UA Little Rock Names College Level Faculty Excellence Award Winners in Teaching
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named four faculty members as college-level recipients of the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching, recognizing faculty who demonstrate exceptional dedication to student learning and instructional innovation.
Each academic college can select one faculty member for the honor. These recipients will be recognized during the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Awards on Thursday, April 2, when the university-level award recipient will be announced, which is sponsored by the Bailey Foundation.
The 2026 recipients are Dr. Jana McAuliffe of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; Dr. Juliette Rivero of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; Professor Lindsey Gustafson of the William H. Bowen School of Law; and Dr. Tara V. DeJohn of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services.
Jana McAuliffe
College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education
Dr. Jana McAuliffe, associate professor of philosophy in the School of Human Inquiry, is recognized for her engaging, student-centered approach to teaching that encourages students to develop their own intellectual voice while exploring complex philosophical ideas.
McAuliffe teaches courses across the philosophy and interdisciplinary studies curriculum, in the University Core, and the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program. In the classroom, McAuliffe emphasizes critical discussion, collaborative exploration, and writing for diverse audiences. Assignments often encourage students to translate complex philosophical concepts into accessible formats, helping them communicate ideas beyond academic settings.
McAuliffe is deeply committed to mentoring undergraduate research. She has supported numerous independent student research projects and helped students secure Signature Experience grants and present their work at academic conferences. She has also worked to bring the benefits of ethical and philosophical education to high school aged Arkansans as Co-Director of the Arkansas High School Ethics Bowl and as Project Director of the UA Little Rock Ethics and Philosophy Summer Academy.
“Philosophy as a discipline is well-known for not offering one “right” answer,” McAuliffe said. “I work hard to help my students feel comfortable enough with that to craft their right answer, and to share that with each other and with the broader world.”
Juliette Rivero
Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Dr. Juliette Rivero, instructor of chemistry and chemistry program coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is recognized for her innovative, student-centered approach to teaching some of the most challenging courses in the chemistry curriculum. Since joining UA Little Rock in 2021, Rivero has redesigned several courses, including General Chemistry I, Fundamentals of GOB, and Organic Chemistry, to incorporate active learning strategies such as clicker-based questioning, structured group problem-solving, and peer instruction, helping students move beyond memorization and develop a deeper conceptual understanding of chemistry.
A key component of Rivero’s teaching approach is the integration of undergraduate Learning Assistants into the classroom and supplemental workshops into her courses. She has mentored dozens of undergraduate Learning Assistants who support small-group learning and provide real-time guidance during lectures, helping create an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. Rivero has also led improvements in laboratory instruction by developing hands-on experiments that emphasize safety, green chemistry, and real-world applications.
Beyond the classroom, Rivero mentors teaching assistants and undergraduate researchers and serves as chemistry program coordinator, helping guide curriculum development and support student success across the chemistry program.
Lindsey Gustafson
William H. Bowen School of Law
Professor Lindsey Gustafson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Nadine Baum Professor of Law at the William H. Bowen School of Law, has spent nearly three decades shaping the legal education experience for generations of students.
Her teaching focuses on helping students develop the analytical and professional skills necessary to succeed in the legal field. Gustafson’s courses combine foundational legal instruction with innovative teaching methods, including team-based learning that encourages students to collaborate, analyze legal problems, and apply their knowledge in practical settings.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Gustafson plays a national leadership role in advancing legal education as a co-director of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning and as a founding editor of the Journal of Law Teaching and Learning. Through this work, she mentors faculty across the country and promotes evidence-based approaches to teaching law.