Worcester State University has announced the recipients of the 2026 George I. Alden Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing two faculty members whose innovative, student-centered approaches exemplify excellence in the classroom.
This year’s honorees are Anne Armstrong, assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Environment & Physics as the pre-tenure recipient, and Champika K. Soysa, professor in the Department of Psychology as the tenured recipient.
The awards, among the university’s highest honors for teaching, celebrate faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student learning, engagement, and success. Armstrong and Soysa were chosen from a competitive pool of nominees put forward earlier this winter by students, alumni, and faculty.
Both recipients were formally recognized at the university’s Academic Achievement Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 23rd and will be again during commencement exercises in May. As part of the honor, they will also deliver the 2027 Alden Lecture.
For Armstrong, the recognition affirms a teaching philosophy rooted in connection, creativity, and care.
“I work really hard on my courses and try to make sure that I’m preparing engaging, informative, and community-based classes,” Armstrong said. “It felt good to have that recognized and valued.”
In her introductory environmental science courses, Armstrong blends data literacy with hands-on, creative expression. This year, she introduced “Data Days,” collaborative sessions in which students analyze real-world datasets—ranging from fish biodiversity research conducted by Worcester State students to cyanobacteria monitoring data from local lakes—and translate their findings into zines.
The assignment, she said, allows students to build analytical skills while engaging in a more personal and creative process.
“We’re doing data literacy work, but the write-up and the critical thinking happens in an analog way,” Armstrong said. “It builds in opportunities for creativity and choice, and they’re really fun to read.”
Armstrong describes her approach as a “whole student” philosophy—one that recognizes the many responsibilities Worcester State students balance beyond the classroom.
“I think a lot about students here having rich lives off campus where they’re caretakers and workers,” she said. “My classes are built around acknowledging all of the work that they do and recognizing them as whole people, not just students.”
Soysa, a longtime faculty member in psychology, called the honor “the award of my life,” reflecting a career dedicated not only to teaching, but to sustained engagement with students.
“It’s not just that I have dedicated my career to teaching and learning—I feel like it’s a dedication of my life,” Soysa said. “It’s the steady work of being in class, engaging with students, that has kept me motivated and excited through all these years.”
In recent years, Soysa has reimagined her course structure to better support student learning, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her blended model combines online lectures and low-stakes practice opportunities with in-person, discussion-based activities designed to build confidence and encourage intellectual risk-taking.
Central to her approach is the idea of creating both a “learning zone,” where students can experiment and make mistakes, and a “performance zone,” where they demonstrate mastery.
“Students often feel they have to be right right away,” Soysa said. “I try to create spaces where they can try out ideas, work through them with peers, and build confidence before being evaluated.”
Through small-group discussions, real-world examples, and iterative assignments, Soysa encourages students to engage deeply with course material while developing the confidence to contribute their perspectives.
“You have to meet students where they are,” she said.
Together, Armstrong and Soysa represent the breadth and depth of teaching excellence at Worcester State, combining innovation, empathy, and a shared commitment to student success.