Third Annual Trinity Tomorrow Awards Announced

This May, Trinity University presented the third annual Trinity Tomorrow Awards to five faculty members. The Trinity Tomorrow Awards recognize faculty who have made significant contributions to the mission and strategic priorities of Trinity.

Recipients are chosen collaboratively by directors from the Center for International Engagement, the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success, the Collaborative for Learning and Teaching, the First-Year Experience program, the Diversity and Inclusion Office, Alumni Relations, the Student Success Center, and Admissions. Each faculty recipient made significant contributions in at least one of the following areas: international education, experiential learning, career planning and preparation, inclusive pedagogy, the First-Year Experience program, recruitment of prospective students, and outreach to alumni.

The Trinity Tomorrow Awards are generously funded by President Emeritus Danny Anderson through Spring 2023. Each recipient receives a $1,000 check.

Meet the 2022 Trinity Tomorrow Award recipients:

Andrew Hansen, Ph.D. | Human Communication and Theatre

Andrew Hansen is recognized by countless students as a generous and supportive instructor, firmly devoted to student success. He is a frequent speaker at admissions events and an eloquent representative of Trinity’s liberal arts mission. He has served as a Title IX sexual harassment investigator since 2015 and is currently advising on the creation of a course to train peer educators about sexual violence prevention and awareness. Hansen's regular involvement in the Alumni Leadership Academy has provided lifelong learning opportunities for former Trinity students and has played an important role in developing alumni volunteer leaders.

Michele Johnson, Ph.D. | Biology

An active and accomplished professor, Michele Johnson exemplifies Trinity’s commitment to mentoring undergraduate students in field work and laboratory research. She has also emerged as a faculty leader in the area of inclusive pedagogy. Johnson is the program director of an ongoing grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) focused on making first- and second-year STEM courses more inclusive of all students. Under Johnson’s leadership, the HHMI grant has led to the creation of a student leadership council dubbed AXIS (Ambassadors for eXcellence In STEM), which allows participating faculty members to receive authentic and critical feedback from students.

Zhaoxi (Josie) Liu, Ph.D. | Communication

Josie Liu is a strong advocate for international and interdisciplinary education. She is a member of the East Asian Studies at Trinity program and chairs the Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum program. She also regularly teaches in the Climate Changed First-Year Experience course. Liu was an active participant on the President’s Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion and has contributed to campus efforts to strengthen inclusion and belonging for AAPI students, faculty, and staff, including the inaugural AAPI Heritage Celebration held in connection with this year’s spring commencement.

Jacob Tingle ’95, Ed.D. | Business Administration and Sports Management

Jacob Tingle served as inaugural co-director of the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success from 2015-21. As co-director, he became the principal spokesperson on campus for the value of experiential education. Tingle is committed to the First-Year Experience program and regularly teaches in the Creative Genius FYE. He served for two years as a faculty representative on the TU Alumni Association Board (TUAAB), and he has regularly provided lifelong learning opportunities by moderating Learning TUgether webinars and podcasts. He is also a consistent supporter of admissions efforts and is always willing to meet individually with prospective students and families.

Luke Tunstall, Ph.D. | Quantitative Reasoning and Skills Center

In his teaching and work with the Quantitative Reasoning and Skills Center, Luke Tunstall strives to ensure that all students have equitable access to the quantitative skills required for success in the 21st century. His work is at the center of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan, “Starting Strong,” and he is an active participant in the HHMI-funded initiative to make STEM courses appropriately inclusive. Guided by student learning outcomes data, Tunstall recently reworked GNED 1101 (Summer Math Bridge), a course designed to support selected first-year students by strengthening their mathematical skills before they arrive on campus. He has been a valuable partner with CELCS in delivering numerous programs, including the recent “Road to Acing the GRE.”