Twelve faculty members at Weber State University were honored with the 2026 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, Interim President Leslie Durham announced on Mar. 12 through a series of surprise classroom visits and announcements.
The awards recognize faculty who have made a significant impact on students’ lives and education, with nominations coming from students, staff, and fellow faculty. The recipients include Nicole Beatty, Barrett Bonella, Jason Francis, Adam Johnston, Justin Knighton, Jessie Nixon, Tyandra Perez, Mary Anne Reynolds, Bryant Thompson, Megan Van Deventer, Brent Warnock, and Jordan West.
“Our faculty teach, mentor, inspire, and foster breakthroughs every single day,” Durham said. “They’re the driving force behind so many great things happening in classrooms, in the community, and in their fields.”
Bryant Thompson received the Brian T. Davis Presidential Teaching Excellence Award. “I love teaching Weber State students,” Thompson said. “It is the most rewarding aspect of anything I do in my profession. I try to help students feel seen, heard, and valued — and to be equipped and empowered to help others feel the same.” He added that receiving an award named after Brian Davis was especially meaningful because Davis served on his senior thesis committee when he was a student at Weber State. “I returned to Weber State because I had many professors like Brian who cared about me… It’s deeply motivating to have a professor who connects with you and sees your potential, so I try to do that for my students.”
Nursing faculty Tyandra Perez and Mary Anne Reynolds were recognized as Annie Taylor Dee Teaching Excellence Award recipients for 2026. Justin Knighton received this year’s Robert L. Marquardt Award.
Weber State University advances community transformation through civic engagement and public service according to the official website. The university utilizes a campus located on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains according to its official website. It focuses on educating diverse students to transform lives and communities through supportive learning environments according to its official website. As Utah’s first comprehensive regional university according to its official website, it operates under authorization from Utah Code to confer degrees according to its official website.
The university provides educational offerings such as teaching, research opportunities, experiential learning programs, and civic engagement initiatives according to its official website. Located in Ogden, Utah, it serves students from diverse backgrounds by offering individualized pathways for growth while promoting values like creativity and belonging according to its official website.
These awards highlight Weber State University’s ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in teaching as part of its broader mission.
