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University of North Carolina honors Indian-origin faculty with teaching awards
Each of the winners receive a one-time stipend of $7,500 and a framed citation.
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Bhavana P - Tue, 04, Aug 2026
- 18:14 EDT
- 30
(L-R) Snehalkumar S. Gaikwad and Montek Singh / The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has named Indian-origin faculty members among the 26 recipients of its University Teaching Awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching.
Snehalkumar S. Gaikwad and Montek Singh were both honored with the Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, which recognizes five faculty who teach undergraduate students, particularly first- and second-year students at the university.
Gaikwad, a faculty member in the School of Data Science and Society, was honored for his innovative teaching, mentorship, and commitment to socially responsible artificial intelligence. He teaches Data 120: Ethics of AI and Societal Decision Making, which enrolls around 200 students, and Data 520: Research Methods in Socially Responsible AI.
Also read: IIT Kharagpur honors alumnus Vinod Gupta during Platinum Jubilee celebrations
According to a university statement, his courses encourage students to examine the societal impact of AI while developing computational methods that are not only accurate but also ethical, safe, and human-centered.
The award citation praised Gaikwad's dedication to mentoring students beyond the classroom, highlighting his ability to foster interdisciplinary thinking and support students' academic and career development.
The University also recognized Singh, a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science for making complex computer science concepts accessible and engaging for students, including those with little or no prior technical experience. Through hands-on, concept-driven courses, he encourages students to design sophisticated computing systems while building confidence, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills.
According to a university statement, Singh is celebrated for his ability to make complex systems understandable and inspiring, even for students with no prior technical background.
It further stated that Singh exemplifies the very best of undergraduate teaching at UNC and is a “most deserving recipient” of the Tanner Award.
The Tanner Award is among UNC-Chapel Hill's highest recognitions for excellence in undergraduate teaching. The awards were created in 1952 with a bequest by Kenneth Spencer Tanner, class of 1911, and his sister, Sara Tanner Crawford, establishing an endowment fund in memory of their parents, Lola Spencer and Simpson Bobo Tanner. The award was established to recognize excellence in inspirational and personal teaching of undergraduate students, particularly first- and second-year students.
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