Graduate Student Instructors Receive Awards

August 22, 2013

Excellence in Teaching Plant and Microbiology Courses

Jason Liu, Zoe Davis, Tom Kleist, Michael Steinwand (Rocio Sanchez photo)

Outstanding Graduate Student Instructors were recognized recently for excellence in teaching at UC Berkeley. Two will be honored campus-wide in a special ceremony May 7.
 
Tom Kleist, Michael Steinwand, Jason Liu, Zoe Davis, Razika Hussein, and Tom Haas are the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) for the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology.

"Tom Kleist has worked at developing a teaching style that reaches across interest levels and academic skill to excite even the most lethargic student," said Associate Professor Chelsea Specht.

Zoe Davis and PMB Department Manager Dana Jantz (Rocio Sanchez photo)

Kleist taught Principles of Plant Morphology with Specht.

"We truly appreciate the hard work, enthusiasm, and excellence in teaching that graduate students bring to our undergrads," said Rocio Sanchez, Graduate Student Advisor for the 

Department. "We are very lucky to have them."

The teaching talent was recognized at a ceremony in the department last week. Haas and Davis will be recognized campus-wide (nominated by the department) and will receive a $250 prize.

Student Comments

Michael Steinwand taught Plant Morphology. One student said he was, "Patient and willing to help ensure students understand. Very approachable and well-prepared for discussion to make it worthwhile."

"I’ve never had a GSI who was so open to answering questions and put so much time into a class," said another student of Jason Liu, who taught Biology of Fungi.

Regarding Zoe Davis, who taught Introduction to Comparative Virology with Associate Professor Britt Glaunsinger and Professor Andy Jackson, they said: "Both of us agree that in all our years of teaching this course Zoe has been the most outstanding."

Another student said that Razika Hussein, who taught Microbial Genomics and Genetics, was the "BEST GSI EVER! So nice, approachable, and smart!"

Tom Haas taught the Secret Life of Plants. Students said:

"Tom is amazingly clear and really knows how to convey important concepts in class. Awesome GSI! He can make anything that is confusing and difficult into easy to understand 'oh-duh, I knew that info'." 

Campus-wide Event:
Tuesday, May 7th
3:30-5:00pm
International House.

For more information see: GSI Teaching and Resource Center's Outstanding GSI Award