Recognizing Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Meet Jakub Zegar, winner of the 2024 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
In his application for the Graduate Excellence in Teaching Awards, Jakub wrote that his teaching is built on “cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment,” “acknowledging and recognizing that education is more than just a letter grade on a transcript,” and “seeing and meeting students at their level.” He connects with students by treating them as fellow scholars, sharing his own academic struggles, and linking biological concepts to student experiences, among other things.
Jakub was nominated for the award by no fewer than 16 of his students. These students emphasized Jakub’s enthusiasm about biology and his ability to make the material engaging and enjoyable. One nominator noted that “Jakub has helped me grow as a budding scientist tremendously, introducing me to the lab environment and the potential of a career in science.” Another told a memorable story about Jakub’s teaching:
I remember one time I was giving a presentation and told the class, ‘I don’t know how this works, it’s outside the scope of what I researched.’ I felt really bad saying this because I hadn’t meant to ramble further in explanation than I myself understood. Jakub made a point after I was done to congratulate me on saying that I didn’t know the answer. He told me and the class that it was perfectly fine to not know and how that sentiment drives the progress of science and knowledge. I just thought that was really cool.”
Judges took particular notice of Jakub’s commitment to creating an environment in which all students can thrive. “Jakub’s impressive application included consistently strong feedback from students for whom he served as TA,” said Dr. Liz Norell, an Associate Director at CETL. “In his teaching philosophy, he emphasizes the importance of cultivating an inclusive learning environment, and the student feedback in his application makes clear he’s working hard to do so.”
“Being chosen as a recipient of the CETL’s Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award is undoubtedly one of the proudest moments in my academic journey,” said Jakub. “It serves as a reminder that my efforts as an educator do not go unnoticed and reaffirms my commitment to cultivating a comfortable and welcoming learning environment.”
You can read about other award winners on the CETL blog.