Dr. Sharon Thoma wins Excellence in Teaching Award
Dr. Sharon Thoma, Faculty Associate in the Department of Integrative Biology and member of the Biology Major Program Committee, is the UW-Madison recipient of the Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes outstanding commitment to student success.
Dr. Thoma’s primary focus is teaching Biology 101, a large introductory biology course with 700 to 900 students per semester. To engage these biology majors and non-majors, Thoma transformed the class, shifting from only lecture and high-stakes exams to including additional assessment that builds on students’ knowledge, using a variety of pedagogical tools. She works to make the classroom feel small by getting to know students, walking around the lecture hall to facilitate student interactions, and bringing natural items, such as plants and insects, for students to pass around during class. She encourages critical thinking and relates science to matters outside the classroom. Some students have decided to major in the biological sciences because of her enthusiasm for the field, personalized approach, and caring mentorship. She earned the Chancellor’s Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2016, among other awards and honors.