Kazemi, McKelley honored with Eagle Teaching Excellence Awards

Kazemi, McKelley honored with Eagle Teaching Excellence Awards

UW-La Crosse is home to many outstanding instructors who make a difference in students' lives inside and outside the classroom.

This year, UWL's Provost Office received hundreds of nominations from students hoping to recognize their favorite faculty. From these nominations, a university committee selected six faculty to receive 2025 Eagle Teaching Excellence Awards, including two from the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Take a moment to get to know Sona Kazemi (Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies) and Ryan McKelley (Psychology).

Sona Kazemi, Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Started at UWL: 2023

Courses: I am in the Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies Department, and I teach racial and ethnic studies, women's and gender studies, disability studies, and sexuality studies. Overall, my teaching is focused on equity studies research.

Background: I held multiple postdoctoral fellowships at the Ohio State University.

Favorite part of teaching: Watching my planted seeds turn into blooming flowers and trees creating shade, fruit and beauty for everyone crossing their paths.

Ryan McKelley, Psychology

Started at UWL: 2008

Courses: Psychology Department, mostly courses in clinical/counseling psychology (e.g., abnormal psychology, psychopharmacology, behavior modification, men and masculinities, group counseling, etc.)

Background: I was a management consultant in the tech industry, then went to grad school to become a licensed psychologist.

Favorite part of teaching: There is a Benjamin Disraeli quote that says it better than I can: "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to them their own." I love hearing how students connect what they are learning to their lives, and to play a small part in such an exciting and important life transition.