UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award winners announced for 2024-25

Six permanent faculty members and one adjunct faculty member at UNCSA have been named winners of the Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2024-25, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Patrick J. Sims has announced.

Permanent faculty members selected are: Maggie Anderson, School of Drama; Holland Berson, School of Design and Production; Nikki Hyde, School of Design and Production; Bethany Anne Kibler, Division of Liberal Arts; Reagan Patrick Mitchell, Division of Liberal Arts; and Dmitri Vorobiev, School of Music. The adjunct faculty member selected is Robert Rocco, School of Music.

The criteria for Excellence in Teaching Award-winning faculty include a concern for students; enthusiasm for, command of, and awareness of recent trends in the subjects they teach; ability to motivate and fairly critique students; up-to-date scholarship and creative work; and commitment to the UNCSA and greater community.

“We are so proud of these particular faculty members, and indeed, all of our faculty,” said Provost Sims. “UNCSA is fortunate to employ such bright, dedicated and creative educators across all our five arts schools and two academic programs.

“Being nominated by one’s colleagues, students or alumni is a such an honor in itself,” Sims continued. “It represents the highest regard for their body of work, their teaching ability and standards, and their unrelenting drive to pass along their expertise and experience and make a difference in the lives of the artists of tomorrow. We congratulate them and are excited to celebrate them for their achievements.”

In 1994, the Board of Governors of the multicampus University of North Carolina established a series of “Excellence in Teaching” awards that reinforced teaching as the primary responsibility and focus of its constituent institutions. The policy notes that the awards are to “encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support good teaching within the University.”

At UNCSA, recipients are chosen each year from those current, full-time permanent and adjunct members of the faculty who are nominated to receive an award. One faculty member’s name is then forwarded on to the UNC Board of Governors to receive a UNC System-wide teaching award. This award-winner receives a stipend of $12,500 and a commemorative bronze medallion, and will be honored at a campus event. The Board of Governors is scheduled to select the recipients of the UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Awards later this month.

The recipients of the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2024-25 are:

Maggie Anderson

Maggie Anderson, School of Drama

Alumna Maggie Anderson joined the Drama faculty as visiting instructor and interim director of the High School Drama Program in 2021, earning her place as an associate professor and director of the High School Drama Program the following year. She specializes in acting, theater dance and musical theater, movement, audition techniques, and college preparation.

“I firmly believe that teaching is the most meaningful and significant contribution I can make to society,” Anderson said in her teaching philosophy statement. “I want (my students) to examine the very nature of the arts – the scope of what it is to be human. It is my hope that the cultivation of skills for their craft goes far beyond the classroom and can potentially have a meaningful impact as the students explore who they are, the stories they want to tell, and engage in their communities’ evolution as artists and citizens.”

Nominations from both colleagues and students highlighted Anderson’s creation of a trusting and respectful environment and the consistency with which she designs and executes her lessons. “She’s a stellar example of care, precision, thoughtfulness, and rigor in crafting and teaching a curriculum,” a colleague noted. Her students expressed a particular appreciation for the ways that they feel seen and supported in their growth as artists. One said: “She brings enthusiasm and kindness into the classroom in a way I have never seen. … She meets us where each of us are individually and can help each of us grow exponentially.”

Prior to joining UNCSA, Anderson spent more than a decade at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she was an associate professor in the musical theater and acting programs, created curricula, and coordinated recruitment and auditions for musical theater. She has taught as an adjunct and guest instructor at institutions including Wagner College, College of New Jersey, Villanova, Cap 21, and McCarter Theatre at Princeton. A member of Actors’ Equity, she holds teaching certifications in the Margolis Method actor training, Vinyasa yoga and Pilates mat, and is a certified Health Coach focusing on wellness for artists.

Anderson holds a Master of Fine Arts in musical theater from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre with a minor in dance from Elon University, and a High School Diploma in drama from UNCSA. She considers her return to UNCSA as a faculty member a “proud full-circle moment.”

