Since 2019, WKU students have submitted more than 4,500 nominations recognizing faculty members whose teaching has made a meaningful difference in their college experience. The CITL Teaching Honors recognize faculty who challenge, encourage and support students across the university.
Previous Teaching Honors recipients review the student nominations and select one honoree from each academic college. This year's recipients span history, psychology, American Sign Language studies, engineering and finance, bringing different experiences and approaches to the classroom.
Meet the 2025–2026 CITL Teaching Honors recipients and hear, in their own words, what brought them to teaching, what they value about their work and the advice they would give their first-year college selves.
Kate Brown
History and Legal Studies
What made you want to teach, and why in your specific discipline?
I didn't ever want to teach specifically; I realized that I did it well and then I took pleasure in aiding others discover the really interesting, contested, weird moments about the past. Ask me about the Stuart monarchy: I can go on and on about why their story is the most fascinating ever! And obviously, Alexander Hamilton was right about most things; take HIST 445 with me and I will show you why.
Read the rest of Kate's Q&A
What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
When students start doing the difficult work of critical analysis, thinking, and writing--and when I can see that growth through their work.
What is your favorite memory at WKU?
Whenever the French Revolution really boils over in HIST 102, when my students are trying to write their own constitution for the new French constitutional monarchy.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Reading the New Yorker, traveling, shlepping my German Shepherd Lulu to daycare, and waiting on my cats.
If you were to meet yourself as a first-year college student, what advice would you give?
Don't choose a major for the prospective paycheck; second careers are okay (you don't have to get it right with your first career choice); the humanities teaches you how to think better than any other discipline can (spoken as one who knows: I majored in finance/management in undergrad).
Lisa Duffin
Psychology
What made you want to teach, and why in your specific discipline?
I began my career as a graphic designer and later as a creative director, so becoming an educational psychology professor was never part of my original plan. I loved work that allowed me to bridge diverse disciplines, communicate complex ideas, and work closely with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. My mother's remarkable 35-year career as an educator gave me a unique vantage point from which to see both the power and complexity of education. That perspective inspired me to find my own way to contribute to the field, drawing on the things I loved most about my first career while finding a renewed sense of purpose. Educational psychology was the perfect fit because it gave me a way to investigate complex questions about education and use what I learned to better understand and support the people at the heart of it. Teaching gave me the opportunity to put that knowledge into practice while holding myself accountable to what and who I teach. I truly love teaching because every class becomes a shared learning experience. I take a “family photo” at the end of each semester because, by then, we have not only learned and grown together, but we have also built relationships that I genuinely treasure.
Read the rest of Lisa's Q&A
What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
I have the privilege of teaching students at one moment in their lives, and it is incredibly rewarding to see how much they grow during our time together. I challenge them to stretch beyond what they think they can do, and watching them lean into those challenges, persevere through doubt and struggle, and discover what they are capable of is one of the greatest joys of teaching.
What is your favorite memory at WKU?
Every Big Red interaction and sighting! I am admittedly obsessed with Big Red, not just because he is a lovable character, but because of what he represents. He connects us across generations and embodies the collective spirit that makes WKU special.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am fully embracing this season of life and loving every minute of it. My boy is in college and playing football, and after spending most of my career teaching and mentoring college students, I now get to experience college alongside my own. I get to watch him take on new challenges and, every once in a while, quietly put Dr. Duffin to work when the moment calls for it. Our fall weekends are consumed by football, including tailgates that have me trying to outdo my menu each week and feeding whoever shows up. I even loved sitting through a playoff game in Chicago in 10 inches of snow!
If you were to meet yourself as a first-year college student, what advice would you give?
Don’t be so focused on doing college well that you forget to experience it.
Holly Bryant
American Sign Language Studies
What made you want to teach, and why in your specific discipline?
When I began my ASL learning journey, I simply fell in love. The language, the Culture, the Deaf Community, my ASL teachers and mentors—they were all amazing!! I feel like teaching chose me, and I am honored to be a part of WKU’s impact on our students. Teaching ASL is one way I can give back to all those that have invested in me.
Read the rest of Holly's Q&A
What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
The JOURNEY! Hands down. Watching students grow from knowing very little to completing full conversations. The relationships I get to build in the classroom and ASL events is something I treasure.
What is your favorite memory at WKU?
My favorite memory of WKU….. Oh my goodness!! How can you pick one?! Each day brings a new gift. If I had to pick something, I would say it was when Dr. Ransdell stopped me in the graduation line to admire my ASL Honors medal. It was the first year our students received those and we continue them to this day!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Free time?! What’s that? HA! I have young children, wild dogs, and a loving husband that encourages me daily and keeps me busy! I do enjoy spending time with my family, my church family, and watching tv series.
If you were to meet yourself as a first-year college student, what advice would you give?
DO IT BOLDLY! BE PRESENT! BE YOU!
Shahnaz Aly
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
What made you want to teach, and why in your specific discipline?
I was in professional practice in architecture for 10 years and during that time I mentored many interns and young graduates which got me thinking about teaching. I realized that teaching students in the formative years of their career and getting across the right ideas to them would enable me to have a bigger impact on their educational experience. The architectural science program at WKU became the perfect place to lay roots and contribute to student growth.
Read the rest of Shahnaz's Q&A
What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
Teaching design to students in the architectural science program feels like I am teaching them a new language. The most rewarding aspect of teaching is when students can interpret spoken language and create designs that are amazing and inspiring.
What is your favorite memory at WKU?
It is very difficult to pin-point one memory. Every moment with my students is a great memory. But if I had to pick one memory then it would be senior project presentations. Watching my students showcase their work and confidently defend their design decisions, having industry professionals and family members congratulate me on my student’s success makes me feel that I have done my job and my students are ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy reading and traveling with my family. I also enjoy watching my kids play tennis.
If you were to meet yourself as a first-year college student, what advice would you give?
Soak in all the experiences, spend time with my peers and participate in as many extra-curricular activities that are available. Engage in a study abroad program.
Are you a first-generation professor (neither parent has a four-year degree)?
Yes
How is being a first-generation professor an asset in your career?
I have never really taught about this aspect of my background. For me personally, my parents wanted both me and my siblings to work hard and be successful and having a degree in a field of our choice created the path for success. As a professor, I can relate to many of my first-generation students, and they feel comfortable engaging with me, and I am able to mentor and guide my students to be successful.
What challenges has being a first-generation professor presented in your career, and how have you overcome them?
As a first-generation academic, I drew on my ten years of experience in professional practice to be successful as a professor. In the professional field I learned that it was not just about working hard but also about working smart. This helped me be successful in academia.
Ron Rhoades
Finance
What made you want to teach, and why in your specific discipline?
I've always had a desire to teach, going back to law school days. But I desired to have real-world experiences first, and then to bring those experiences into the classroom.
Read the rest of Ron's Q&A
What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
Seeing the progression of students over the course of months or a couple of years.
What is your favorite memory at WKU?
Each time a student realizes they don't have to fear the judgments of others, often the result of my "Four Trials of WKU"
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Research, writing, travel
If you were to meet yourself as a first-year college student, what advice would you give?
You should regard yourself as "Project Me" - and identify the skills and body of knowledge and experiences you need to be successful in all aspects of life, and implement a plan to achieve those.