SCS, Chemistry recognize faculty, graduate students for teaching excellence

Faculty Teaching Award — Wilfred van der Donk

Wilfred van der Donk, Richard E. Heckert Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, is an organic chemist who also does research in the area of chemical biology. In Fall 2024, he taught CHEM 532 — Advanced survey of physical organic chemistry, which emphasizes structure and bonding in organic compounds, scope of reaction mechanisms, including reactive intermediates and how these mechanisms and intermediates are studied, and writing reasonable organic reaction mechanisms. 

Faculty Instructor Teaching Award — Jordan Axelson

Jordan Axelson, the director of undergraduate studies and senior lecturer in chemistry, received her B.S. in Chemistry in 2010 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After completing a Ph.D. in inorganic synthetic chemistry in 2016 at the University of California Berkeley, she returned to Urbana to join the instructional faculty at Illinois. In Fall 2025, Axelson taught CHEM 232 - Elementary Organic Chemistry I.

Sonam Rani — Graduate student TA

A chemistry Ph.D. student in the research group of Joaquín Rodríguez-López, Rani taught CHEM 315: Instrumental Chem Systems Lab in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.

"I've always been passionate about teaching, and serving as a TA at Illinois was a truly rewarding and special experience. One of the things I enjoyed the most was how teaching deepened my own understanding of the material. Explaining concepts to students and responding to their questions not only reinforced my knowledge but also built my confidence. There's something I always find fulfilling about teaching is seeing a student have that "aha" moment - knowing you helped them make that connection is incredibly motivating. It also helped me grow as a communicator, since I had always been afraid of public speaking - something that changed after teaching for two semesters. It taught me how to be patient, adaptable, and clear - skills that I know will serve me well in both academic and professional settings."

Career goal: I've always wanted to be a mentor, and to me, a great teacher - or a professor - is just that. Both of my parents are teachers, and they've been a constant source of inspiration throughout my life. My mother often says, "Teaching is a noble profession," and that message has really stayed with me. Even at Illinois, my Ph.D. mentor is incredibly helpful and supportive, and the way he simplifies complex concepts continues to inspire me. I hope to follow in their footsteps by becoming not just an effective educator, but a great mentor who makes a lasting impact on others.

Sarah Hasan — Graduate student TA

A first-year chemistry Ph.D. student, Hasan taught General Chemistry discussion classes under chemistry instructor Dr. Bhagya Gunasekera’s supervision for the 2024-2025 academic year.

"Teaching is genuinely one of my biggest passions; I absolutely love seeing my kiddos’ faces light up when they finally understand a once particularly hard concept for them. I love catching up with them and seeing them succeed and flourish." 

Career goal: In the future, my dream job would be to teach undergraduates general chemistry, analytical and inorganic chemistry at universities or community colleges.

Joanna Vo — Graduate student TA

A chemistry Ph.D. student in the research group of Damien S. Guironnet in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Illinois, Vo taught CHEM 203: Accelerated Chemistry Lab I and CHEM 205: Accelerated Chemistry Lab II. 

"It was a joy getting to know my students as individuals, which included understanding their levels of mastery in the course and what they hoped to do with the skillset and knowledge they would acquire at Illinois. Teaching in labs meant that I could work alongside each student to uniquely sharpen their lab and writing skills while encouraging them along their journeys in the course and towards where they wanted to go."

Career goal: I would like to work in industry as a research scientist or teach at a community college.

Nathaniel Gehrke — Graduate student TA

A chemistry PhD student in the research group of Martin Burke, Gehrke taught CHEM 237: Structure and Synthesis in the fall and spring semesters.

"I enjoyed watching how much the students improved in their laboratory skills throughout the semester. In the first lab, the students generally need lots of guidance and work slowly but by the final lab, they work independently on a much more challenging experiment.

Career goal? After grad school I could see myself working in a lot of different applications of organic chemistry. As long as I am doing synthetic organic chemistry developing new reactions and making new molecules, I'll be happy.

Eliza Asani - Professor Peter Beak Endowed Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

A chemistry Ph.D. student in the research group of Prof. Nick Jackson, Asani taught CHEM 442: Physical Chemistry I. 

"I enjoyed how students challenged my own understanding with their questions, which encouraged me to think deeper and more creatively about the topics we covered. I also loved seeing how students became more independent as the semester progressed; by the end of the year, they were answering each other's questions and correcting my math, which I think is exactly how it should be."

Career goals? I haven't yet decided what I'd like to do after graduating, but I definitely want teaching to be a big part of it.

Laura Bickart - Dr. Sandra Murawski Award for Teaching Excellence

A Ph.D. student in Prof. Jeff Chan's research group, Bickart taught Chem 332: Elementary Organic 2 in the fall and spring semesters.

"One of the aspects I enjoyed most about teaching organic chemistry was the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the subject and help students see it in a new light. Organic chemistry often has a reputation for being intimidating, so I found it particularly rewarding to break down complex concepts in ways that made them more accessible and engaging. Watching their confidence grow and their perspective shift—from apprehension to genuine curiosity—was one of the most fulfilling parts of my experience."

Career goal: I aspire to be an organic chemistry professor at a primarily undergraduate institution. 

Blake Levy - Zumdahl Teaching Award

A Ph.D. student in chemistry Prof. Paul Hergenrother's group, Levy taught Chem 232: Elementary Organic Chemistry I in the fall and spring semesters.

"I love discussing topics in chemistry with students, and my favorite part is how students continue to come up with unique questions and ideas. With each student having their own particular learning style and interests, I have the opportunity to tailor my teaching style to each of them — it helps my students achieve their educational goals and allows me to develop my teaching skills. It's incredibly rewarding to work with students who are so engaged in the learning process!"
 

Yichen (Ethan) Li - Arthur W. Sloan Prize

A Ph.D. student in Prof. Joaquín Rodríguez-López's research group, Li taught Chem 584: Introduction to Materials Chemistry and Chem 588: Physical Methods in Materials Chemistry. 

"I enjoy helping students develop their skills and knowledge, especially when I am able to help them digest complicated or confusing material. Helping students make connections between what they already know and what they are learning brings me immense joy!"

Career goal: I have not fully decided on my plans for the future, but I would love to do something teaching related! One of the possibilities I am excited about is to become a chemistry professor at a predominantly undergraduate institution like my undergrad.

Aksshay Nandakumar Regeni - Arthur W. Sloan Prize

A Ph.D. student in Prof. Mikael Backlund’s research group, Regeni taught Chem 442: Physical Chemistry I in the fall semester and Chem 542: Quantum Mech and Spectroscopy in the spring semester. 

"I enjoyed seeing the course material through my students’ eyes - our discussions often gave me a fresh perspective on concepts and helped us test our understanding."

Career goal: Eventually secure a tenure-track faculty position.