Holland Berson

Holland Berson, School of Design and Production

Alumna Holland Berson joined the School of Design and Production’s faculty as an adjunct in 2015, accepting a permanent faculty position as assistant professor and director of wig and makeup in 2017.

Her pathway to her chosen field was unique. As Berson recalls, “After a childhood obsessed with art, music and theater, I poured myself into my college work as a costume designer. I graduated and set about finding theater work but quickly realized that my studies hadn’t prepared me to enter the industry. So, I set about finding other passions, randomly taking a class in aerial arts. I found a calling in trapeze and began working with a fantastic partner, performing in odd venues around Baltimore, using my costume background to create elaborate outfits. Through these performances I found a need for hair and makeup to complete the looks I would design. While browsing an issue of Makeup Artist Magazine, I found an article about UNCSA and the graduate program in prosthetic makeup and wig making. Like so many others, I had no idea that this was a career, and I was intrigued. Ultimately, I was faced with a decision: Move to Vermont for circus school or move to North Carolina for art school. I have never once regretted my choice to come to UNCSA, which has set me on an extremely rewarding path in prosthetic makeup.”

In their recommendations, Berson’s students noted not only her expertise, patience and understanding, but also the ways in which she works to bring the entire Wig and Makeup Shop together. As one said, “Holland is incredibly talented, and her work shows it. She always does a fantastic job explaining the content and why we follow our procedures. … She runs a fantastic shop and keeps an entire department united.” Another said: “She always gets the job done and teaches so well, and her dedication to us as students is very, very clear!”

Berson’s extensive industry experience encompasses a wide range of partnerships, from working with celebrated doctors and researchers on medical training to collaborations in film, drama, opera and commercial work. While she stays involved in creative projects and entertainment, her real passion comes from seeing her work applied to a world where it deeply affects and enhances the lives of those suffering from medical misfortune.

Berson earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre from Goucher College in Maryland and a Master of Fine Arts in wig and makeup design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Nikki Hyde

Nikki Hyde, School of Design and Production

Nikki Hyde joined the School of Design and Production faculty in 2022 and serves as assistant professor of stage management.

Her dedication to teaching is grounded in her desire to positively impact the field and its future. As she writes in her teaching philosophy: “I see small steps happening toward a more accessible and sustainable entertainment industry, where managers are collaborators and artists in their own right. Her goal as an educator is “to challenge student stage managers to think outside the box, to find their unique voice and perspective, and to create spaces for truly inclusive artmaking and community-building to happen. Because that is what art is for – to come together to reveal our humanity, and to remind each other that we are not alone.”

Hyde’s students offered heartfelt support in their nominations. As one student shared: “Nikki Hyde is a cornerstone of the School of Design and Production. … Her impact is felt schoolwide,” noting she works hard “for the students and the betterment of our community.” Another said: “Overall, her dedication to her students, faculty and her career makes me proud to be learning from her.”

Hyde holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre with a minor in music industry from the University of Southern California. While a student there, she realized that her dream of being an actor was not something she wanted anymore. She decided to give theater one final chance after her second year by taking a production internship. That summer at Cornerstone Theater Company set her on a trajectory as a stage manager passionate about community-based storytelling.

In the almost 20 years since, Hyde has worked on productions ranging from staged readings to community musical pageants with more than 200 cast members to world premiere operas. Her community work inspired her to pursue teaching. She has worked all over the country, in partnership with notable organizations and venues including LA Opera, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, Disney Concert Hall, South Coast Repertory, Playwrights Conference, Pasadena Playhouse, and Center Theatre Group. She previously taught at CalArts’ School of Theater and University of California San Diego’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Bethany Kibler

Bethany Anne Kibler, Division of Liberal Arts

Bethany Kibler joined the Division of Liberal Arts faculty as an assistant professor in 2022, teaching a variety of classes from the core Critical Dialogues and Paths to the Present to Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology and Middle East on Film.

