The School of Communication has outstanding instructors, from experienced faculty to graduate students. The care they put into the education of students is marked by the fact that the school’s instructors of all levels have earned more awards for teaching excellence than any other unit on campus.
Illinois State University awarded its 2022 Outstanding University Teacher Awards, and two instructors in the School of Communication were recognized for their exemplary skill and dedication. Julie Navickas received the Claire and Tom Lamonica Outstanding University Teaching Award, and Viraj Patel, a doctoral student and teaching assistant, received the Outstanding University Graduate Student Teaching Award, for doctoral students who lead classes.
The Claire and Tom Lamonica Outstanding University Teaching award recognizes outstanding teaching by Administrative Professionals or Civil Service staff. Navickas, director of student success and recruitment, is an academic advisor and instructor who has been teaching for 15 years, starting back when she was a graduate teaching assistant in the school. She teaches a variety of communication courses, but her favorite ones to teach are writing-based courses, such as editorial and feature writing, because they allow her to teach what she is passionate about. “The best part about teaching is seeing students change their mindset about a class as the semester goes on and they find an interest or passion for what we are learning,” said Navickas.
Navickas has received an Excellence Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Administrative Professional from the College of Arts and Sciences, but this is her first university-level award. “I am very humbled to receive this award. I have witnessed so many esteemed School of Communication colleagues receive university-level teaching awards, and to now count myself among them is an honor,” said Navickas.
The Outstanding University Graduate Student Teaching Award, Doctoral Level 1 (sole course instruction responsibility), recognizes graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate persistent, focused, and purposeful dedication to striving for excellence.
Patel is a second-year doctoral student in the School of Communication. He has taught COM 110 and COM 111. His favorite class to teach is COM 110 because he has a love for public speaking and finds a sense of accomplishment when guiding students through the class. “Public speaking is so overwhelming, so I really like seeing those ‘a ha’ moments in students when they realize they can do this and that it isn’t as scary as they thought it would be,” said Patel.
His motivations as a teacher have aided him in his time as an instructor. “The great teachers I have had in the past inspire me, they have helped me to think better, be a better member of society, and showed me through teaching we can all collectively learn and help others learn to be better people and better citizens in society,” said Patel.
Patel has always been heavily involved in public speaking and communication, which became his way of defining himself, and teaching the public speaking course was an opportunity he enjoyed. “It’s amazing to receive recognition for teaching a subject that means so much to me and especially to be chosen by people who have seen and awarded incredible teachers throughout the years is an honor,” said Patel.
