The Department of English would like to congratulate fifth-year PhD candidate Adrian Salgado for being awarded a 2025-2026 Graduate Associate Teaching Award.  

The Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA) is The Ohio State University’s highest recognition of the exceptional teaching provided by graduate students serving as Graduate Teaching Associates. Salgado is one of only 21 Ohio State graduate students to receive the award this academic year. 

GATA recipients must first be nominated by any Ohio State student, faculty, or staff member. Each eligible nominee is then asked to submit an application packet that includes a teaching statement, letters of recommendation, and more. Winners receive a one-time $2,000 award and are honored at the annual Graduate School Awards Ceremony. 

Salgado expresses gratitude for being selected as an awardee, having found the application process to be incredibly valuable. “Regardless of the outcome, I knew the application process would be valuable because it would encourage me to think more deliberately about my classroom practices,” Salgado explained. Rather than applying to win, he saw it as an opportunity to sharpen his teaching philosophy. 

“Having been a student myself not long ago, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, I remain aware of the pressures, responsibilities, and uncertainties students often face in the classroom,” said Salgado. “This perspective shapes my dedication to creating a learning environment that is rigorous, supportive, and responsive to students’ needs.” 

Salgado wishes to express his gratitude to Scott DeWitt, Ashleigh Hardin, Beverly Moss, Christa Teston and Elizabeth Hewitt “for the many opportunities they've provided for me to grow as a teacher.” 

Congratulations to Adrian Salgado for this impressive achievement!