Excellence in Education Award

2024 Winner: Tessa Burch-Smith

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Tessa Burch-Smith has emerged as a leader in teaching, mentoring, and outreach. Throughout her career she has taught a wide breadth of topics related to plant biology, including advanced cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, scientific communication, and microscopy. Tessa has been recognized for her effectiveness and impact in the classroom, and she has received multiple awards, including an Inclusive Teaching award from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2019. Tessa has been very active and intentional as a research mentor for numerous postdocs, graduate students, and over 40 undergraduates who have conducted research in her lab. She is currently the PI for an NSF funded REU program at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Additionally, Tessa has been a vocal advocate for students with diverse abilities, particularly those that are deaf and hard of hearing. She has led workshops and professional development sessions that have led to institutional change and helped to empower others to be inclusive mentors. In recognition of her leadership in this area she received the Disability Champion Award from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Student Disability Services.