29-04-2025
MC announces 2024--2025 Dr. Stan Jacobs Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Apr. 29—On April 25, Midland College announced the winners of the Dr. Stan Jacobs Teaching Excellence Awards. The Teaching Excellence Awards are a long-standing tradition at Midland College to recognize, celebrate, and honor the exceptional accomplishments of the MC faculty. They are made possible by an endowment given to the college by Dr. Stan Jacobs, a retired associate vice president of instruction.
2024-2025 Transfer Winner: Debbie McNeely, Ph.D — Associate Professor, Psychology
McNeely has made significant contributions across campus, serving on numerous committees and leading as Chair of the General Education Committee. She is also an effective Strive Coach and a key campus leader in faculty development. Her work as a facilitator for faculty research training has empowered colleagues to explore and enhance their own teaching and learning practices. Actively engaged with the Teaching and Learning Center as both a participant and facilitator, Dr. McNeely stays at the forefront of research in meta-cognition and student learning. Recently, she developed and began teaching a new course, Biological Psychology, which has quickly become a favorite among behavioral science students.
2024-2025 Workforce Winner: Kally Eddison — Department Chair, Respiratory Care
In just four years as department chair, Kally Eddison has expanded Midland College's respiratory care program by 450%. Beyond the impressive growth in enrollment, Eddison has cultivated a program culture grounded in trust, support, high expectations, and genuine care. Her students now pass credentialing exams at higher rates, enter clinical rotations better prepared, and graduate with the confidence and skills needed to succeed in patient care.
More information in the winners can be found on the MC website.
The TEA selection process spans several months. It begins with the call for nominations from faculty and staff. After the nomination window closes, a panel of six members, representing a wide range of campus disciplines, conducts a thorough review to select finalists from both academic transfer and workforce divisions. These finalists epitomize the pinnacle of educational excellence, embodying the spirit of innovation, dedication, and passion that defines the TEA.
Other 2025 finalists celebrated at the event:
Transfer Finalists:
— Jaime Kneisley, Ph.D — Associate Professor, Mathematics
— Shawna Lopez — Associate Professor, Biology
Workforce Finalists:
— Jaroy Roberts — Professor, Air Conditioning — Heating & Refrigeration Technology
