Congratulating the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award Winners : Isenberg School of Management : UMass Amherst

I'm delighted to announce the names of the faculty members who we’ve recognized at the May 8, 2026, Isenberg All-School meeting for making especially notable contributions to the school over the past academic year through their research and teaching. It's been a wonderful year for Isenberg, and it would not be possible without the contributions of these community members.

I also want to thank everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for our faculty this year, with a special thanks to the members of the award selection committees.

Please join me in congratulating this year's winners!

Best wishes,

Dean Massey

Outstanding Research Award

Christopher Agoglia, PhD, the Richard Simpson Endowed Professor, Accounting
Ajhanai Keaton, PhD, Assistant Professor, Sport Management

Research Excellence Award

Elaine Wang, PhD, the James P. O’Connell Endowed Professor, Accounting
Feng Qiu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Management
Andrew Kitto, PhD, Assistant Professor, Accounting

Outstanding PhD Student Research Award

Jiahui Wang, Doctoral Candidate, Hospitality and Tourism Management

Outstanding PhD Student Teaching Award

Dana Hassani, Doctoral Candidate, Operations and Information Management

University Distinguished Teaching Award

The Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA) honors exemplary teaching at UMass Amherst. It is the only student-initiated, campuswide award for exemplary teaching. DTA recipients receive a monetary prize, and their names are inscribed on the DTA memorial wall in the Integrative Learning Center.

Jenafer Andrén-Kazunas, Chef-Professor and Senior Lecturer, Hospitality Tourism Management

“Jenafer is truly one of the most passionate and positive professors I have had during my time in Isenberg,” said the student who nominated her. “She teaches the material with such strong enthusiasm that it becomes easy to engage, participate, and stay interested in the coursework. She gives students countless opportunities to try new things, collaborate, and build strong connections with classmates. Jenafer has made a significant impact on my learning experience at Isenberg.”

College Outstanding Teaching Award

These faculty members are recognized for the efficacy and creativity of their instruction, as well as the impact they have on students, their mastery of their subject and scholarship, and their engagement in activities that improve teaching.

Robert Feingold, Lecturer, Finance

“Rob Feingold is the best professor here in Isenberg. He made ‘Fixed Income’ (a class that could be boring) really interesting with his personal stories relating his time as a hedge fund manager and helped me understand complex things about bonds. I really stayed engaged in that class, and that is not something I can say about my other classes,” said a student in their nomination of Feingold.

Feng Qiu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Management

“Feng Qiu embodies what exceptional teaching should be. He brings kindness into every class, creating a space where students feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow. His deep knowledge of management is matched by his ability to make complex ideas feel practical and relevant, and he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure students truly understand the material,” said a student in their nomination of Qui. “Most importantly, he genuinely cares about his students. This does not stop at just their performance in class, but it also goes into their well-being, development, and success beyond it. His impact is felt far beyond the classroom, and he is truly deserving of this recognition.”

Teaching Excellence Award

Michele Burch, PhD, Associate Department Chair and Senior Lecturer, Operations and Information Management

“Michele Burch’s class is always the one I am looking to attend throughout my week, and her teaching style is extremely friendly and inviting to participate in. Michele Burch checks every box for criteria for the Isenberg Outstanding Teaching Award,” said a student in their nomination of Burch. “Although she teaches in the large lecture classrooms like Flavin Hall, she has a unique way of connecting with her students that makes them feel valued.”

Albert Assaf, PhD, Professor and Hadelman Family Faculty Fellow, Graduate Faculty Director, Hospitality and Tourism Management

“I was blown away by how dedicated Dr. Assaf was to provide the resources, review, and support to his students. … He is an extremely good professor who makes everything clear, explains everything, and makes the subject very fun to learn. … Albert Assaf is a dedicated educator deeply committed to his students’ success in statistics,” said students in their nominations of Assaf.

Teaching with Digital Technology

This honor is given to instructors who have used digital technology to improve teaching and learning.

Shirley Schmerling, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Operations and Information Management
Linda Peters, PhD, Affiliated Expert, Management
Jeff Robert, PhD, Lecturer, Finance
Eric Holmes, Senior Lecturer, Business Communications

Kennedy Teaching Fellows

This honor goes to faculty whose creative and effective use of educational technologies in course design and delivery have helped improve all types of courses, whether delivered face-to-face, online, or in a hybrid combination. During the fellowship, they are responsible for sharing best practices with the full faculty, to enhance the school’s instructional quality across departments, programs, and teaching levels.

Eric Holmes, Senior Lecturer, Business Communications
Randy Williams, PhD, Lecturer, Operations and Information Management
Matt Sherwood, PhD, Assistant Professor, Accounting
Oscar Lopez, PhD, Lecturer, Operations and Information Management

Practice and Pedagogy Award

This honor is given to non-tenure-track faculty who show merit in developing materials that advance the practice of business or pedagogy.

Lynda Schwartz, Professor of Practice, Director of Forensic Accounting and Data Analytics Curriculum, Accounting