Her teaching philosophy is built on four tenets. They, and her comments, include the following – Difficulty: “I want to challenge students to their limits. However, that difficulty must have a telos, an end towards which it purposefully bends.” Trust: “It is impossible to truly challenge students without first earning – and deserving – their trust.” Freedom: “I encourage students to disagree civilly and productively, to concede points, and be prepared to take direct and unflinching criticism.” Collaboration: “I shy away from one-size-fits-all projects in favor of self-directed work and adapt each class in real time to the strengths and interests of the particular group of students I am teaching.”

Kibler’s students lauded her in their nominations, drawing particular attention to how engaging and rigorous her courses are. One offered, “Bethany has a gift for teaching difficult concepts in a digestible way. But her true gift is that she gets students excited about learning itself.” Another said: “I am nominating her because she is one of the best teachers I have ever had! She treats her students with so much respect while still being professional and informative about the subjects she teaches. Her lecturing style is captivating.”

Kibler holds a Bachelor of Arts with a special concentration in literature from Pomona College in California and two Masters of Arts in Middle Eastern studies and social anthropology from Harvard University. She currently is completing work on her Ph.D. in social anthropology and Middle Eastern studies with a secondary field in women, gender and sexuality studies from Harvard.

Prior to joining UNCSA, Kibler held a variety of teaching, research and leadership positions, including fellowships at Student Veterans of America (SVA) and The Mission Continues, a visiting lectureship in media studies at Tufts University Experimental College, and a research consultancy at Rawafed, a Syrian arts nonprofit. From 2003-11, Kibler served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve.

Reagan Patrick Mitchell

Reagan Patrick Mitchell, Division of Liberal Arts

Reagan Patrick Mitchell joined the Division of Liberal Arts faculty in 2019 and currently serves as assistant professor.

A teacher dedicated to nurturing and guiding the next generation of reflective practitioners, Mitchell credits their parents for setting the path that he walks: "Education and pedagogy are acts and processes integral to my immediate family imparted by my parents Dr. Patricia and the late Dr. Reavis Mitchell. They were among the first in their families to receive a college degree. Afterwards, they both pledged their lives and careers to being both educators and advocates for equitable educational access for all communities in Nashville, Tennessee. This narrative of my parents’ love, belief and fight for educational equity is the ethos of my educational and pedagogical practices as a professor, artist and community member in my home institution of UNCSA and the broader Winston-Salem area.”

Mitchell’s culture of care resonates deeply with nominating students. One shared: “This professor makes every student feel heard and accepted. He tells us every day that we are brilliant. … This person is truly a beautiful human being that is bringing so much light into our lives.” An alumnus said: “The impact of Reagan Mitchell was pivotal to my growth throughout college. They truly opened my eyes to different perspectives/intersectionalities that I had no concept of. I would not have grown so confident sharing my creative voice without them. I don’t think I’ll ever forget first-year seminar with them. He made the entire university feel welcoming and a place of support.”

Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Music in jazz studies from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Louisiana State University. Prior to joining the faculty of UNCSA, they served as a visiting assistant professor of educational studies at Colgate University in New York.

An active jazz saxophonist as well as academic, Mitchell maintains a dynamic schedule of performances along with an ever-expanding body of international/national/regional scholarly presentations and publications. Even with his busy schedule, Mitchell is “always holding space for his students,” one noted.

Dmitri “Dima” Vorobiev

Dmitri Vorobiev, School of Music

Alumnus Dmitri “Dima” Vorobiev joined the UNCSA School of Music in 2017 and currently serves as professor of piano and artistic director of the UNCSA Chamber Music Festival.

