Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) announced the top 15 nominees and Stephanie Danker as the winner of the 2026 Outstanding Professor Award. 

The award, managed by ASG, provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to recognize a faculty member who has had an exceptional impact on their Miami experience. It is designed to honor the hard work, dedication, and commitment displayed by Miami’s exemplary educators, according to ASG. 

The top 15 nominees were recognized this year instead of the top 10,  due to the high number of applications, according to Kirsten Osteboe ’26, student body vice president who majored in Diplomacy and Global Politics. They were honored at a banquet last month.

Then (2021) and now (2026) : Danker and Obradovich recreate a pose from when they first met during Arts + Design Day

Stephanie Danker’s “dedication to Art Education, her students, and relationship building is unwavering, and this philosophy permeates through everything she does, both in and out of the classroom,” said one of her nominators, Isabella (Isa) Obradovich ’26, an Honors College student who majored in Art Education. Obradovich met Danker when she was a high school senior touring Miami during  Arts + Design Day. 

“Dr. Danker’s passion for arts integration and making connections were forefronted in every class. She has done so much to enrich my Miami experience even beyond what I'm able to include here. My peers and I developed deeper, meaningful connections amongst our varied interests within the field of art education thanks to her leadership, support, and encouragement.

“She always puts her students first, and encourages us to be the best we can be in everything we do. This is especially visible when we are meeting her friends and colleagues on campus and at conferences; she always introduces us to them and celebrates our accomplishments while doing so. She is the reason why I have made so many connections, found genuine enjoyment in my study of art education, and am empowered to eventually pursue a PhD in the field, myself. 

I am a better student, educator, and person because I have the privilege of learning from Dr. Danker. Without a doubt, Dr. Stephanie Danker has been one of the most influential positive role models and mentors in my life.”

Pictured at top: Obradovich received Miami's 2026 President’s Distinguished Student Scholar Award and is the recipient of the 2025 National Preservice Art Educator of the Year Award, among other honors. Ryan Jeansonne ’26, Art Education major and Art Therapy co-major, was also Secretary of Safety and Transportation for ASG. Jeansonne is a recipient of Miami's 2026 President’s Distinguished Service Award.

Outstanding Professor Laureates 

The top 14 other nominees and quotes from their student nominators:

Matthew Arbuckle,  professor of Political Science: “Any student wanting to go into public service knows who Dr. Arbuckle is and only has positive things to say about him. I have been to three Alternative Spring Break Advocacy and Leadership Conferences with the GRN (Government Relations Network), and on every single one of them, multiple alumni in D.C. and Columbus mention his name when giving advice to current students. That recognition demonstrates the long lasting impact he has made on Miami students for years before my time and that I’m sure will continue for years after my time. On a more personal note, I have also enjoyed getting to know Dr. Arbuckle during my time at Miami. This has been the first semester that I haven’t been taking one of his classes or UAing for him, but we still find 30 minutes every week for me to stop by his office and just catch up.”

Clayton Cooper, assistant professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering: “Dr. Cooper has been one of the most, if not the most, helpful and supportive professors in my undergraduate career. He is always more than willing to help in any way he can when it comes to understanding manufacturing processes and improving as an engineer. As one of few women in engineering, I appreciate how supportive and understanding Dr. Cooper is. He makes an effort in not only helping us reach our goal but making sure that we are actually learning and understanding in the process.” 

Mohamed (Mo) Farrag, visiting assistant professor of Information Systems and Analytics: “Professor Farrag is one of the few professors who genuinely makes me excited to come to class. His teaching style motivates me to work hard, stay engaged, and build real relationships, rather than just show up for a grade. He creates an environment where students feel comfortable participating, asking questions, and pushing themselves to improve.”

Mila Ganeva, chair and professor of German, Russian, Asian, and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: “Perhaps most importantly, she ensures that my experience is fun and enriching, both intellectually and personally. She is an extremely attentive and caring teacher, who will read through every line of something you’ve written and offer constructive feedback. What I find perhaps most admirable about Dr. Ganeva is how much she cares about her students, even when she is swamped with other responsibilities, such as being a department chair.”

Ashley Goos, assistant teaching professor of Theatre and director of Dance: “Ashley creates a space for students to explore movement like none I had ever experienced. She has mastered the balance of pushing students out of their comfort zone toward growth while still providing support and validation of their progress. I have taken at least one class with Ashley almost every semester, and this element of her classes remained constant throughout.”

Chelsea Green, associate clinical professor of Finance and Business Legal Studies: “I felt behind and underprepared for this class, but as it started, I found that I enjoyed it immensely and an understanding of the concepts came easy to me thanks to Professor Green's exceptional teaching style and skills. As I learned about the different ownership models and legal structure of business, as well as the laws regulating the business world, it was the first time I felt like I understood business and its intricacies more. After finding success in a class I had expected to struggle in, I went out on a limb and asked Professor Green if she needed any Undergraduate Assistants for the next year. I had never done anything like that before and was thrilled to be working in the position the following semester.”

