The Department of English is excited to congratulate PhD student Elise Robbins, who was awarded a 2023-24 Graduate Associate Teaching Award! Robbins is one of only 20 awardees among all graduate teaching associates at Ohio State. 

The GATA is the highest award given for teaching by a graduate student; the Graduate School describes it as "the premier award for celebrating excellence in teaching at the graduate level." Faculty, staff and students make anonymous nominations, and each nominee is asked to provide an application packet for review by a committee formed of faculty on the Graduate School's Award Committee, representatives of the Council of Graduate Students and previous GATA winners. 

Robbins expressed her excitement at winning the GATA, saying "Teaching has always been the part of grad school that has given me the greatest sense of excitement and purpose, so this award is an incredible honor and affirmation for me. It was very rewarding to reflect on my growth as an instructor over the past 5 years and realize that the work I've put into my teaching has been seen." 

Not only is Robbins honored to be recognized, but she also valued the application process itself. She says, "A lot of times, as I prepare my courses, it feels like I'm just throwing things together. (I think we all feel like that.) But writing my teaching philosophy helped me put words to my process." She looks forward to carrying the momentum of the GATA into the remainder of her career at Ohio State, and into the career search that will follow: "I think receiving this award will help me approach teaching with greater confidence and also reinforce a mindset of continuous reflection, self awareness, and improvement. That's something I teach my students, but it absolutely applies to teachers as well."

Congratulations to Elise Robbins on this achievement!