Celebrating Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award Recipients at The New School for Social Research
The New School for Social Research (NSSR) recently recognized seven students with Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards, honoring their work as Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows during the 2023–2024 academic year: Armando Alvarez, a PhD Economics student; Krishna Boddapati, a PhD Philosophy student; Julián Gómez-Delgado, a PhD Sociology student; CJ Healy, a PhD Clinical Psychology student; Andrew Moon, a PhD Anthropology student; Heleen Raes, a PhD Clinical Psychology student; and Jochen Schmon, a PhD Politics student. The students were celebrated at NSSR’s welcome reception, receiving a certificate and an honorarium for their achievements.
“It is an honor to celebrate some of our extraordinary graduate student teachers and the significant contributions they are making inside and outside the classroom to advance research, scholarship, and learning at The New School,” said President Joel Towers.
Speaking on the important role serving as a teaching assistant played in her own development as a scholar, Provost Renée White stated, “As a graduate student, I had the good fortune to be a TA for a brilliant feminist scholar named Jualynne Dodson. Her work inspired me, but her course covered subject matter that forced me to stretch myself as her TA. Most of us aren’t naturally talented lecturers or instructors but learn by doing. That’s what being a TA affords you. Having the chance to observe and support someone who was so good in the classroom was a gift. I was feeling unsure about my own work and whether I belonged in the classroom. I learned so much from her about how to structure a lecture, prepare good assignments, and facilitate class discussions. My experience with her instilled in me more confidence about my future as a professor.”
NSSR has presented this award since 2015, recognizing honorees for their ability to guide students through thought-provoking discussions, connect complex topics to students’ experiences, and create a supportive, engaging, and compassionate learning environment.
“The seven recipients stood out for their ability to find new ways to explain complex topics in the classroom, during office hours, and by email; to help students further develop their research skills and offer thoughtful, personal feedback on their work; and, more than ever this year, to guide honest and respectful discussions related to the social sciences and philosophy,” said NSSR Executive Dean Alex Aleinikoff in a message to the community.
The honorees were selected from more than 45 graduate Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows nominated by students and faculty from all schools across the university.
“Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination; you have helped make this award an important and personal way to honor our graduate Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows,” said Aleinikoff. “And a very special thank you to all TAs and TFs for all of your hard work and critical contributions to student learning at The New School.”
About the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award Recipients
Armando Alvarez, PhD Economics student
“Armando’s mentorship has been invaluable. Without his exceptional teaching and unwavering support, I cannot imagine achieving the level of success and comprehension that I have today.”
—Nominator from NSSR
Krishna Boddapati, PhD Philosophy student
“He taught a demanding course on early modern philosophy in an accessible way that allowed the students to engage with complex problems and apply them to contemporary issues. Krishna is an outstanding teacher, capable of motivating his students to continue their works.”
—Nominator from NSSR
Julián Gómez-Delgado, PhD Sociology student
”One of Julián’s greatest virtues is in helping students understand how they can navigate the practical demands of the moment and locate ways to resume their learning without losing sight of their intellectual goals.”
—Nominator from NSSR
CJ Healy, PhD Clinical Psychology student
“CJ teaches with integrity, inclusivity, and passion. They made coming to class an exciting event to look forward to, as every week I expected nothing less than the liveliest discussions and most inspiring sentiments. Thank you, CJ, for introducing me to the world of psychology—I’ll never forget it!”
—Nominator from Parsons
Andrew Moon, PhD Anthropology student
“From day one, Andrew has been exceptionally detailed in supporting our learning process individually and collectively. His ability to every week be sharp and connect our ideas in our biweekly papers, with the arguments discussed in every class and cited authors has been invaluable. He embodies what care and rigor mean within the academy.”
—Nominator from NSSR
Heleen Raes, PhD Clinical Psychology student
“Heleen was the nurturing teacher I needed to be back in college after several years. She integrated personal experience and grounded it with research. Her passion for social justice shone through in how she talked about vulnerable groups with compassion.”
—Nominator from the Schools of Public Engagement
Jochen Schmon, PhD Politics student
“He teaches with much passion and understanding of the material and the students, making complex theoretical frameworks accessible for everyone to understand. He is genuinely one of the best professors I’ve ever had, and I as well as other students can testify to his skill and profound impact.”
—Nominator from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts