Clinical Associate Professor/Lecturer of Pharmacy Practice
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Established a record as an outstanding, engaged educator, preceptor, and mentor.
• Holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia, and Doctor of Pharmacy from Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia; also a licensed pharmacist.
• Joined The University of Toledo as Visiting Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice in 2000 and has been a Clinical Associate Professor/Lecturer of Pharmacy Practice since 2007.
• Inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (2013) and into the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society (2017) and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (2015); received Exemplary Preceptor Award, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2015, 2016); 9 Society of Critical Care Medicine Presidential Citations; and the Student Society of Health-Systems Pharmacy Faculty Adviser award.
• Serves as Residency Program Director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Surgical Critical Care, UTMC; and Honors Program Director for the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Received consistently high scores on student teaching evaluations that attest to the success of his experiential learning, "bedside to classroom" approach, bringing real cases to students, and demonstrating his impact on students' lives.
• Developed and revised multiple courses, co-founded Critical Care Residency, and serves as a member of the Interprofessional Education Program (IPE) core faculty group.
• Established exemplary record of campus, community, and professional contributions and engagement, including leadership roles, and influenced care for critically ill patients and developed leaders locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Engaged in professional development, including publication of peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and engaged in numerous professional presentations. 
• Ohlingher was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2019.

Sandra Robinson
Associate Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Statistics,
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Sandra Robinson, an Associate Lecturer in the department of mathematics and statistics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Sandra holds a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Pure Mathematics from Wayne State University. She served as a lecturer at Wayne State University before joining The University of Toledo faculty in 2015. She is a recipient of The University of Toledo MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success in 2022 and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022.

Sandra is committed to developing a sense of belonging and promoting the well-being of her students by learning new and innovative ways to show her students she cares about their success.  Her teaching philosophy states that “the moment a student enters my class, I believe that they can succeed through hard work and dedication, not only in my class, but in college and in their career.”

In nominating Sandra, the associate chair of her department notes that she is “an outstanding teacher with a remarkable talent for engaging students and leveraging technology to improve learning” while providing invaluable service through participations in institutional, statewide and national initiatives to support instructional innovations and student success strategies.

Sandra consistently receives high teaching evaluations in all her courses, which consist of mathematics courses that traditionally serve as barriers toward student success lectures.  One student remarked: “This was the first math class I’ve ever taken in which I felt I had the proper resources and time to breathe and work at a pace that was fit for me. It was almost overwhelming how much I was finally able to understand. I wanted to thank you.”  Another student noted:  “This has been the first math class I've taken that didn't make me feel not smart or capable enough to do well, and I'm thrilled with how well I've done in this class.”        

Robinson was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2023.      

Dr. Nilgun Sezginis
Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health
College of Health and Human Services 

• Holds a B.S. in Healthcare Management from Franklin University, an M.P.H in Administration from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. in Health Education from The University of Toledo
• Joined The University of Toledo as a Lecturer in 2011
• As stated in her philosophy of teaching, “As an instructor, I do my best to maintain a high level of subject matter knowledge and ensure that the course content is current, accurate, and appropriate to course objectives for a student’s program of studies. One of my goals is to foster critical-thinking skills by providing students with appropriate learning tools while facilitating the best learning environment. This enables students to gain knowledge and confidence pertinent to their area of study.”
• The University of Toledo, College of Health Sciences Dean’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching awarded in 2014
• Received The University of Toledo’s, Ella Fridman Award in 2020 for online instructors who are dedicated to quality and student engagement
• Received the Ohio Health Information Management Association (OHIMA) Professional Achievement Award in 2021
• Dr. Sezginis consistently receives outstanding teaching evaluations. One student wrote: “I especially want to thank my instructor, Nilgun Sezginis, for her tireless support, understanding, and unfailing encouragement to do my best even when I was struggling to keep up with my personal and work commitments throughout the program. I felt she cared about me as a student and a professional in the HIM field. Thank you”. Another student remarked, “I think the case studies in the assignments are really helpful to apply the information from the class and program to real work situations. It makes it easier to understand how this knowledge will be needed in our future careers other than just seeing job postings for coder, reimbursement specialist, etc., and not knowing what the job is really like.”
• Sezginis  was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2022.

Kathy Shan
Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Kathy Shan, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Kathy holds a B.S. in Physics from Marshall University, an M.S. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction both from The University of Toledo.

She joined The University of Toledo faculty in 2004 and achieved rank of Senior Lecturer in 2021. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award in 2022.                                                

Dr. Shan has a deep understanding of teaching and pedagogy in addition to the disciplinary content she teaches.  She creates an interactive learning environment and provides opportunities for her students to work together and reinforce the knowledge they acquire.  Her teaching philosophy states that a good teacher does “more than just present their knowledge to students” and “is willing to meet the students where they are, in terms of preparation and life situation.”

Her department chair notes that her students routinely praise her teaching in their challenging calculus-based physics courses while providing mentoring to her fellow lecturers, adjuncts and other instructors.                                                               

She receives consistently high teaching evaluations in all her courses, which consist of challenging calculus-based physics courses.  Many students remark that she is the best professor they have had at The University of Toledo.  One student commented: “Dr. Kathy has truly been a huge help. I honestly feel that if I had a different physics teacher, there is no way I would be doing as well as I am now.” 

