ARC Excellence Award

The ARC Excellence Award recognizes instructional staff members who demonstrate exemplary service to ARC students and staff. These instructors go above and beyond what is required to make courses accessible, maintain professionalism while interacting with ARC students and ARC staff, exercise sensitivity to a diverse student population, integrate or apply universal design principles into instruction or service delivery, and more.

We invite you to take a look at the names of past awardees and to consider nominating one of your own instructors. We would love to honor their dedication to their work and their commitment to their students.

Nominations for the 2025-2026 are now open!

Deadline to submit your nomination, as well as time and place for our Spring 2026 celebration, to be announced soon!

2025 ARC Excellence Award Recipients

• Jamie Bertsch, Peck School of the Arts: “Professor Bertsch recognized my physical limitations and took proactive steps to ensure I had the resources and accommodations necessary to participate fully alongside my peers.”
• Alecia Corbett, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare: “Professor Corbett ensured my accessibility needs were met from the start of the semester, collaborated with my ARC liaison during a medical emergency, and gave me the time to heal and return as ready.”
• Dr. Lindsay Hieber, College of Letters & Science: “The accommodations and requirements Dr. Hieber took time to implement into my plan align with the severity of my symptoms, episodes, and my academic needs that all stem from [my] neurological disorder.”
• Hanjoo Lee, College of Letters & Science: “He made sure I knew that we were partners in my learning, and he wanted to do everything he could to help me succeed in his class (as he had full faith that I could).”
• Eric Lohman, College of Letters & Science: “Dr. Lohman’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in education sets a remarkable standard for fostering an equitable learning environment.”
• Aaron Mandell, Lubar School of Business: “Dr. Mandell fosters an inclusive learning environment for all without making any students feel singled out or different. . . . I felt seen and respected.”
• Sarah McDonald, College of Health Professions & Sciences: “She’s willing to adapt week-to-week, showing resiliency when her plan A doesn’t work.”
• Julianna Miller, College of Letters & Science: “Julianna recognizes that education is not just about meeting deadlines but about fostering genuine understanding, especially for students facing unique challenges.”
• Dr. Yaron Zoller, Lubar School of Business: “While waiting for approval for ARC Dr. Zoller allowed special accommodations as I worked with my physician and ARC to have my disability noted (recognized). He never made me feel embarrassed about requesting additional support.”

Past Award Recipients