St. Ambrose University Professor Honored for Innovative Teaching and Learning

St. Ambrose University is pleased to announce the recipient of the university's inaugural Whalen Fitzgibbon Award Winner for Excellence in Innovative Teaching and Learning, Neil Aschliman,PhD.

Established in 2023 with a gift from Robert and Penelope Whalen, the Whalen Fitzgibbon award will be given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates superiority in student engagement and creates new ways of teaching in and outside of the classroom.

Students were eager to share their opinions about their favorite biology professor, sharing their appreciation for his enthusiastic teaching methods: "He walks into the classroom excited...I mean really excited, like sometimes it almost appears as though he is dancing!"

President Amy Novak, EdD, cites Aschliman's innovative teaching methods as the impetus for this recognition:"Dr. Aschliman has demonstrated an ability to adapt, to be innovative in teaching and learning, and to be active in his demonstration of service to the larger community. He makes difficult content accessible, and has truly inspired the next generation of biological scientists, healthcare professionals, and students simply interested in better understanding our world."