- Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence
- Academic Integrity Office
- Meredith Professors
- Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows
Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence
Jessamyn Neuhaus | Director
315.443.1086
janeuhau@syr.edu
Jessamyn Neuhaus is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) and Professor in the School of Education. In 2026, she was appointed the inaugural Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching and Learning Excellence. A scholar of teaching and learning, Dr. Neuhaus is the author of Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to be Effective Teachers and editor of Picture a Professor: Interrupting Biases about Faculty and Increasing Student Learning, both published in the West Virginia University Press series, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Her newest book, Snafu Edu: Teaching and Learning When Things Go Wrong in the College Classroom, was published in July 2025 in the Oklahoma University Press series, Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Education. Dr. Neuhaus holds a Ph.D. in history and in addition to two historical monographs, has published pedagogical, historical and cultural studies research in numerous anthologies and journals, and is editor of Teaching History: A Journal of Methods. A recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Neuhaus has over twenty years of classroom experience, teaching courses on U.S. history, gender studies, history of sexuality, popular culture history, and specialized seminars she created, such as “Superheroes in U.S. Culture,” “The Prom: History, Politics, Culture, and Society,” “The Apocalypse in U.S. Popular Culture,” and “Zombies in Popular Culture.” As an educational developer, Dr. Neuhaus supports and promotes faculty’s scholarly teaching and pedagogical reflection at every stage of their careers. As a collaborative campus leader, Dr. Neuhaus prioritizes building and sustaining strong communities; recognizing, documenting, and celebrating effective teaching practices; and increasing equitable teaching and learning environments for faculty, students, and staff.
Ebony Graham
Faculty Developer / SCOT Coordinator
315.443.1551
ebgraham@syr.edu
Ebony Graham is a Faculty Developer, specializing in Students as Partners Work. She leads the Students Consulting on Teaching (SCOT) Program and will look for ways to develop and expand the program to better serve and provide growth opportunities for students and faculty alike. Ebony comes to Syracuse following a two-year Post-baccalaureate Fellowship at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where she was a Program Coordinator for the Tigers as Partners program, a Pedagogical Partnership program. She is an alumna of Haverford College, where she majored in Environmental Studies, with a focus on Environmental Humanities, with minors in Education and Africana Studies. A proud born and raised Philadelphian, she enjoys being in nature, reading, listening to music and podcasts (She’s always happy to share or receive recs!), and spending time with family and friends.
Nicholas Bennett
Program Coordinator
315.443.1208
nsbennet@syr.edu
Nick Bennett is the Program Coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). He coordinates professional development opportunities, assists with resource development, and manages the CTLE website among other duties. Nick’s experience in education includes nine years teaching K-12 instrumental music, seven years offering educational outreach for public broadcasting, and over thirty years as a percussion instructor in the pageantry arts. He holds a Master of Science in Education from Elmira College and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with Performance Honors from Syracuse University.
Academic Integrity Office
Kate Marzen
Director of Academic Integrity
315.443.5412
kmarzen@syr.edu
Kate Marzen is the Director of Academic Integrity in the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). She earned an M.B.A. in Organizational Leadership from Newman University, an M. Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina and a B.S.Ed. in Deaf Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kate was previously the Assistant Director of Academic Expectations with the Center for Learning and Student Success at Syracuse University. In her role, Kate is specifically focused on academic integrity, faculty development, and policy improvement. Outside of work, Kate is an avid reader and runner who enjoys spending time outside with her husband and their dogs.
Ashley Jimenez
Assistant Director of Academic Integrity
315.443.5412
asjimene@syr.edu
Ashley Jimenez is the Assistant Director of Academic Integrity in the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). Ashley earned a B.S. in Accounting and Business Management from Syracuse University in 2020. Prior to CTLE, Ashley was the Program Support Coordinator in the Center for Learning and Student Success. Additionally, she worked as an Accounting Analyst in the Comptroller’s Office at Syracuse University. During her time as an undergrad student, Ashley was involved in Residence Life as a Resident Advisor, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and tutored at the North Side Learning Center (NSLC) after-school program for Syracuse’s refugee and immigrant community. In terms of work, Ashley enjoys most working hands-on with students & colleagues in a fast-paced environment. She prides herself on helping those in her community continuously learn and grow. It is what makes work worthwhile for her. Outside of work, Ashley holds personal passions for DEI work, reading, traveling, animals, and family.
Meredith Professors
Nina Brown (2025-2028)
Nina Brown, an associate professor at the Newhouse School, is a 2025-28 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence. Brown teaches communications and media law at the Newhouse School, working with both undergraduate and graduate students. Her research explores how speech and technology intersect, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and social media.
A Newhouse alum, Brown began her career as a copywriter at a small advertising agency before moving into leadership roles, including director of communications at a start-up tech company and Associate Vice President of Brand Development at a Fortune 500 company. She later earned her law degree from Cornell Law School and practiced law before returning to Syracuse University as a member of the Newhouse faculty.
Brown plans to focus her Meredith Professorship on creating a comprehensive faculty development program to support the transition and professional growth of new faculty across the University. The initiative will provide new faculty with tools, training and mentorship to help them thrive in the classroom, and ultimately enhance student learning outcomes, faculty effectiveness and a sense of belonging.
