We are delighted to announce that Senior Lecturer Rebecca Sears from the John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Award for Excellence in Teaching at the College and University Level by the Society for Classical Studies (SCS).
A Dynamic and Imaginative Educator
Rebecca Sears is celebrated for creating an electrifying classroom atmosphere—one filled with enthusiasm, engagement, humor, and deep reflection. She has taught seventeen different courses, many of which she has either redesigned or developed from scratch. Her courses span Latin composition, Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Music, and beyond.
A standout student reflection captures her impact:
“Every class … was carefully structured to cultivate both precision and imagination.”
Innovative and Varied Assessments
Sears is known for utilizing a wide range of creative assessment methods. Examples include:
- Asking students in a Latin elegy class to analyze tropes in a favorite love song—uniting personal experience with ancient texts.
- Allowing students in a film class to design their own final exam—supporting skills needed beyond the classroom.
Her thoughtful pedagogical approach not only enhances students’ engagement with Classics but also develops transferable skills and deep connections between ancient and modern worlds.
Championing Inclusive Practices
Professor Sears is committed to accessibility and inclusion. One example: during exams in her film class, students with accommodations were allowed to Zoom into a quiet location for extra response time—an adjustment designed collaboratively with students themselves.
Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Civil Discourse
As part of Washington University’s Civil Society initiative, she received a Cultivating Disagreement Curricular Development Grant to create a role-play–based course on the Second Triumvirate. Her innovative approach encourages students to explore issues of power and government through historical context.
Students praise her ability to treat differences not as divisions, but as opportunities for deeper discussion.
Reflective and Adaptive Teaching
Sears models the reflective mindset she nurtures in her students. They regularly draft multiple project iterations and respond to feedback. She, in turn, continually updates her syllabi—notably by incorporating contemporary cultural stimuli like Gladiator II, developments in AI, and evolving student reading styles.
Student Success and Lasting Connections
Her approach has led to a steady increase in classics majors and minors. Many alumni maintain contact with her post-graduation. One former student, now an educator, shared:
“I still model my teaching on the kind of interpersonal compassion I got to experience and benefit from as her student.”
A Distinguished Recognition
The SCS Award for Excellence in Teaching at the College Level annually honors up to three educators in the U.S. and Canada who demonstrate outstanding instruction in the classical disciplines. Winners receive both a certificate and a $500 prize, along with $200 granted to their institution for educational resources.
Congratulations, Rebecca Sears! Your innovative, inclusive, and deeply reflective teaching stands as a model for Classics education. This prestigious award pays tribute to your dedication to student learning and your lasting influence on the field.
