Faculty Affairs

Office of the Provost

Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Award (PEIA)

The Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Award (formerly the Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award) affirms our belief that innovation in the classroom is foundational to academic excellence and celebrates faculty who are transforming the learning experience — those who bring bold, student-centered approaches to teaching, curriculum design, and accessible pedagogy. These honorees are shaping the future of education at VCU, often leading with creativity, compassion, and a deep understanding of how students learn.

The PEIA Class of 2026

College of Engineering

  • Reza Mohammadi, associate professor, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

College of Health Professions

  • Jenny Inker, associate professor, Gerontology

College of Humanities and Sciences

  • Jessica Brown, associate professor, Department of Psychology
  • Ellen Carpenter, associate professor, Department of Psychology
  • Allison Tharp, assistant professor, Focused Inquiry
  • Stephen Vesely, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
  • Jonathan Waybright, associate professor, School of World Studies
  • Susan Zacharia, associate professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Honors College

  • Christy Tyndall, associate professor, Honors College

School of the Arts

  • Sara Reed, assistant professor, Interior Design
  • Eric Rivera, associate professor, Dance and Choreography
  • Hilary Wilder, associate professor, Painting and Printmaking

School of Business

  • Katie Gilstrap, associate professor, Marketing

School of Dentistry

  • Alexandra Howell, assistant professor, Oral Diagnostic Sciences

School of Education

  • Beth Bukoski, professor, Educational Leadership
  • Serra De Arment, associate professor, Counseling and Special Education
  • Katherine Dabney, associate professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Kaitlin Hinchey, assistant professor, Counseling and Special Education
  • Carol Schall, associate professor, Counseling and Special Education

School of Nursing

  • Cate Matzke, assistant professor, Adult Health and Nursing Systems

School of Pharmacy

  • Cait Gibson, associate professor, Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs

  • Chernoh Wurie, associate professor, Criminal Justice