Endowment Awards

Endowed Teaching Chairs

Endowed Teaching Chairs represent one of Mesa Community College’s highest recognitions for faculty achievement in teaching and learning. These awards honor individual faculty whose sustained commitment to high-quality instruction has a meaningful impact on student learning, academic success, and the educational mission of the college.

During his tenure, former MCC President Dr. Shouan Pan, in collaboration with the Office of Development, the Center for Teaching & Learning, and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, established the Endowed Teaching Chair program to recognize and celebrate outstanding teaching at Mesa Community College.

Supported through philanthropic endowments, these awards recognize faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, innovation in instructional practice, and dedication to student success over time. Endowed Teaching Chairs highlight educators whose work strengthens student learning and contributes to a culture of teaching excellence across the college.

Recipients are selected through a competitive application process and are recognized for their effectiveness in the classroom, commitment to continuous improvement in teaching, and leadership in advancing effective instructional practices.

Endowed Teaching Chair awards typically provide a multi-year stipend paid directly to the recipient, with award amounts and the number of recipients determined by available endowment funding.

Through these awards, Mesa Community College affirms its commitment to outstanding teaching and celebrates faculty whose work exemplifies the highest standards of instruction and student engagement.

Recognizing faculty whose sustained excellence in teaching enriches student learning at Mesa Community College.

Award Program Details

All residential faculty members are eligible to apply for the Endowed Teaching Chair awards. Each award cycle, the number of awards and funding levels are determined by available endowment funding. Recipients are honored with a cash award, paid directly to the faculty member, which may be used at their discretion.

Adjunct faculty members with at least two years of teaching experience at MCC are eligible to apply for the Adjunct/OSO/OYO Endowed Teaching Chair award. Selected recipients receive a cash award, paid directly to the faculty member, which may be used at their discretion and is subject to available funding.

Endowed Teaching Chair Award

The Endowed Teaching Chair Program includes three award programs that recognize faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching, high-quality instruction, and innovative and effective teaching practices.

Drs. Ken and Rebecca Boren Endowed Teaching Chair Award
This award recognizes residential faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching and learning. In its inaugural year (Spring 2024), recipients received a $10,000 stipend distributed over two years, with payments typically issued evenly each year. Award funds may be used at the recipient’s discretion, including for professional development, instructional resources, or as a direct cash stipend.

Mesa Community College Endowed Teaching Chair Award
This award recognizes faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning. Both residential and adjunct faculty awards provide a multi-year stipend paid directly to recipients. Award amounts and the number of recipients vary based on available funding.

Mesa Community College Developmental Education Endowment
See the next section for details.

Developmental Education Endowed Teaching Award

“The purpose of this endowment is to provide funding for professional growth opportunities and programmatic related support of faculty (residential and adjunct) teaching developmental education courses pertaining to the subject matters of math, reading, and English at Mesa Community College.” –Developmental Education Endowment Agreement

The Developmental Education Endowment continues the work of the Title III grant by providing funds for professional growth and programmatic support for faculty teaching developmental education. This award recognizes the essential work of developmental educators. All faculty teaching developmental education courses in the English, Math, or Reading Departments are eligible for this award. Specifically, faculty who teach the following developmental courses: ALT100, ENG101LL/ENG107LL, MAT081, MAT091, MAT126, MAT146, MAT156, and RDG100. The eligible award amount is a one-time payment. The award(s) may range between $500-$5,000 depending on fund availability.

Award Comparisons

Thunderbird Endowed Teaching Chair Program for Academic Year 2025-2026

• Drs. Ken and Rebecca Boren Endowed Teaching Chair – Two awards for residential faculty

• MCC Endowed Teaching Chair – One award for residential faculty

• MCC Endowed Teaching Chair (Adjunct/OSO/OYO) – One award for OSO/OYO/Adjunct faculty

Previous Winners

Drs. Ken and Rebecca Boren Endowed Teaching Chair

• 2023-2025:  Jennifer Caldwell, Math Faculty
• 2023-2025: Jennifer Fay, Exercise Science Faculty Chair  

MCC Endowed Teaching Chair (Residential)

• 2023-2024: Leanna Hall, English Faculty
• 2021-2022: Diana Breed, Nursing Faculty
• 2017-2018: Michelle Mazzucco, Math Faculty

MCC Endowed Teaching Chair (Adjunct/OSO/OYO)

• 2023-2024: Jennifer Kady Stanton, English Faculty
• 2022-2023: Stephanie West, Reading Faculty
• 2020-2021: Elizabeth Martinez, AJS Faculty
• 2018-2019: Julie Garner, Education Faculty

Developmental Education Endowed Teaching Award

• 2024-2025: Math
• 2023-2024: English
• 2022-2023: Math
• 2021-2022: English and Reading
• 2019-2020: English
• 2018-2019: Math 
• 2017-2018: Math 

Conditions of Award

Award amounts and availability may vary annually based on the balance and distribution of the endowment fund.

Recipients forfeit their stipends if…

• The award recipient moves from an instructional position to an administrative position during the term of the award.
• The faculty member leaves the college.