Having begun his piano studies at the age of 5, Vorobiev first came to international attention after winning the Casagrande International Piano Competition in Italy in 1994. He has been a major prizewinner in the Busoni, Cincinnati World, Ibla Grand Prize, A.M.A. Calabria, Iowa and Alabama international piano competitions. In 2000, he placed first while earning three special prizes at the UNISA International Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa, and in 2003 won the first prize in the New Orleans International Piano Competition. He has appeared as a soloist with Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, Pretoria Chamber Orchestra, Durban Symphony, Terni Philharmonic, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony and Western Piedmont Symphony. His solo recitals have taken him throughout the United States, Israel, Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Ireland and South Africa.

Nominations came from his students and alumni, who wrote about the life-changing experience that they have had studying with him. They referenced his “stern yet kind heart,” his ability to “always go the extra mile to help out whenever he can,” and his presence as “a hard-working individual who cares about much more than profit.” One student said there is one memory of Vorobiev that stands out – when the student asked how he finds happiness. Vorobiev’s answer: “I love what I do, I love my studio, I love my family, I love music. What more could I ask for?” The student concluded: “He is a man I look up to more than anyone. A mentor, a father, and simply, a kindred soul.”

Vorobiev holds a European High School Diploma from the Music School and Music College of the Moscow State Conservatory (Russia); a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance from UNCSA, where he studied with the late faculty emeritus Eric Larsen; a Master of Music in piano from the Manhattan School of Music; and a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from the University of Michigan.

Vorobiev maintains a dynamic concert schedule, currently focused on performing the complete solo piano works by Ludwig van Beethoven. An acclaimed soloist, he is an active chamber music player. Also a recording artist with the Blue Griffin label, Vorobiev is presently working on a double CD set with lesser-known works by Beethoven.

Robert Rocco

Robert Rocco, School of Music

Robert Rocco joined UNCSA in 1999, serving for 25 years as a collaborative pianist for vocal and instrumental studios, recital pianist for faculty and students, and faculty member in Foundations of Music studies.

Rocco believes strongly in helping his students not only to develop their musical skills, but also to look to other art forms for inspiration and connection. In his philosophy of teaching statement, he said: “Beyond score study and analysis, I encourage students to find inspiration in coexisting art forms: dance, painting, sculpture, literature, theater and film, as well as in language arts, social history, popular culture and modern technology. The acquisition of strong musicianship skills is a lifelong pursuit, and leading students to discover their own musical voice and creativity is an enduring legacy that has the power to enrich every aspect of their lives. I also strongly advocate the collaborative nature of music, along with its ability to cross borders and build bridges between neighbors, nations and cultures.”

A colleague offered this assessment in their nomination: “I have found Robert to be the best of what this institution has to offer: a high level of professionalism and expertise combined with a great teaching manner. He has bettered so many artistic lives in his long tenure at UNCSA but has largely labored in the background. It's time he was recognized for his commitment.” Yet another colleague said: “Robert Rocco is one of the most hardworking and dedicated teachers in the School of Music. For 25 years he has been embedded in the life of our school, providing steadfast musical support to hundreds of vocal and instrumental students in their applied study: lessons, studio classes, competitions, juries and recital performances. I feel he is most worthy of this recognition!”

Rocco holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music with a concentration in piano from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Master of Music in piano and a Master of Musical Arts from the Yale University School of Music. Further studies have taken him to the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, as well as to the Salzburg Mozarteum, where he earned certificates in chamber music and German Lieder accompanying. In 2023 he was a featured pianist at the Barcelona Festival of Song and performed at the Biblioteca de Catalunya in a concert of art song by Spanish and Latin American composers.

An exemplar of lifelong learning, he continues to take courses in languages and diction, has copublished diction books, and has worked many summers at the AIMS (American Institute of Music Studies) program in Graz, Austria, where he serves as collaborative pianist and instructor of French diction. In addition, he serves as pianist and director of music for Beck’s Baptist Church in Winston-Salem and is an avid ballroom dancer with achievements in cha-cha, rumba, foxtrot, swing, bolero, Viennese waltz and Argentine tango.

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January 24, 2025