Shikha Nangia (2026-2029)
Dr. Shikha Nangia is the Milton and Ann Stevenson Endowed Professor and Chair of the Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Department at Syracuse University. She is also a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Nangia received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Univ of Minnesota in 2006, completed her postdoc training at Penn State Univ, and earned her M.S. from IIT Delhi. Her research uses computational approaches to overcome biological barriers and enhance drug delivery, with projects spanning treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, gut tight junctions, implantable device-related infections, and epigenetics. A central focus of her work has been examining the architecture of the blood-brain barrier to develop novel strategies for transporting drug molecules into the brain. Dr. Nangia’s research has received substantial funding from NSF, NIH, and private foundations, and she has been recognized with an NSF CAREER Award, a Scialog Fellowship, the ACS OpenEye Faculty Award, and the ACS WCC Rising Star Award. She has received two Syracuse University Chancellor’s Awards, for research excellence and for outstanding contribution to the student experience, and serves as an Associate Editor of ACS Applied Bio Materials. In the classroom, Dr. Nangia has brought engineering materials to life through an innovative partnership with the Syracuse University Art Museum. She remains committed to advancing engaged, effective teaching across the university.
Rachel Razza (2025-2028)
Dr. Rachel Razza is a Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Affairs and Partnerships in the College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University and joined Syracuse’s faculty in 2007. Dr. Razza directs the SELF Regulation Lab, focusing on mindfulness-based interventions and self-regulation research. She established Syracuse’s Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies minor and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in child development and play, self-regulation, prosocial development, and mindfulness. She is a certified facilitator for mindfulness programs and leads collaborative projects promoting health and resilience in schools and communities.
The Contemplative Campus project seeks to integrate mindfulness and contemplative practices into faculty teaching toolkits to enhance both faculty wellbeing and student learning outcomes. The program will be implemented through faculty learning communities that meet regularly to explore mindfulness practices, supplemented by workshops and one-on-one consultations for faculty interested in bringing these practices into their classrooms. Over three years, the project will serve different cohorts including tenure-track faculty, graduate student instructors, and online educators, with the goal of creating sustainable resources and permanent programming through the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.
Renée Stevens (2026-2029)
Renée Stevens is an award-winning graphic designer, author, and educator whose work explores how emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can foster more accessible and inclusive experiences. She is Associate Professor and Chair of the Visual Communications Department at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where she leads programs in graphic design, photography, cinematography, and emerging media. Her books include Powered by Design, named one of the Best Graphic Design Books of All Time by BookAuthority and widely adopted in university design curricula, and Designing Immersive 3D Experiences, part of Pearson’s “Voices That Matter” series. She is the creator of tagAR, an augmented reality app that helps users never forget a name again, and runs an independent design studio working with clients including Forbes, Google, West Elm, and Minted. Stevens has spoken at TEDx, SXSW, Sundance, AIGA, and the U.S. Department of Defense, and was named a Designer to Watch (2022) and Educator to Watch (2017) by Graphic Design USA. She founded and directs Pixels & Print, an annual design workshop connecting students with nonprofit clients on real-world creative projects with a mission to design for good. As a 2026–29 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor Stevens will lead Teaching by Design, a three-year initiative that teaches faculty across disciplines to apply core design principles, such as visual hierarchy, cognitive load, and accessible formatting, to everyday teaching materials creating more accessible and engaging classrooms.
Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows
Mark Brockway
Mark Brockway is an Assistant Teaching Professor in political science. He researches religion in American politics and in his teaching he wants to give students tools to be engaged citizens. His Meredith fellowship project will create an online resources for instructors to easily and effectively incorporate engaged learning modules into their classes.
Zach Huitink
Zach Huitink is an Associate Teaching Professor and a Birkhead-Burkhead Professor of Teaching Excellence in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. Zach teaches courses in public policy, public management, and strategic planning to undergraduate and graduate students, and supports the Maxwell School’s executive education and training programs. He has research interests in public governance and national security, and his work has been featured in a range of outlets, including peer-reviewed journals, news media, and technical reports. He has also served as a research affiliate and adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.; a post-doctoral fellow at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) in Syracuse, NY; and an associate or senior associate of multiple on-campus research centers at Syracuse University. In addition, he has provided technical support and consulting services to a variety of public, private, and nonprofit organizations from the local to the international level. For the 2025-26 academic year, Zach is serving as an inaugural Meredith Professor Faculty Fellow in online learning, developing a resource guide to support faculty training and development in online instruction.
Doug Yung
Doug Yung is a Teaching Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and the 2025–26 Meredith Professor Faculty Fellow, with a focus on AI in teaching and learning. In this role, he leads faculty programming on the responsible and creative use of AI, with emphasis on assessment design, classroom practice, and ethics. His teaching centers on creating learning experiences that spark curiosity, cultivate real-world skills, and invite students to reflect on the responsibilities that come with innovation. Doug has been recognized with Syracuse University’s Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence, the TACNY STEM Outreach Award, and the Best Student Engagement Award for advancing inclusive teaching and student-centered learning. His work has shaped courses from introductory engineering to senior design, emphasizing active learning, clinical immersion, and humanitarian innovation. Nationally, he contributes to the American Society for Engineering Education and serves as an ABET and Middle States evaluator, promoting equity and quality in higher education.
Beyond campus, Doug is passionate about broadening participation in STEM. He has designed themed STEM fairs and outreach programs that engage K–12 students, especially those from underrepresented groups, in engineering through playful, hands-on experiences. As a Girl Scout troop leader, he brings this same spirit of curiosity and mentorship to community life, organizing events that connect science, creativity, and confidence-building. He is drawn to all things small and curious, from microbes to Mars to teaching ideas that stretch the imagination, and he enjoys weaving these fascinations into conversation in both the classroom and the community.