University Core Honors Ignite Seminar Instructors

University Core Honors Ignite Seminar Instructors

Two Ignite Seminar instructors have been recognized with the 2025 Ignite Instructor of the Year Award.

At a ceremony Tuesday night in Cupples House, Carolyn O'Laughlin, Ph.D. (Education), and Amanda Barton, Ph.D. (RISE Counselor), were honored by the University Core after being nominated by students in their Ignite Seminars. O'Laughlin won the Spring 2025 award for her seminar entitled "Owning the Awkward." Barton was the Fall 2025 honoree for her seminar, "Pain and its Representations."

The Ignite Seminars are part of SLU's University Core program. Designed to introduce students to SLU's distinctive and transformative classroom approach, these seminars strive to "ignite" first-year students' sense of intellectual wonder and inspire curiosity about the world around them.

The Instructor of the Year Awards have been given out since 2023. This year, Core Director Ellen Crowell, Ph.D., said the awarding process was changed. Instead of a committee of faculty members picking the winners, the Undergraduate Core Curricular Fellows, all students, selected the winners from more than 40 nominations.

O'Laughlin was honored for the "transformative impact" she has on students.

"She truly cares about each individual student and their needs," one of the nominators wrote. "She has helped me learn many fundamental things about just being myself. I will definitely take the time that I spent in that classroom to continue to listen to her advice."

Another student noted that O'Laughlin brings "joy into the classroom" and really connects with students.

"She has a huge heart and shows genuine empathy for others, which is rare to find, especially in today's world," the student wrote. "When I was going through a difficult moment in my life, she supported and motivated me to keep going in my studies. Her kindness, understanding, and encouragement made a lasting impact on me."

O'Laughlin's seminar is about embracing the awkward moments in life. Students said the course has helped them become more confident.

"Awkward moments are a normal part of growth and connection, especially when stepping out of my comfort zone," a student wrote. "I've learned to embrace uncertainty instead of avoiding it. Whether it's speaking up in class, sharing personal opinions, or meeting new people. This mindset has made me more engaged and open to collaboration across different classes. I no longer see awkwardness as something to be embarrassed about, but as a sign that I'm challenging myself and growing as both a learner and a person."

Barton was also spotlighted for her impact on students. One nominator praised Barton's infectious passion.

"Dr. Barton really cares about class discussion and really works to get her students engaged," the student wrote. "She is also very passionate about the class and gets very excited not just to lecture about it but also to become very engaged with us. Her class has also helped me to understand myself and the past experiences of my life, as well as what others experience."

Another student praised Barton for going "above and beyond" for her students.

"I have noticed how my stress is reduced when walking into her classroom," the student wrote. "Many teachers here talk about how much they care about our success; however, Dr. Barton goes above and beyond for her students in a way that I have not seen from any other instructor. Her class makes me believe that there are amazing professors here at SLU, and I am in the right place."

Barton's class deals with the concept of pain. Students said the lessons have been illuminating.

"She has the ability to help her students understand complex material in an open and communicative learning environment," a student wrote. "This class has truly inspired me and my future endeavors due to the contagious passion that Dr. Barton emulates."

In addition to honoring O'Laughlin and Barton, the ceremony also recognized four finalists from across the university. The finalists were Jesse J. Helton, Ph.D. (Social Work), Ajlina Karamechic-Maratovic, Ph.D. (Sociology and Anthropology), Bobby Wassel, Ph.D. (Center for Social Action), and Kerry Wilson, Ph.D. (African American Studies).