Three educators were designated as Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professors. This title is the university’s utmost acknowledgement for teaching excellence at both undergraduate and graduate stages. Meigs Professors receive a perpetual salary enhancement of $6,000 along with a yearly discretionary fund of $1,000.

Gayle Andrews
Professor
Department of Educational Theory and Practice
Mary Frances Early College of Education

Gayle Andrews perceives education as a powerful catalyst for change — a method for enhancing analytical thinking and individual development.

To facilitate this transformation, Andrews strives to create a learning atmosphere that is simultaneously demanding and nurturing. She ensures students emerge as active participants rather than mere recipients of knowledge.

For instance, in both her undergraduate and graduate classes, Andrews integrates service-learning opportunities that link academic content with real-life challenges in local schools. This strategy encourages students to recognize the convergence of theory and contextual application, enabling them to address practical, community-oriented issues. Moreover, she was instrumental in establishing the middle grades M.Ed. online program and has developed several Double Dawg pathways related to middle grades education.

“The ripple effect of her enthusiasm, guidance, and research is significant. She consistently engages with her students in ways that rejuvenate and rekindle their passion for learning,” a former pupil noted. “Dr. Gayle Andrews is not only an extraordinary educator but also exemplifies the true essence of what it means to be a teacher.”

Andrews is recognized for her mentorship. She has participated in over 30 doctoral student committees and guided hundreds of master’s and education specialist students.

Her research focuses on middle grades pedagogy and teacher training, having led nearly 100 presentations alongside current and past students, obtained several grants, and authored numerous publications. She’s also a notable figure in her field, recently acknowledged as a Legacy Circle inductee by the Association for Middle Level Education Foundation, its highest accolade.

Andrews has received numerous accolades at the university, including the Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and has performed as a Lilly Teaching Fellow as well as a UGA Lilly Teaching Fellowship Mentor across several terms. She was granted a Senior Teaching Fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Furthermore, Andrews is a member of the UGA Teaching Academy and has contributed to the University Council.

“Dr. Andrews’ teaching exemplifies excellence in every imaginable manner, and she is held in high esteem by students. Dr. Andrews cultivates an environment where students feel encouraged to take risks and transform their thoughts into actions,” one colleague remarked. “Exceptional educators like Dr. Andrews lead through example, inspire learning, offer choices, grant freedom of expression, and, crucially, ignite imaginations to aspire.”

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Walter Schmidt
Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Walter Schmidt aspires to deliver the highest standard of professional and influential education in every one of his classes.

To achieve this, he employs accessible and understandable techniques to convey complex concepts, cultivates a positive learning atmosphere for every student regardless of their academic level, and champions student achievement both within and outside the classroom.

One approachable technique Schmidt implements to assist student understanding involves previewing exam questions that require independent reading and inquiry. He enhances the learning environment by sending students concise notes of encouragement following each significant assessment. He advocates for student success by preparing them for professional examinations like the MCAT and developing valuable resources such as onboarding activities to familiarize them with lab layouts and techniques, as well as a guide for writing research reports.

“Dr. Schmidt’s dedication to his students goes beyond mere instruction of core concepts; he aims to empower them to be self-sufficient and confident in their capacity to pursue further achievements,” one former pupil expressed.

Schmidt has played a pivotal role in establishing the university’s Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program. He served as its first graduate coordinator, beginning with a cohort of eight to ten students annually. Schmidt constructed the foundational framework of the ILS program, which has since expanded to accommodate over 65 students per year across 16 departments, nine institutes/centers, and six colleges, along with the basic ILS curriculum. This flexibility allowed students to engage with disciplines that were previously disconnected, with the integration of departments exemplifying an early instance of interdisciplinary research at UGA.

Schmidt, a Georgia Cancer Coalition Scholar, has participated in over 30 graduate dissertation committees and mentored more than 70 undergraduate students. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers and secured upwards of $4.5 million in grant funding.

Furthermore, Schmidt has been recognized with the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Faculty Award on two occasions, as well as the First-Year Seminar Outstanding Instructor Award. He has also received the UGA Career Center’s Student Career Success Influence Award nine times.

“Professor Schmidt’s contributions far exceed what I can express here,” one colleague stated. “I have not encountered a more consistent and impactful advocate for our undergraduate and graduate programs within our department or the institution as a whole. His efforts illustrate exceptional innovation and significance in education at the University of Georgia.”

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Maggie Snyder
Educator
Hugh Hodgson School of Music
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Maggie Snyder wishes for her viola pupils to share their musical journeys with others. 

Her objective in instructing is to guarantee her pupils can master the basics, excel in reality, and teach themselves as they progress after college. She aims for her students to exit her studio with the assurance and skill to be their own inspirations and educators.

To achieve this, Snyder consistently explores creative teaching methods. She has created new courses that she offers in addition to her full teaching responsibilities to enrich student experiences, knowledge, and preparedness for the working world. 

For instance, Snyder initiated a GradFirst Seminar that not only equips first-semester graduate students to actively engage in their research and academic endeavors but also readies them for professional life by compiling their application and audition documents as performing musicians. The course also features a segment on grant-writing to support their research initiatives beyond the classroom.

“Professor Snyder is leading the way in innovative teaching methodologies and broadening the traditional musical repertoire,” stated a former student. “Outside the classroom, she continually fosters student achievement and ensures that every individual who passes through the viola studio is ready for a career as a performer, educator, therapist, academic, and many other fields beyond music.”

Snyder also seeks prospects for collaboration. One example is her organization of a multi-disciplinary and multi-departmental residency with renowned composer/violist Kenji Bunch in 2023.  Supported by a mini-residency grant from the Willson Center, the five-day residency involved contributions from the Department of Dance, UGA Symphony Orchestra, and the composition area, chamber music, and all string students from the School of Music.

Snyder’s contributions have been acknowledged with the Sandy Beaver Teaching Excellence Award and a Creative Research Medal.

“Professor Snyder serves as an inspiration to both her students and peers, consistently going above and beyond to assist each student and the institution with her passion and enthusiasm for people, music-making, and the art of instruction,” remarked a colleague. “She distinguishes herself in her field with her capability to both perform and educate at the highest echelons, while always connecting with students where they are and continuously reassessing and innovatively reconsidering how she and her students can contribute to the art form in a constantly evolving world.”

The article 2025 Meigs Teaching Professors was first published on UGA Today.