Mark Lacker, John W. Altman Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and assistant clinical lecturer of Entrepreneurship: “He often reminds us that our education is our own journey. He is there to guide us, challenge our thinking, and support us, but he wants students to take ownership of their learning and think about how they want to grow. Mark’s impact also reaches beyond academics through his leadership with the Altman Institute and the internship experiences he helps coordinate. He actively encourages students to pursue opportunities that will help them grow and prepares them for what comes after college. Because of the way he teaches, mentors, and supports students, Mark has made a lasting impact on my education and the way I think about my future. Professors like him are a big part of what makes the Miami community special.”

Xi Liu professor of Finance: “Selfless, empowering, and intellectually brilliant. These words encapsulated Dr. Liu. Dr. Liu is the most humble and least self-centered professor I've met. Without prompting, he will reach out to us with opportunities/ways he can help us reach our academic and professional goals. TOP professor and even more top human.”

Jacob Matig, associate teaching professor of Marketing: “Dr. Matig always made classes a positive yet professional experience and something I looked forward to. Through fun attendance questions, birthday shout-outs, and personal greetings/conversations every time we walked into class, it was always a positive environment and really showed how much he cared to learn about and support his students. Throughout both classes, the feedback we got on every assignment, whether it was a quick homework or a major project, was always incredibly in depth and personalized. It showed me how much he wanted his students to succeed and continually grow and learn throughout his class.”

Peter Nguyen, assistant professor of Marketing: “Dr. Nguyen has been one of the most engaged professors I have had at Miami. His passion for the material was clear, and he genuinely wanted his students to learn and succeed. His lectures were interactive, and he frequently asked questions at the end of class to check our understanding and encourage discussion. The assignments were detailed and thoughtfully designed, pushing us to apply the analytical skills we were learning rather than simply memorizing concepts. One of my favorite parts of his course was how he taught us to approach artificial intelligence. Dr. Nguyen sees AI as an exciting and valuable tool, and he wanted us to understand how to use it effectively. His class, “Analytical Research and Reasoning for Marketers,” aligns directly with the type of work I hope to pursue in my career and made me excited about future opportunities.”

Rod Northcutt, associate professor of Studio Art: “Though primarily a CAS Psychology major, I made the decision to pick up a Studio Art Minor the very first time I was walked through the studio by my professor for a different class. I am not being dramatic when I say this was a pivotal moment in my larger college experience and — likely — my life. After my several semesters with Rod, I would describe myself as an ‘artist’ and a ‘sculptor’ the way others describe themselves as “care givers” or “educators” — labels that I believe speak more to a sense of identity than to just a degree or a job. I believe Rod is an artist and an educator through to his center — which makes his role as a professor only the beginning. He demonstrates a relentless care and consideration for his job and students that I believe could only be achieved if it’s just who you are. I will carry forward from his class concrete skills and lessons about observation, art making, and consideration of the audience. But, through his ‘exceptional impact,’ I feel I have also received lessons on perspective-taking, sensitivity to others, the value of exposure and investigation and collaboration. These discussions of being a human and a friend are what I would select as the most valuable, “got-my-money’s-worth” take-aways of my college career by far.”

Ryan Steel, assistant professor of Sociology and Gerontology: “Dr. Steel has been an inspiration and role model in the Miami community. From providing an exciting, enriching and interesting classroom environment, giving the most interesting and well thought-out lectures I’ve heard, caring for each and every one of his students and expressing his commitment to the Miami community, Dr. Steel has embodied Love and Honor. My Miami experience would not have been the same without his continuous encouragement and embodiment of the values Miami upholds. He has had an incredibly positive impact on my college career and the rest of my life.”

Todd Stuart, associate teaching professor of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship and director of the Institute for Innovation in Arts and Design: “Todd Stuart is an exemplary professor, mentor, and academic advisor to every student he encounters. Not only did he help build the AMAE program from the ground up, the very major that I proudly call home, but he continues to evolve it through new courses, expanded curriculum, interdisciplinary collaboration, and meaningful professional opportunities for students.”

Anne Whitesell, associate professor of Political Science: “Dr. Whitesell is the epitome of why I chose a school like Miami. When applying to college, I knew that closely connecting with my professors was at the top of my priority list. After taking Dr. Whitesell’s Policy Evaluation (POL 366) course in fall 2023, it was clear that I made the right decision. My connection with Dr. Whitesell spans far beyond POL 366, though this class was one of the most interesting and useful I’ve taken at Miami, allowing me to create deliverables for job application writing samples and sparking my interest in policy research. After the semester ended, I approached Dr. Whitesell with an interest in joining her research team, as I knew this was a connection I did not want to lose. She was quick to have me join, and even more eager to teach me about undergraduate research.”