Celebrating Teaching Excellence

NYU College of Dentistry > Departments/Faculty

Faculty Awards and Recognition

NYU College of Dentistry is committed to excellence in teaching and learning, and we value the integral role of our faculty in the success of our students. Our annual faculty educator awards program, "Celebrating Teaching Excellence," provides an opportunity to recognize full-time faculty and honor them for their outstanding contributions to dental education.

The program does not replace existing faculty recognition awards such as the University Distinguished Teaching Award and the Faculty Council Teaching Awards.

 

NYU Dentistry faculty awards:

Information on the eligibility, award criteria, submission requirements, and selection criteria for these awards can be found below. Nomination packages should be submitted by the candidate for the award. The timeline for these awards for 2024 is as follows:

  • Call for nominations: November 6, 2024
  • Deadline for nomination packages: January 17, 2025
  • Awardee notification: May 2024

 

 

Excellence in Education Innovation Award

This annual award recognizes one full-time faculty member at NYU Dentistry for his/her outstanding contribution(s) in enhancing education through any type of technology or originality to enrich the lives of learners.

Awardees receive a certificate and plaque, plus $1,500 in awardee’s academic spending account.

 

laurel wreath

 

 

Nomination process

  • Peer nominations only

Selection criteria

  1. Teaching practices or strategies to improve students learning in online, blended or face-to-face courses
  2. Creation and application of ideas that enhance oral health through dental education
  3. Any unique tools, methods for didactic and clinical teaching using e-learning platforms, online technology, digital technology or any novel technology

Submission requirements

  1. Candidate’s personal statement pertaining to the award criteria
  2. NYU Academic Portfolio demonstrating the selection criteria. Academic portfolios can include links, video references, or any method that best demonstrates the candidate’s innovative project(s).
  3. Supporting letters from 3 colleagues

 

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION INNOVATION AWARD: Submit Nomination

 

 

 

Excellence in Mentoring Award

This annual award recognizes one full-time NYU Dentistry faculty member from each mentoring category for his/her outstanding mentoring. Both categories of this award will not necessarily be presented each year.

Awardees receive a pin and certificate.

 

CLINICIAN MENTOR

laurel wreath

Nomination process

  • Self, peer, or mentee

Selection criteria

  1. Commitment to students and active engaging in mentoring as indicated by supporting statements and documents
  2. Development of new or innovative styles or methods of student-faculty interaction in order to enrich mentoring and educational guidance
  3. Recognizing potential talents among students and providing unique opportunities to grow as indicated by supporting evidence
  4. Introducing recent developments and advancements in the field to the program by creating novel curricula, courses, or laboratory and clinical experiences
  5. Peer-reviewed publications with identification of mentees

Submission requirements

  1. Candidate’s personal statement pertaining to the award criteria
  2. NYU Academic Portfolio demonstrating the selection criteria. Academic portfolios must demonstrate evidence of mentoring and the mentees career paths
  3. Supporting letters from 2 colleagues
  4. Supporting letters from 4 former mentees

 

EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING AWARD (CLINICIAN): Submit Nomination

 

 

 

RESEARCH MENTOR

laurel wreath

Nomination process

  • Self, peer, or mentee

Selection criteria

  1. Successful mentoring illustrated by:
    1. Mentees’ success in obtaining fellowships and grants
    2. Mentees’ success in obtaining positions in academia, industry, or practice
    3. Mentees’ first author publications in leading journals
    4. Mentees’ receiving honors and awards
  2. Development of innovative training programs for basic science and clinical trainees. For example:
    1. Training programs in team science
    2. Training programs in writing grants and fellowships

Submission requirements

  1. Candidate’s Application letter addressing selection criteria for the specific award
  2. Candidate CV on NYU CV template
  3. Supporting letters from 2 colleagues
  4. Supporting letters from 4 trainees or mentees

 

EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING AWARD (RESEARCH): Submit Nomination

 

 

 

Dean’s Award for Distinction in Teaching

This annual award recognizes one full-time NYU Dentistry faculty member who has made a major impact on the educational lives of students.