Another student noted:  “As a teacher she has helped me to overcome what I felt was an insurmountable task in my course load to the point where I was considering switching majors if not entirely dropping out of college.”

Shan was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2023.      

Dr. Suzanne Smith
Senior Lecturer, Department of English Language and Literature
College of Arts and Letters

• Passionate teacher of English and skilled writing tutor
• Holds a B.A. in English from SUNY College at Brockport, an M.A. in English, and a Ph.D. in in English from The University of Toledo
• Joined The University of Toledo in 1989. Promoted to Associate Lecturer in 2007 and Senior Lecturer in 2013
• Served as faculty writing consultant in the Writing Center
• Served as the Interim Director for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
• Active in University service and currently serves on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee
• Regularly attends professional development opportunities to enhance her teaching
• Strong mentor for teaching assistants and tutors
• Presented at the International Writing Centers Association conference, one of the most prestigious conferences in the field of writing studies, the East Coast Writing Centers Association, and the International Writing Centers Association Collaborate conference
• Strong record of teaching and student-centeredness. Several of Dr. Smith's students commented on her teaching: "Professor Smith was great! Challenging but willing to help. I wouldn't have passed without her patience and help." Another student said, "Ms. Smith allowed me to see a side of writing I never really noticed. I thought that by the end of the semester I would withdraw, but even though I struggled I'm glad I continued." 
• Smith was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2021.      

Nancy Snow
Senior Lecturer, Department of Accounting
John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation

• Experienced educator dedicated to the continuous improvement of her teaching
• Joined The University of Toledo as a Lecturer in 2002. Promoted to Associate Lecturer in 2007 and Senior Lecturer in 2013
• B.A. in Accounting and M.S. in Accounting from The University of Toledo
• Received Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Teaching Award, UToledo College of Business and Innovation
• Employs active learning strategies in the classroom for reinforcement and retention of learning objective
• Named UToledo Diversity Ambassador
• Actively engaged in service across the University, College and Department
• Named a Subject Matter Expert for developing educational materials for McGraw Hill Publishers
• Skilled and effective in teaching large course sections of up to 300 students
• Selected as an Equity Champion for Introductory Financial Accounting class
• Consistently receives excellent teaching evaluations from her students. One of her students said: "This was one of the best college courses I have ever had. This was the first time I had Nancy Snow and I can't say enough good things about her teaching methods. I found that her method of approach was very effective and valuable" 
• Snow was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2021.

Dr. Caren Steinmiller
Associate Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

•  Experienced educator, mentor, advisor and researcher.
• Completed four Post-Doctoral Fellowships as part of her training.
• Earned a B.A. in Biology from The University of Toledo (1993), an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacology (1995), and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology (2001).
• Joined The University of Toledo as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology (2008-2011) and has served as a Lecturer (2011-2014), and an Associate Lecturer (2014).
• Actively involved with her professional organizations.
• Received the “Outstanding Faculty Member Award” from the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (2015-2016).
• Demonstrated leadership in the UToledo/Community Partners Opioid Task Force.
• Engaged in numerous research studies, including clinical studies that have resulted in peer reviewed publications.
• Strong record of effective teaching and student success initiatives, including large lectures. One student commented:  “Dr. Steinmiller is an excellent teacher and seems very knowledgeable about her topics.” Another student remarked:  “Best pharmacology professor I have ever had.”
• Steinmiller was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2020.      

Sherry Tripepi
Associate Lecturer, School of Social Justice
College of Health and Human Services

Sherry Tripepi joined the University of Toledo as a clinical social worker in the Counseling Center in 1997 and served in that capacity for 10 ten years before her appointment as a visiting assistant professor in 2007 and as a Lecturer in 2010 in the Social Work Program in the College of Health and Human Services. She was promoted to Associate Lecturer in 2013. She has had a direct impact on the lives and careers of students, both in the classroom and in internships—and beyond graduation, including weekly supervision groups for Master of Social Work graduates, enabling over 20 to achieve advanced licensure. Notably, she has also developed a course on social work practice with the LGBTQA population, serves on the UT LGBTQA Advisory Board, and has been instrumental in developing and implementing campus-wide training programs, such as the Safe Place Program at UT.

Her tireless commitment also extends to her profession and to the community, including the Safe-Schools Anti-Bullying program at area schools, the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, Equality Toledo, and the Lucas County Suicide Prevention Coalition, among many others. For her dedication and excellence, she has not only received excellent student evaluations, but also a number of awards, for example, the Robert Brundage Award, the Equality Award, the NWSA Ohio Chapter Outstanding Service Award, the Lavender Triangle Mary Reiff Woman of the Year, and the UT Division of Student Life Outstanding Service to Students.

Tripepi  was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2018.

