Sara Evans — photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

This article by Darius Goodman first appeared on the Kennesaw State University website, republished with permission:

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has recognized a Kennesaw State University professor with an Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Sara Evans, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and the director of the criminal justice master’s degree program, received one of the two Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Awards the Board of Regents confers each year.

“Dr. Evans exemplifies the dedication of Kennesaw State faculty to fostering student growth and academic achievement,” said Ivan Pulinkala, KSU provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Her passion for teaching and dedication to excellence reaffirms KSU’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience.”

Evans’ SoTL research has spanned topics as diverse as crime and fear, augmented reality applications, undergraduate research methodology, and resilient teaching methods and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work is incorporated into Kennesaw State’s Quality Enhancement Plan, serving as a model and resource for other professors in best practices for student success in undergraduate research.

Embracing the SoTL principle of “students as partners,” Evans has collaborated with approximately 200 students over the past eight years on various research projects. Through experiential learning and undergraduate research, Evans challenges her students to apply the concepts they are learning to real-life situations.

“I am honored to be chosen for this award, because I believe strongly in high-impact practices and their value not only for students, but also as an avenue for faculty to connect their teaching and research in meaningful ways,” Evans said. “My philosophy as a teacher is intimately tied to my perspective on student learning and desire to support student success.”

The Board of Regents’ awards are presented annually to recognize scholarship, online teaching, student success, curricular innovation, and overall program excellence. The awards are highly competitive with all 26 University System of Georgia schools nominating faculty and programs.

Each recipient received a $5,000 faculty development grant and was honored at the annual Board of Regents’ Scholarship Gala on Sept. 12.