The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has selected Jordan Axelson, director of undergraduate studies and senior lecturer in chemistry, as a recipient of the 2026 award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for Instructional Staff.
According to the Feb. 18 LAS announcement, Axelson is known for her engaging and energetic lecturing, even at early-morning classes with hundreds of students. “Dr. Axelson recognizes what a challenging course organic chemistry is and has put in hours of work to ensure students have the most engaging and seamless experience possible,” wrote a former student who now works as a teacher.
An Illinois chemistry alum, Axelson (BS, ‘10) is in her tenth year of teaching organic chemistry at Illinois. Twice, she has received a School of Chemical Sciences' Faculty Instructor Teaching Award, which recognizes the entire scope of the educational effort of teaching, from course development to in-class instruction.
Each Fall and Spring semester, Axelson teaches CHEM 232: Elementary Organic Chemistry I to hundreds of students from a variety of majors in multiple sections of the class.
Get to know Jordan Axelson and how the award-winning instructor makes organic chemistry interesting and fun.