Trulaske teachers earn their Tiger stripes in the classroom

The foundation for student excellence starts with quality instruction. The University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business is proud to have numerous award-winning teaching faculty members on its staff.

“The expertise and commitment to student success demonstrated by our faculty is unparalleled,” said Balaji Rajagopalan, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Dean of the Trulaske College of Business. “They exhibit an unwavering dedication to educating, inspiring and empowering future business leaders.”

2024 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

Chris Prestigiacomo, an associate teaching professor in Trulaske’s School of Accountancy, received the University of Missouri’s William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence in 2024. This prestigious award, which honors outstanding teachers at Mizzou, comes with a $15,000 stipend.

2025 Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award

The Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award recognizes junior faculty for superior teaching and advising on the Mizzou campus. Matteo Binfarè, an assistant professor of finance in the Trulaske College of Business, was a recipient of the 2025 award.

2025 School of Accountancy Advisory Board Teaching Excellence Award

Jeffery Piao, Hoyoun Kyung and Bruce Runyan are all recipients of the School of Accountancy Advisory Board’s Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes quality teaching based on course content, student feedback, peer teaching reviews, and teaching contributions in the School of Accountancy. Piao, who received the award in 2025, and Kyung, who won the award in 2024, are both assistant professors of accountancy. Runyan, who also won the award in 2024, is an associate teaching professor.

2023 Raymond and Mary Ann O’Brien Excellence in Teaching Award 

Kari Gingrich, an associate teaching professor in accountancy, was honored with the 2023 Raymond and Mary Ann O’Brien Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes excellence in teaching within the college.

2024 International Program Excellence Award presented by NASBITE

Staff in Trulaske’s International Trade Center, including Jackie Rasmussen, director and assistant teaching professor of management, and Krista Hinrichs, ITC program manager, were recognized with the International Program Excellence Award, which recognizes outstanding and innovative developments in the areas of international education, counseling, training, trade promotion and research. The award is presented by NASBITE International, which represents all sectors of international trade around the world.  

O’Brien Teaching Award

This annual award is presented based on a faculty vote on one nominee from each department. Recent award winners include Elise (Kathryn) Bartley (Accountancy), who won the award for the 2024/25 academic year, and Brady Hodges (Marketing), who won the award for the 2023/24 academic year.

Shelter Insurance Company Teaching Excellence Award

Each year, Trulaske’s Marketing Department recognizes one deserving member of the teaching faculty with the Shelter Insurance Company Teaching Excellence Award. Recent recipients have included Courtney Cothren, an associate teaching professor in the department, who won the award in 2025; Brady Hodges, an assistant professor in the department, who won the award in 2024; and Zhiling (Julien) Bei, an assistant professor in the department, who won the award in 2023.

Rogers Award

The Rogers Teaching Excellence Award recognizes teaching excellence in the Trulaske College of Business. Recent recipients include:

Innovation: Scott Christianson (Management, 24/25 academic year); Joel Poor (Marketing, 23/24 academic year); Kari Gingrich (Accountancy, 22/23 academic year)      

Mentorship: Frederick Bereskin (Finance, 24/25 academic year); Daryl Smith (Management, 23/24 academic year); Elise Bartley (Accountancy, 22/23 academic year)

Rigor: Melissa Griswold Irvine (Finance, 24/25 academic year); Kari Gingrich (Accountancy, 23/24 academic year); Matthew Glendening (Accountancy, 22/23 academic year)

Overall: Courtney Cothren (Marketing, 24/25 academic year); Melissa Griswold (Finance, 23/24 academic year); Scott Christianson (Management, 22/23 academic year)

Council on Teaching Excellence

The Council on Teaching Excellence Award is made possible through Trulaske College of Business budgetary funds allocated to the Council on Teaching Excellence. Recent recipients of the award include: 

Innovation: Jack Pelikan (Management, 24/25 academic year); Brady Hodges (Marketing, 23/24 academic year); Katie Essing (Marketing, 22/23 academic year)

Mentorship: Shannon Breske (Management, 24/25 academic year); Jeffery Piao (Accountancy, 23/24 academic year); Tonya Ford (Management, 22/23 academic year)

Rigor: George Brand (Management, 24/25 academic year); Kateryna Holland (Finance, 23/24 academic year); Matteo Binfarè (Finance, 22/23 academic year)

Overall: Katie Essing (Marketing, 24/25 academic year); George Brand (Management, 23/24 academic year); Shannon Breske (Management, 22/23 academic year)

Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.