The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences presented six faculty members with the 2021-2022 Collegiate Teaching Awards and two faculty with the 2021-2022 International Engagement Teaching Awards.

Brandon Myers, Collegiate Teaching Award

Brandon Myers is a lecturer in Computer Science. Myers is particularly interested in understanding and improving the experiences of undergraduate students in computer science and other STEM disciplines. In addition to researching the accessibility of computer science introductory courses, Myers helped produce the department’s first program objectives for the bachelor’s degree. His teaching philosophy places emphasis on learning as an active process enhance by discussion and teaching as a reflective process informed by others. Myers also values inclusive teaching within computer science in hopes of retaining students from all backgrounds. Myers has students form learning teams to help encourage a sense of belonging for all students. In line with his teaching philosophy, Myers will ask students for feedback regarding the learning team. Myers is also working to make computer science more accessible prior to college and co-created and co-taught a computer science course for K-12 teachers.

“I’ve learned that Brandon is extremely thoughtful about how he explains things: he is aware of the listener’s context, and will think carefully not only about what the right or best answer actually is, but how to best communicate it given what the listener is likely to know,” Alberto Maria Segre, Chair of Computer Science, said. “Brandon is an exceptional teacher, a nationally established leader in student-oriented learning within our discipline, and a gifted student mentor.”