Two educators who demonstrate a profound dedication to student involvement and achievement have been acknowledged as the recipients of the University of Georgia Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The distinguished recipients for 2024-2025 are Maryann E. Gallagher, senior lecturer in the international affairs department of the School of Public and International Affairs and director of the Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program in SPIA’s Center for International Trade and Security, and Allison G. Hale, senior lecturer at the School of Law.
“This accolade emphasizes the critical contributions of our teaching faculty and the significant influence they exert on students throughout the campus,” remarked S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Maryann Gallagher and Allison Hale both demonstrate a dedication to outstanding classroom instruction and offer mentorship to students outside the classroom. They are truly worthy of this recognition, and I express my gratitude for their commitment.”
Maryann E. Gallagher
Gallagher’s teaching philosophy is based on a straightforward concept — engaged learners absorb more knowledge. In all of her courses, she fosters an interactive learning atmosphere where students are challenged, scholarship is esteemed, and theories are implemented in contemporary politics.
“Although the subjects of my courses may vary, my goals consistently encompass enhancing students’ analytical and critical thinking abilities, refining their writing and speaking skills, and heightening their understanding of the connections between their personal choices and global politics,” she stated.
To reach these goals, Gallagher prioritizes practical active learning, opportunities for undergraduate inquiry, and guiding students outside of class. Her methodology is particularly prominent in the Security Leadership Program. Participants in this selective, yearlong initiative acquire crucial professional competencies for careers in international security, conduct independent research, and receive mentorship from Gallagher even after graduating from UGA.
A faculty member at UGA since 2015, Gallagher asserts that research represents one of the most potent forms of student engagement and she emphasizes undergraduate investigation in her courses. Additionally, she initiated the establishment of the SPIA Undergraduate Research Colloquium in 2019 to provide undergraduates with professional research experience. This colloquium consistently showcases over 75 research papers, poster presentations, and panel discussions.
Gallagher extends an invitation for mentorship on the initial day of classes by recounting her experiences as a first-generation college student. She encourages students to approach her with inquiries regarding internships, postgraduate studies, and career planning.
“Dr. Gallagher has been a pivotal, inspiring, and consistently supportive mentor throughout my college experience,” stated Mariah Cady, a 2024 Rhodes Scholar and SPIA graduate. “Many of us would not be where we are today without her steadfast support, and for that, I know we are eternally thankful.”
Gallagher has received numerous accolades, including a UGA Teaching Academy Fellowship, the UGA Student Government Association Outstanding Professor Award, the international affairs department’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the J. Hatton Howard III Honors Teaching Award from the UGA Honors College, and the SPIA Non-Tenure-Track Excellence in Teaching Award.
Allison Hale
Hale clearly recalls her experiences as a first-year law student, and that perspective continues to influence her teaching style. She instructs her students as she would have desired to be instructed.
“For me, that translates to equipping them with all the necessary tools to excel in their skills, instilling confidence that they can succeed, and treating them as I would wish to be treated in their position,” she explained.
Since joining the School of Law faculty in 1992, Hale has taught legal writing to first-year law students, guiding them through the essential skills that will define their legal careers.
“I firmly believe that students need to be shown how to do things rather than merely being told. I provide numerous examples, practice tasks, and constructive feedback, aiming to build their confidence along the way and underscoring that the foundational elements remain constant, regardless of the complexity of the issue,” she stated.
She intentionally cultivates a classroom environment that, in contrast to most of their doctrinal law classes, encourages students to feel at ease and pose questions.
Hale delivers comprehensive feedback including individual conferences with students to discuss their work, incorporating activities that appeal to various learning preferences. She demonstrates charting methods for visual learners, and in an engaging exercise to reinforce structure and organization principles for kinesthetic learners, has students collaborate in groups to reconstruct an analysis she has disassembled. To simulate real-world situations many students will encounter, she mandates individual mock partner status conferences where she adopts the role of a busy law firm partner, while the student portrays the associate reporting on their research and analysis.
“Professor Hale’s passion for teaching is infectious, bringing vitality and humor to her lessons that make even the most difficult subjects accessible,” remarked Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge, Talmadge Chair of Law and former dean. “This personal approach has left a profound impact on countless law students, many of whom credit her with motivating their academic and professional paths.”
The University of Georgia Award for Excellence in Teaching underscores the university’s commitment to its educational mission and acknowledges faculty whose primary focus is on instruction, fostering pedagogical innovation and creating an engaging environment conducive to student learning.
Nominations for this award come from deans and are reviewed by a committee that includes senior faculty members and undergraduate students. Full-time faculty who have maintained a non-tenurable teaching role at UGA for a minimum of 10 years are eligible for the award, which includes a cash prize of $7,500. To learn more about the award, visit https://provost.uga.edu/academic-excellence/honors-awards/teaching-awards-professorships/excellence-in-teaching/.
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