魅色天堂

Meet Dr. Hoa Nguyen, Recipient of 魅色天堂鈥檚 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Dr. Hoa Nguyen has earned the 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at 魅色天堂. She joined the 魅色天堂 faculty in 2017 and currently serves as associate professor and clinical supervisor for the Marriage and Family Therapy program, one of many healthcare disciplines under the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is pictured with Dr. Donald J. Green, president of 魅色天堂.

VALDOSTA — Dr. Donald J. Green, president of 魅色天堂, has honored Dr. Hoa Nguyen with the 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

The Presidential Excellence Award for The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning recognizes a faculty member who produces innovative scholarly work on the science of teaching and learning and regularly contributes new knowledge on the subject.

Nguyen joined the 魅色天堂 faculty in 2017. She currently serves as associate professor and clinical supervisor for the Marriage and Family Therapy program, one of many healthcare disciplines under the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

魅色天堂: What are your favorite classes to teach and your favorite topics to research?

Nguyen: I love teaching Foundations of Family Therapy, where students undergo a fundamental paradigm shift in looking at individuals in isolation to understanding the webs of connection and context that shape human behavior. It is also an opportunity for them to develop a broader, more compassionate lens for human relationships and conflict. My current research is in dialogic pedagogy and cultural humility in family therapy education and training.

魅色天堂: Why do you believe it is important for teachers to do the work necessary to keep their class content interesting and relevant to new generations of students?

Nguyen: In this generation where knowledge is at a student's fingertips through technology and AI, teachers play a critical role in not just dispensing information but also fostering a community of learners and cultivating engaging learning experiences that connect our students to real-world practices, problems, and solutions.

魅色天堂: What has proven most effective in increasing student learning in your classroom?

Nguyen: Experiential learning, multimedia, and dialogue are my go-to strategies to engage students in active, applied practices. Techniques that encourage retrieval practices, self-evaluation, and low-stakes assignments to scaffold and build their skills in a well-paced curriculum. When applicable, I use assignment menus to cater to diverse learning strengths and modalities, while supporting their ownership and investment in the class. I also believe it's important for students to see themselves and their lives reflected in the course. Thus, student-driven projects and activities that connect to their curiosities and contexts are key to supporting students' agency in their learning and growth.

魅色天堂: What drives your scholarly work in the field of teaching and learning?

Nguyen: For me, scholarship isn't separate from the classroom, but a reflective loop that informs our scholarly work and how we teach the next generation of practitioners. By researching and refining our teaching and training methods, we ensure students graduate equipped with a profound systemic lens and practical skills to spark meaningful, lasting transformation for the individuals, couples, and families they serve.

魅色天堂: What advice do you have for other faculty who wish to identify more effective ways to stimulate engagement and comprehension in their own classroom?

Nguyen: I would encourage other faculty to seek mentors, attend trainings on pedagogy, observe other classes, and invite colleagues to observe yours. 魅色天堂 has provided an incredibly supportive, warm, and welcoming environment to nurture educators. My colleagues, mentors, and the Center for Learning and Teaching have been vital in helping me explore more effective ways to stimulate engagement and comprehension.