Thank an Instructor

To celebrate great teaching at Baylor, we asked current students to "Thank an Instructor" with a short message of thanks. In addition to featuring some of these great instructors on our social media pages, selected student messages are listed below alphabetically by instructor name. 

Students wishing to thank an instructor and thereby nominate them to be featured may do so by completing this survey. 
Instructors wishing to recognize great teaching may nominate themselves or a colleague for the #FacultyFeatureFriday campaign by emailing us at atl@baylor.edu .

Spring 2026 "Wall of Thanks" 

Amy Achenbach, Graduate TOR, History

"Amy is the best! She is always such a great person to go to for advice, and she knows how to stay calm under pressure. Such a light wherever she goes!" - Taylor Sanders

Emmanuella Amoh, History

"You have made this class so interesting and I appreciate all the work you do for us!!" - Brianna Poirier

Matthew Lee Anderson, Honors College / Ethics and Theology

"Dr. Anderson has an infectious passion for the great texts that makes learning an absolute joy! During my time in his class, it's been so evident that he cares about investing in the lives of his students! I really appreciate Dr. Anderson's empathy, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm!" - Anonymous

Beth Allison Barr, History 

"Thanks to Dr. Barr for teaching her students that their voices matter!!" - Anonymous

Katie M. Binetti, Anthropology

"Dr. Binetti is a really great professor, and does awesomely in our Human Osteo Class. Thank you!" - Anonymous

Stephanie Boddie, Social Work

"I appreciate that she is always ready to share her wisdom and guide me on what to do. Her experience and knowledge (depth of knowledge) is amazing and surreal to witness. God bless you, Dr. Boddie." - Anonymous

David Bridge, Political Science

"Best professor and dare I say public speaker I have ever had. I genuinely looked forward to his lectures and his teaching spurred my own personal research and affirmed my choice to change my major to something I was so passionate about!" - Anonymous

Don Carpenter, Accounting

"You are so thoughtful and funny. Thank you for everything you do for the accounting students." - Caleb S. Brown

"Brings amazing energy and makes a constant effort to keep student engaged while keeping the class light while discussing hard topics." - Drew Perry

João Chaves, Religion

"His passion towards the class is truly inspiring and the way he interacts with us (his students) is amazing. Personally I have felt comfortable to talk about my religious beliefs and ask him advice of what I can do to become a better person. AKA if you all can give this man a raise." - Leslie Sanchez

Kelly Chittenton, Medical Humanities / English

"She was very willing to work with me for my accommodations and was a great source for guidance in my future career." - Anonymous

William Clark, Graduate TOR, Mathematics

"He is very good at making math interesting and I look forward to going to his class everyday despite it being an 8am." - Anonymous

Rafael Climent-Espino, Spanish and Portugese

"Muchas gracias por todo. Que Dios te lo multiplique." - Rodolfo Baez

Casie Cobos, Interdisciplinary Core

"She is absolutely smashing her first year at Baylor! She is patient, kind, and accommodating to each student. She has been very supportive of me and my aspirations. She gave me the push I needed to study abroad!" - Anonymous

Jill Cornish, French 

"Thank you for making learning a new language fun! you make this class so worth it!" - Anonymous

John Cunningham, Communications 

"JC was one of the first professors I had at Baylor and made the first impression to me of how kind and supportive Professors at Baylor can be. He has such a heart for dogs which makes me love dogs more and is more understanding than the word “understanding” itself. I love hearing his stories about literally anything. . . so lucky I get to know him not just as a student but as a friend." - Rayna Lee

Jesus Cruz, Graduate TOR, Mathematics

"He is such a great teacher, always willing to answer questions and meet with his students to help them. Engages in conversation and is always so positive!" - Anonymous

Ruthie Davis, Child and Family Studies

"Professor Davis has truly been such a blessing through the hard days and challenges. No matter how busy she is, she always finds the time to meet and talk about any questions or concerns you may have and is never one to make you feel like you are a burden. There has never been a day where she isn’t genuinely interested in what you have to say. It is my senior year and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her influence in my life. I am incredibly grateful and will miss her when I graduate!" - Anonymous

Jennifer Smyer Dickey, Social Work

"I appreciate your vast knowledge base and experience in social work. You like and appreciate our feedback and I am grateful for all that you have taught us and the opportunities that you have given us." - Anonymous

Charis Dietz, Journalism

"Thank you so much for being so funny and cool in class EVERY class and being supportive of everyone at the same time! You’re the best." - Elias Stafford

Derek Dodson, Religion

"Very nice guy wrote me a recommendation letter and was a joy to take his class." - Anonymous