Awardees receive a medal.

 

laurel wreath

Nomination process

  • Peer nominations only 

Selection criteria

  1. A record of outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside of NYU Dentistry
  2. The ability to inspire, promote, and sustain the intellectual development of students
  3. A pedagogical approach that is innovative (new approaches using current or new models of teaching), intellectually rigorous, creative, and engaging
  4. Demonstrate scholarly/professional contributions and their integration into the classroom that foster critical thinking and challenge students to independent inquiry
  5. Advising/mentoring of undergraduate (dental hygiene), pre- and postdoctoral, and graduate students — interactions outside of the classroom and the quality of such interactions
  6. Contribution to developing or enhancing curricula in the field
  7. Length of service (10 years including part-time years)

Submission requirements

  1. Candidate’s personal statement pertaining to the award criteria
  2. NYU Academic Portfolio or University DTA Docket demonstrating the selection criteria.
  3. Supporting letters from 3 colleagues
  4. Supporting letters from 4 former students or mentees

 

DEAN'S AWARD FOR DISTINCTION IN TEACHING: Submit Nomination

 

 

Kudos!

2023 Celebrating Teaching Excellence Award recipients:

  • Dianne Sefo, RDH, MEd, clinical associate professor and chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting, recipient of the Excellence in Education Innovation Award.
  • Chrystalla Orthodoxou, DDS, clinical assistant professor of general dentistry & comprehensive care, recipient of the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Clinician Mentor).
  • Vera Tang, DDS, clinical assistant professor of periodontology & implant dentistry, recipient of the Dean’s Award for Distinction in Teaching.

2022 Celebrating Teaching Excellence Award recipients:

  • Marci Levine, DMD, MD, clinical associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, recipient of the Excellence in Education Innovation Award. This annual award recognizes one faculty member for her/his outstanding contribution(s) to enhancing education through any type of technology or originality to enrich the lives of learners.
  • Anabella Oquendo, DDS, assistant dean for international programs and clinical assistant professor of cariology and comprehensive care, recipient of the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Clinician Mentor).
  • Jean-Pierre N. Saint-Jeannet, PhD, professor of molecular pathobiology and vice chair for research in the Department, recipient of the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Research Mentor).
  • Marjan Moghadam, DDS, MA, clinical associate professor of prosthodontics, recipient of the Dean’s Award for Distinction in Teaching. This annual award recognizes one full-time NYU Dentistry faculty member who has made a major impact on the educational lives of students.

2021 Celebrating Teaching Excellence Award recipients:

  • Elena Cunningham, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pathobiology, recipient of the Excellence in Education Innovation Award. This annual award recognizes one faculty member for her/his outstanding contribution(s) to enhancing education through any type of technology or originality to enrich the lives of learners.
  • Mijin Choi, DDS, MS, clinical associate professor in the Department of Prosthodontics and Director of the Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz Education Program in Prosthodontics, recipient of the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Clinician Mentor).
  • Shoshana Yakar, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Pathobiology, recipient of the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Research Mentor).
  • Kenneth Fleisher, DDS, clinical professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, recipient of the Dean’s Award for Distinction in Teaching. This annual award recognizes one full-time NYU Dentistry faculty member who has made a major impact on the educational lives of students.

 

Faculty Awards Committee members (2024-25):

  • A. Ross Kerr, Clinical Professor, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine; committee chair
  • Angela Kamer, Associate Professor, Ashman Dept. of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry
  • Vasiliki Karlis, Associate Professor, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 
  • Marci Levine, Clinical Associate Professor, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Peter Mychajliw, Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of General Dentistry & Comprehensive Care

 

 
Questions? Please contact the committee at dental.teachingawards@nyu.edu.
 
 

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