Sara Yaklin
Senior Lecturer, Department of English
College of Arts and Letters

Sara Yaklin joined the University of Toledo in 2001 as a Lecturer in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Letters and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2009. Her dedicated contributions to student success are extensive. For example, in addition to her leadership in developing on-line composition courses, she was one of two faculty members selected to teach in the Multicultural Emerging Scholars Summer Bridge Program and has actively contributed to its design, assessment, and success. She also received an Innovations in Teaching Award for a community-partner pilot program, and, in 2015, with her colleague, conceived of, developed, and now co-directs the innovative Composition Institute for Teaching Excellence (CITE), focused on evidence-based teaching practices for first-year composition students that has improved instruction, developed opportunities for writing teachers, and contributed to course completion. She continues to mentor new graduate teaching assistants and to participate in events designed to support and celebrate student success, such as the Common Read Program and the Shapiro Endowment awards and scholarships for student writing. Ms. Yaklin has also presented at the Multicultural Orientation and Resources for Excellence (MORE) Institute, serves as a professional writing consultant at UT and Owens Community College, and provides local consulting services. Notably, her student evaluations score in the "A" range on every question on an A-E scale.

Yaklin was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2018.

Linda Beall
Senior Lecturer, Department of Engineering Technology
College of Engineering

• Established a record as an outstanding, dedicated educator and mentor.
• Holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, Master of Fine Arts from the Pratt Institute, and Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture.
• Joined The University of Toledo as an instructor in 2000, followed by positions as a Visiting Assistant Professor (2007-2008), a Lecturer (2008-2011), an Associate Lecturer (2011-2017), and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017.
• Serves as Board Member for the Toledo Design Center and Engaged Studio Member of the Toledo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and as designer for 13 local and regional projects since 2002 and as a consultant, expert witness, and designer for local and national architectural firms.
• Serves as Interim Chair of Department of Engineering Technology (2016-2019).
• Served as professional mentor for teams from local high schools and institutes and as an invited juror for Bowling Green University's architectural design studio for 15 years.
• Received consistently positive student teaching evaluations that demonstrate success in translating her extensive professional experience to the classroom; including learning groups, laboratory-intensive training, and team-building, as well as reports on the impact of her teaching on students' lives.
• Developed new, unique courses; facilitated student success; and provided continuing education service to returning students and to the community.
• Engaged in professional development opportunities and presented at local and regional venues.
• Beall was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2019.

Joseph Hara, Th.D.
Department of World Languages and Cultures 
College of Arts and Letters

Dr. Joseph Hara has taught at The University of Toledo since 1987, first as a Japanese instructor and then as a lecturer. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Japanese Program in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Arts and Letters, as well as Director of the Japanese Program. Singlehandedly, Dr. Hara developed a minor degree program in Japanese, now the second highest enrolled Japanese program in the state of Ohio, following The Ohio State University. One of his nominators notes that the "quality of students in the Japanese program is met with quality, proven again recently when two UT students placed 1st and 2nd in the state speech contest."Dr. Hara is legendary in the College of Arts and Letters for teaching far more classes each semester than he is contracted to do and offering a significant number of independent studies to ensure that his students complete their course work and their minor degree programs, as well as teaching, advising, and mentoring students in the Asian Studies Program. He is also well known for taking students to Japan each summer for study abroad cultural and language immersion, as well as developing exchange programs with Japanese universities, including Aichi University. His teaching philosophy attests to his commitment: "The Japanese word 'Education'—is the base of my teaching philosophy. This particular word is comprised of two characters: passing knowledge to others and helping them to grow." Dr. Hara received the University Outstanding Teaching Award in 2002. He also serves as liaison for the Japanese Consulate in Detroit and as the President of the Japanese-American Association, and he has received thirteen annual grants from the Japanese government to support the Japanese School of Toledo, which he founded. 

Hara was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2017.

Sibylle Weck-Schwarz
Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Established a record as an experienced, student-centered educator and mentor.
• Holds a Diploma in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Hannover (Leibniz-Universität), Germany.
• Joined The University of Toledo as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics in 1989 and appointed as an Instructor (1996- 1999), Lecturer (2004-2007) and Associate Lecturer (2007-2013) and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2013.
• Received College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Award for Excellence in Teaching (2014-15) and nominated for The University of Toledo’s Outstanding Teacher Award, 2013.
• Serves as Assistant Director of the Math Learning and Resource Center (2005-present) and previously served as a Professional Tutor in the Learning Enhancement Center (2002-2003).
• Received consistently high scores on student teaching evaluations, among the best in the department, and student comments that demonstrate her pedagogical effectiveness, her engagement and innovative strategies, and her impact on their lives.
• Developed courses, played a leading role in the department in enhancing teaching with technology, collaborated on the design of the College Algebra Camp and the Trigonometry Summer Camp, co-directed the summer camp, designed Maple and GeoGebra animations for classes, designed and programmed algorithmically generated online homework questions and feedback, and facilitated the departmental proseminar on teaching college mathematics.
• Developed and led the Proseminar series for graduate students, providing them with professional development and mentoring in teaching strategies and techniques.
• Provided service to the department, college, and university, including the College Council and the Faculty Senate.
• Engaged in professional development, including refereed publications and numerous professional presentations at local, regional, national, and international venues.
• Weck-Schwarz was appointed a Distinguished University Lecturer in 2019.