Tri-C Faculty Honored With Excellence in Teaching Awards

College recognized faculty at Fall Convocation at Eastern Campus

CLEVELAND — Four full-time and four adjunct Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) faculty were recently honored with the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award in Honor of Ralph M. Besse.

Additionally, three other faculty members were recognized during Fall Convocation at the Eastern Campus.

Besse was a Cleveland community leader and champion of higher education who was instrumental in founding Tri-C.

This award is presented annually to faculty, adjunct faculty or lecturers for exceptional professional competence and dedication to student success. Winners demonstrate a commitment to promoting academic quality, stimulating intellectual development and investing in students within and beyond the classroom. Recipients are initially nominated by students and become finalists for the award with at least one faculty or staff nomination.

Awards were presented to:

Excellence in Teaching Award in Honor of Ralph M. Besse

Full-Time Faculty:

• Miriam Bennett, Professor, Film, Metropolitan Campus
• Elaine Brunschwig, Professor, Biology, Western Campus
• Mardy Chaplin, Assistant Professor, Paralegal Studies, Western Campus
• Alan Gerding, Assistant Professor, Psychology, Metropolitan Campus

Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer Winners:

• Judith Allen, Lecturer, Business Administration, Western Campus
• Amelia Caldwell, Adjunct Faculty, Business Administration, Metropolitan Campus
• Robert Gala, Adjunct Faculty, Philosophy, Metropolitan Campus
• Gayatry Jacob-Mosier, Lecturer, Chemistry, Metropolitan Campus (advanced to assistant professor beginning Fall 2025)

Faculty Leadership in Sustainability Award

• Punya Basnayaka, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Metropolitan Campus

AAUP Meaning Award

• Matthew Phillips, Assistant Professor, History, Metropolitan Campus

AAUP Authenticity Award

• Kate Catanese, Professor, Psychology, Western Campus

Innovation of the Year Award for Help Is Here: A Mental Health and Wellness Resource App

• David Nardecchia, Assistant Professor, Counseling, Western Campus
• Kevin Kuntz, Professor, Counseling, Eastern Campus
• Thandeka Cox, Program Manager, IT Fast Track Training, Metropolitan Campus
• Wayne Largent, Adjunct Faculty, Information Technology, Western Campus
• Special Contributors: Kevin Berg, Associate Professor, Counseling, Western Campus; Michelle Nicopolis, Professor, Psychology, Western Campus

September 09, 2025

By Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu