The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes full-time, regular faculty members of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching. Award winners must have held faculty status at UAB for a minimum of three years and may receive the award only once in any three-year period.
The CAS Excellence in Teaching Committee selected award recipients for being outstanding representatives of effective teaching and thoughtful pedagogy from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.
Natural Sciences and Mathematics: Mickie Powell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Biology
Powell, a UAB alumna, has directed undergraduate and graduate research in the Department of Biology since 2006. Driven by a strong commitment to student success, she mentors teaching assistants, as well as students at all levels, and played a key role in establishing the Biology Café—a social learning space where students can study, connect, and build community. Over her tenure at UAB, Powell has taught a wide range of courses, including Freshman Biology for many years, Introductory Biology I and II, and, more recently, Genetics—making her a consistent and impactful presence for many undergraduate students specializing in science. One colleague wrote of Powell: “The students always come first in her classes. Her open-door policy ensures every student feels valued and heard.”
Social and Behavioral Sciences:Megan Brooker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology
Brooker joined the Department of Sociology as a Teaching Assistant Professor in 2021. A strong advocate for experiential learning and student engagement, she encourages students to activate their “sociological imaginations” by using real-world examples that highlight the connections among history, society, and individual experiences. She coordinates the department’s undergraduate internship program, which she built from the ground up, fostering career-readiness training and overseeing 18 internships in the last four years. Brooker also serves as the faculty advisor for the UAB Sociology Club. One student noted in her nomination letter: “I can attest to the fact that Dr. Brooker has an incredible ability to inspire a commitment to lifelong learning in her students.”
Arts and Humanities: Brynn Welch, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Philosophy
Welch has been with the Department of Philosophy since 2016 and is especially interested in how students experience campus environments. Her commitment to supporting students at the start of their college journey is reflected in her annual Orientation session, “A Professor’s Perspective,” which offers guidance on interacting with faculty, including developing essential soft skills, such as composing professional emails. In fall 2025, Welch organized the department’s first Open House, creating an informal setting for students to connect with faculty. Building on its success, she expanded the initiative to all of CAS with much success. In the classroom, she has earned a perfect teaching rating for in-person courses since 2017, received a national philosophy teaching award, and recently edited and published two books about teaching philosophy. One colleague shared the following about Welch’s enthusiasm for teaching: “The magic in her classroom overflows into all our hallways, classrooms, and offices. It sends us engaged, well-trained, passionate students who are a joy to teach.”
