2025 Graduate Teaching Award Presented to Dr. Courtney Powers
February 20, 2025
Written by Kari Borne | Photos by Craig Schreiner
Dr. Courtney Powers has been selected for the 2025 Graduate Teaching Award. Powers is an assistant professor of corporate communication in the Department of Communication at UW-Whitewater. Powers was enthusiastically selected as the nominee from the College of Arts and Communication with support from students, colleagues and leaders.
At the core of Powers’ graduate teaching philosophy is designing engaging and relevant curriculum to inspire learning and empower graduate students to succeed in their field. “I teach because I am passionate about helping students build connections—both with course material and with their professional aspirations,” Powers says. Her ultimate goal as an educator is to empower students with the confidence and skills to pursue their goals. “I take pride in maintaining relationships with alumni, providing mentorship, interview coaching, and professional guidance long after they leave my courses,” Powers says. “This ongoing connection is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”
Powers’ students recognize her for her empathy for students and dedication to their success. Olivia Jade Kelly, a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Communication program, praised Powers for having an extraordinary impact on students, both academically and personally. “From my very first class with Dr. Powers, it was clear that she was not just an educator but also a mentor, motivator, and an unwavering advocate for student success,” Kelly says. She notes that what sets Powers apart is her unique ability to make every student feel seen and valued."
Colleagues also identify Powers as an innovative educator who focuses on meaningful student interactions. Amal Ibrahim, associate professor of communication, recognizes Powers deep commitment to fostering an environment of growth and achievement for communication professionals at the graduate level. “Her consistent feedback, individualized attention through one-on-one meetings, and responsiveness to student feedback ensure that every student feels supported and valued throughout the course,” Ibrahim says. Corey Davis, professor of communication and graduate program coordinator, acknowledges Powers’ contributions to the curricular development and revision to the graduate program. “She is responsive to formal and informal student feedback and is always working to revise the corporate communication curriculum to keep it current with contemporary workplace issues and contemporary communication technology,” Davis says.
Powers earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2023. Prior to joining the faculty at UW-Whitewater in 2022, Powers held various teaching positions at UW-Parkside, UT-Austin, and Marquette University. She was a doctoral fellow at the University of Texas’s Center for Health Communication, where she helped develop curriculum for medical student to effectively communicate with patients about mental health.
First awarded in 2019 to Balaji Sankaranarayanan (Information Technology Supply Chain Management), the School of Graduate Studies presents the Graduate Teaching Award to an exceptional member of the graduate faculty who demonstrates innovative teaching approaches and real-life problem-solving techniques. Past recipients also include Carrie Merino (Counselor Education), Cody Marie Busch (Communication Sciences and Disorders), Amal Ibrahim (Communication), Soroush Aslani (Management) and Gina Marten (Counselor Education).