Carrie Drew, Communication Sciences and Disorders

"Her class is so fun and engaging. She has the sweetest soul." - Anonymous

Shelli Ellis, Nursing

"This professor truly made me feel like I had a family here at Baylor and really made it priority to make sure that I was doing OK in a rough time of my life." - Zoey Rhoades

Patricia Escamilla, Spanish

"I appreciate this instructor for being such a light during my 1st semester! Thank you for being awesome! <3" - Anonymous

Maria Teresa Fernandez-Luna, Biology

"You've always been very supportive and uplifting of anything I do!" - Grayson Le

Luke Ferretter, English

"Dr. Ferretter inspired my imagination within my mind as he taught me to examine Literature from a unique perspective. He is also one of the few professors that I've had who has given me thoughtful and truly helpful feedback on my papers. His bright intellect is almost contagious as his passion for Literature spreads to each student, allowing them to wrestle with topics and iterate meaningful reflections. He is very encouraging and patient, and treats his students with respect, even in little ways such as referring to us as colleagues. Teachers and professors have the terrific power to forge or destroy a person vivacious intellect and creativity, and Dr. Ferretter forges his students rather than dampening their potential. Such a professor is truly a blessing and inspiration to all." - Ryan S. Jett

Amy Fleming, Music 

"Dr Fleming’s teaching style has really helped me to thoroughly understand the basics of music theory! I really appreciate how patient she is in class, and she does a great job keeping her students engaged and making sure that we are learning the subject matter well." - Iliana Trahan

Yoshiko Gaines, Japanese

"I think you are a great teacher as despite your classes being difficult, you do care and I think that passion is obvious to everyone in the class." - Anonymous 

Kevin J. Gardner, English

"I used to think I wasn’t a “English” person and was only a passion math and equations. Remembering the passion that Dr. Gardner had every day in teaching the class, despite circumstances inspired me to engage in the class much more than usual. After these years, I came to the realization that your mentors often shape your self belief in any topic, and I am grateful to have met a very kind, understanding, and engaging professor. I became much more interested in literature from around the world as a result of taking Dr. Gardner’s class." - Michael Okonkwo

Anthony Gaspar, History 

"This guy is hilarious and also gives way more info than we need so I actually end up learning a lot." - Josiah Webb

Karine Gil, Biology

"She always finds a way to make class entertaining and sentimental. I have this class early in the morning and I always look forward to it because it starts my day on a good note. Despite the moments where we read text about difficult topics I always find myself walking away learning something new." - Kylie

"Thank you so much for being such a great professor my freshman year! You’ve really helped to kindle my love for biology and for Baylor! I could not have asked for a better professor!" - Anonymous

Ian Grigsby, Mathematics

"Thanks for being so supportive & understanding & making calc 2 fun!" - Anonymous

Marty Harvill, Biology

"Dr. Harvel appreciates and cares for his students beyond the classroom, gives great advice and has the best stories." - Ali Maddox

"Dr. Harvill has been an amazing professor! I wasn’t enthralled with biology before I took his class, but his passion for the subject has made it so much more intriguing and exciting! I am so grateful for the ways he has helped me in my college journey so far!" - Andrea Sanker

Timothy Heckenlively, Classics

"Always open to questions and creates a captiviating learning environment. Very clear how educated he is." - Anonymous

Zen Hess, Graduate TOR, Religion

"Thank you for taking the time to answer questions about faith, and suggesting different churches to attend." - Kate Smith

Victor J. Hinojosa, Honors College / Political Science

"I truly appreciate the manner in which his class is structured. It truly gives me inspiration to continue my educational path I want to pursue." - Leslie Sanchez

Bruce E. Hodson, Chemistry and Biochemistry

"Dear Dr. Hodson, Thank you so much for being such an amazing professor! You make ochem so much more approachable. Thank you for all you do and all the time you dedicate caring for your students and for prioritizing our wellbeing. I am just so so grateful. Thank you for how much you support us and all you do for us. Thank you Dr. Hodson!" - Ananya Bharatragodi 

Julie A. Hoggarth, Anthropology 

"Hi Dr Hoggarth you are such a great professor and love how you are so kind in class and love teaching." - Arlette Hahn

Eva Hruska, Russian

"Goes above and beyond to make learning a new language enjoyable and fun!" - Anonymous

Juliana Kazemi, Graduate TOR, Philosophy

"Dear Professor Kazemi, You are such a wonderful teacher! I can tell that you put in a lot of time and effort in preparing for class and making the handouts! All spectacular teachers put effort into their classes. You are a teacher who puts effort into her classes! So, you are a spectacular teacher! I love that you care about this class and are always willing to help us better understand some of the more challenging concepts. Thanks for being a great teacher! :) " - Anonymous

