Rebecca Schroeder is one of two UTSA faculty members selected to receive the 2024 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award from the UT System Board of Regents.
OCTOBER 29, 2024 — UTSA faculty members Matthias Hofferberth and Rebecca Schroeder have been selected to receive the 2024 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award from The University of Texas System Board of Regents.
The award is the UT System’s highest teaching honor and recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching, innovation and creativity in the classroom and commitment to their students.
“Dr. Hofferberth and Dr. Schroeder exemplify the highest standards of teaching excellence. Their commitment to student success and their passion for education are evident in all that they do,” said Heather Shipley, UTSA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their remarkable contributions to our students and the UTSA community make this recognition truly well-deserved.”
Hofferberth and Schroeder are among a dozen faculty from across the UT System’s academic and health institutions to be selected for the annual award. Each awardee will receive a certificate, a medallion and a $25,000 monetary prize.
Matthias Hofferberth (right) teaches undergraduate, graduate and study abroad courses in world politics, international relations and global governance.
Matthias HofferberthHofferberth, a professor in the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography, joined UTSA in 2013. He teaches undergraduate, graduate and study abroad courses in world politics, international relations and global governance. His student-centered teaching approach is to create hands-on learning experiences that motivate and empower his students to explore new ideas.
“At the core of my teaching philosophy lies, quite simply, the individual student and their potential,” Hofferberth said. “Knowing that each student is unique, it is important for me to create learning communities that are engaging and challenging but also inclusive and equitable to foster deep learning, critical thinking and belonging in all of my classes.”
Hofferberth also serves as program coordinator for the M.A. in Global Affairs and as the faculty advisor for the UTSA Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society and the UTSA Model United Nations Society. As the Model UN advisor, Hofferberth provides fundamental experiential learning opportunities for his students at events like the annual Alamo Model UN conference, where they are introduced to real-world issues and challenges while developing skills like critical thinking, diplomacy and negotiation.
He has earned several awards recognizing his commitment in and out of the classroom, including the Richard S. Howe Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching (2018), the UTSA President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization (2019) and the UTSA Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (2022).
Rebecca SchroederSchroeder joined the UTSA faculty in 2018. She is a professor of instruction and associate dean for the UTSA University College and a core faculty member in the UTSA School of Data Science.
She has played an integral role in the development and growth of the University College’s innovative academic programs, which serve student interests and reflect evolving workforce trends.
Schroeder promotes active engagement and critical analysis of course material in the classroom while helping students cultivate their communication skills, strengthen their leadership abilities and engage in self-exploration.
Inspired by a professor she had as an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University, Schroeder believes strongly in the importance of blending academic knowledge with tangible, real-world skills. Her teaching philosophy also emphasizes connecting with students on an individual level.
“I firmly believe in cultivating meaningful relationships with my students and providing them with an educational journey personalized to their needs,” Schroeder said. “By prioritizing personalized learning experiences, I hope to equip students with tools for academic and professional success, and to empower them to thrive in their academic pursuits and beyond.”
Schroeder’s past honors include the UTSA President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching (2022) and induction as an honorary member to the National Academy of Inventors (2024). She was also a 2021-2022 UTSA Next-Gen Faculty Leadership Fellow and a 2023-2024 Texas Academic Leadership Academy Fellow.
Rebecca Schroeder has played an integral role in the development and growth of the University College’s innovative academic programs, which serve student interests and reflect evolving workforce trends.
The UT System Board of Regents established its Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008 to recognize exceptional educators across the UT System each year. Students, peer faculty and external reviewers evaluate each nominee to assess their teaching performance, classroom expertise, curricula quality, course development and student learning outcomes.
Hofferberth and Schroeder join over 50 UTSA faculty who have won the award in previous years, highlighting the university’s commitment to creating a strong faculty community of accomplished teachers, researchers and scholars.
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