The nominations for the 2026 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award are now open to students. The award is designed to recognize a faculty member who has made a difference and had a positive impact on students.
Students can nominate a professor for any number of reasons such as spending time helping them academically, being a great communicator or for making an impact on their at Brockport.
Five awards are handed out each year and presented by the President of the University.
2026 will mark the 10th year of this award being given out. In addition to a plaque commemorating their achievement, a sum of $500 will be awarded for professional development. SUNY Brockport Assistant Professor or Marketing Dr. Savisesh Malampallayil was one of the recipients of the award in 2025.
Malampallayil knows this award is one of the biggest recognitions that a professor can receive and was able to see that the students he taught valued him. Malampallayil received a call from SUNY Brockport President Dr. Heidi Macpherson informing him that he was one of the selected winners of the award last May, a phone call that initially had him worried but was a welcome surprise after receiving the good news.
Malampallayil expressed how he felt more confident in the classroom after receiving the award and he outlined how the award pushed him to continue strengthening his skills.
In addition to Malampallayil, the other recipients of the award in 2025 included Stacy Birch of the Department of Psychology, Philosophy, and Neuroscience, Nicole Cesnales of the Department of
Social Work, Bek Orr of the Department of Women and Gender Studies and Meredith Roman of the Department of History.
Students can access the nomination form through a message that was sent to their student emails. The nomination form for the award will remain open until March 27, and winners will be announced on May, 15. More Information about the award can be found on SUNY Brockport’s website.