N. Bradley Keele, Psychology and Neuroscience

"Thank you for making my first semester of college so fun! I looked forward to your class every week and it truly cemented my love for psychology and neuroscience. My biggest regret was not going to your office hours. Hopefully I get to take one of your classes again!" - Sofia Riquelme

"Amazing and such a great professor! Gave a great first impression of Baylor, and always so supportive!!!" - Anonymous

Yunsuk Koh, Health, Human Performance, and Recreation

"Thank you for your constant support teaching guidance and always making sure we are always on track. Wishing you the very best in all your endeavors." - Anonymous

Elizabeth Kwon, Public Health

"Dr. Kwon is genuinely one of the best professors I’ve had at Baylor. She’s always enthusiastic, encouraging, and you can tell she truly cares about her students. I’m so glad I got to take her classes!" - Anonymous

Paul E. Larson, Spanish 

"Thank you for being such an engaging and enthusiastic professor in World Cultures! Small group discussions are always entertaining, educational, and interesting, and is something I always look forward to. Thank you for all your jokes and ability to connect our World Cultures material with real life experiences and lessons, I have learned so much. You are an amazing professor!" - Anonymous

Jon Lawson, Biology

"Thank you so much for teaching me so much about a field I love! There is never a class where I don't end up smiling because of something out of pocket you said! XD Despite it being bio, you offer a calming & grounding presence in the middle of my days! You are amazing." - Kate Monterastelli

"I have never had a professor focus on applying what we learn. It has always been memorize and test. Dr. Lawson’s way of teaching is really challenging but after taking his class I feel like I am actually learning and that I will be able to use the knowledge and skills gained from this class for the rest of my life." - Anonymous

Chris Lopez, Biology

"I love that you always take the time to help us understand in class!" - Tanvi Dominic

"Thank you so much for teaching us biology!! You make everything so much easier to understand and I really enjoy the activities we do in class. This class is my favorite to go to every week. Again thank you!!" - Yati Hlaing 

"I really appreciate his evident passion for the subject and the approach he takes when interacting with students. He has a very welcoming and gentle spirit that I admire." - Fatima Sidibe

Amy B.Maddox, Statistical Science

"Dr. Maddox is a God sent, intentional individual. She goes above and beyond to make sure we understand the material and have adequate resources to do so. She also is intentional in making sure we are mentally okay. She prays over us and puts Bible verses in her announcements. Honestly I’ve had some really bad days but seeing those Bible verses, hearing her encouragement, and being prayed over by her has helped so much. She has such a sweet and bright spirit and I’m beyond thankful to have had her as an instructor. 'The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.' Deuteronomy 31:8 " - Anonymous

Walter "Sparky" Matthews, Medical Humanities 

"I am grateful and blessed to be able to have Dr. Matthews as more than just a professor, but as a guiding light for my journey in medicine, a sense of family, and a source of knowledge. He has been very present with all of his students and I can’t wait to take some of his classes in the future. Dr. Matthews is truly a legend!" - Andre Scott

Mark McGraw, Spanish

"Thank you for the best class I've taken @ Baylor!" - Malena Garcia

Andrew R. Meyer, Health, Human Performance, and Recreation

"Thank you for always pushing us to do our best and helping us to think through things thoroughly! I really enjoyed the encouragement to think critically about so many things and challenging us with different perspectives! You are such an amazing professor!" - Anonymous

"Dr. Meyer never fails to bring a smile to my face. He makes class super enjoyable and creates a positive environment each and everyday. Everyone deserves to have a professor like Dr. Meyer!" - Camryn Ciborowski 

Jonathan Miles, Biology

"He’s given me good advice and always brings a positive attitude whenever he lectures. His energy is definitively something that keeps me going to learn new things in class even though they might seem like difficult topics. His enthusiasm and passion for this course has made it exciting to learn and grow in this environment and I have him to thank for that! Before coming into class, it definitely felt intimidating, but I’ve grown to be successful and interested in the topic as a result of his encouragement even when I felt like second guessing myself! Thank you Dr. Miles, I appreciate your hard work and most importantly your passion for science - it’s keeping me forward! I will definitely miss having this course when it comes to an end." - Malika Yaya

Ann M. Mirabito, Marketing 

"Dr. Mirabito is the most intentional and understanding professor I have ever encountered. She was able to relate with us in our everyday, and genuinely listened to our feedback. She transformed my career perspective and always remained patient in all of my many questions. I know that I would not have the same confidence, nor knowledge of marketing, had I not had her as my professor. She was with me on my abroad semester and created a family out of the students who were there. She provided us the Baylor community experience, despite being in Europe. Dr. Mirabito is truly one in a million, and I know I am blessed to have had her as an instructor and now friend." - Joe Polster

