Dr. Sallie McHugh has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Teaching Excellence at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

McHugh is an associate professor in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She recently completed her 16th year in education, starting as a middle school agriculture teacher. She also taught at the high school level before joining ABAC, where she has taught for six years.

“I tell my students in our Ag Ed program that teaching is a calling, and your heart has to be in it 100 percent,” McHugh said. “I am blessed to have been called to the profession of teaching and to be at ABAC.

“Receiving the Donaldson Teaching Award is an honor and I cherished listening to the remarks from my students and peers,” she added. “Great students make great teachers. I’m thankful for this recognition and for the support of everyone.”

Describing her as a model teacher with a student-first focus, one of the nominations stated that “student evaluations, student comments, and peer evaluations all reflect that she teaches for understanding, can set the pace, and is a reflective practitioner of her craft. Spending time in her classroom, it does not take one long to realize her love of teaching and her love for learning.”

One student’s letter of support said, “While completing different learning activities in her class, it is gratifying to know that she does not give her students busy work, but rather uses each activity as a stepping stone to create the bigger picture in the end.”

Another student asserts, “She goes beyond her duties as a professor and not only mentors her students, but her peers as well. Her eagerness to not only teach, but also learn from anyone is a testament to her passion and dedication to quality education.”

McHugh also garnered support from her fellow instructors, citing her dedication to providing real-world experiences to her students as one of the biggest reasons for her success.

“Her ability to engage with students and faculty is unparalleled,” said the letter from one of her peers. “She consistently goes out of her way to serve others by being a leader in the classroom – both among faculty and her students.”

Recent notable accomplishments include a Teacher of Teachers Bronze Award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators, selection as an ABAC Pacesetter, and an Educator Award from the North American Colleges of Teachers of Agriculture.

First awarded in 1965, the purpose of the award is to publicly recognize superior instruction and exemplary service to the college by honoring one faculty member each year, as chosen by a special representative committee of faculty and students.

The recipient is honored with a recognition plaque and a monetary award. To be eligible for consideration for the Donaldson Teaching Excellence Award, a faculty member must be a full-time instructor with five or more years of continuous service to the college.