According to Associate Dean Tim McKay, Stephen A. Smith's nomination package described his courses as exceptionally engaging and illuminating, and his broader service to LSA and UM (including as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in EEB and Director of the Program in Biology) as innovative and greatly helpful for increasing student engagement and learning across courses.

Within and beyond the classroom, his contributions to undergraduate education have been marked by engaging students in deep and often original ways, serving as a “dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented instructor” who is also outstanding in mentoring, advising, and outreach. Former students attest that he is “an incredibly engaging teacher who makes difficult concepts feel approachable and exciting to learn,” “respectful and approachable” with “passion for teaching and genuine care for students." Students also noted his ability to create “dynamic” assessments that “made me focus more on attaining a functional, applied understanding of the material” and that “rewarded initiative,” and that he is a “charismatic lecturer with a genuine concern for his students’ performance.”

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition for your wide ranging skills and work!