Betty Montero, Graduate TOR, Mathematics

"Math before calculus was scary, but Professor Betty broke concepts down so well. I enjoyed calculus and did really well in the class. It also helped that I took it concurrently with Microeconomics, so when I saw graphs, I’d instantly go ‘I know what that means in calculus!’ Thank you Professor Betty!" - Anonymous

Maverick Moore, Film and Digital Media

"I’ve loved this semester in PM2 because of the teaching. Mav is a great instructor who truly cares about our passion for film and our ability to learn more about film production. For many students, PM2 can seem really daunting, but Mav does an amazing job of creating a helpful, engaging, and supportive space for new filmmakers." - Sydney Hines

Marlene S. Neill, American Studies

"As an international student, Dr. Neill made me feel a sense of home and belonging at Baylor. She truly cares about her students—not only academically, but also personally. In class, she consistently provides thoughtful guidance, meaningful feedback, and abundant resources to support our learning and professional growth. Beyond the classroom, she goes out of her way to check in on students and make sure we feel supported and valued. One of the most memorable parts of her class is how she shares her family traditions with us—bringing homemade cookies made from her family recipe multiple times each semester. These small but genuine gestures create a warm and welcoming environment that I will always remember. A great teacher does more than teach; they shape people. Dr. Neill is that kind of educator. She is not only an outstanding professor, but also a role model who inspires me in my future path.
Thank you for everything you do." - Anni Qiang

Min Y. Pack, Mechanical Engineering 

"I really appreciate this instructor because it is clear that he genuinely cares whether his students understand the material. He made difficult concepts feel approachable and explained things in a way that was easy to follow and actually stick with you. Even small things, like giving memorable names to ideas and equations, made a real difference and showed how much effort he put into helping us learn. He also created a class environment that felt supportive rather than overwhelming. He encouraged us to come to office hours when we were confused, and he made it clear that asking questions was a good thing, not something to avoid. The homework felt fair and purposeful, and the problems were closely connected to the exams and class material, which made the course feel organized and thoughtful instead of stressful for no reason. More than anything, this is the first class I have truly felt this confident in understanding. That has meant a lot to me. This class did not just help me get through the material. It made me more interested in fluid dynamics and more motivated to keep learning beyond what was required. That kind of impact is rare, and I am very thankful for it." - Ioan Brilll

Meredith H. Palm, Psychology and Neuroscience 

"Dr. Palm works incredibly hard to ensure each person in each of her classes are seen and heard. She is intentional with the way she both teaches and interacts, and it makes a difference in how her classes function. They are a safe, comfortable environment, but still maintain great productivity and engagement. She makes every effort to be there for her students in all ways and dedicates effortful time and attention to do so. A kind soul and a creative mind! Thank you!" - Elie Lassiter

"Dr. Palm, is a fantastic and educated teacher. She speaks completely from memory and adds stories and studys into class to help add to the material and she has so much knowledge and interest in this field. She also genuinly cares about her students and I have watched her talk to students and she is the utmost attentive and gentle. She sets very manageable expectations in her classes and for her assignments. She is my favorite and most impactful teacher at Baylor." - Carolina Hernandez

Jana Parker, Communication Sciences and Disorders 

"I learned so much from this course and I felt like I truly found my area of expertise. You made CSD seem like my home and I can’t thank you enough for being such a sweet, caring, and insightful professor." - Frances Vanderburg 

Mikeal Parsons, Religion

"Dr. Parsons is my favorite professor that I have had at Baylor so far! I never leave his class without a smile. He creates a learning environment that is both productive and silly.  I am always excited to go to His class and learn about the Bible and also life from Him! I will miss having Him next semester!!" - Abigail Smith

Christopher Pieper, Sociology 

"Thank you for being you. Having you as my professor makes coming to class so enjoyable. You are funny, honest, and very intelligent and I’m going to miss you when you’re gone! Thank you :)" - Madison Fulcher 

Benjamin Pietrenka, History

"Professor Pietrenka is one of the most genuine and passionate people I’ve ever met. He has such a jolly personality and brings a positive attitude and kindness to class every day. You can tell that he loves teaching, and does such a good job at making our classes special and entertaining. It is his first year at Baylor, and I can’t wait for him to reach more students!" - Lauren Branin

Michael Plunk, Chemistry and Biochemistry

"Thank you for being a great teacher." - Anonymous

Steven Pounders, Theatre Arts

"Thanks for being a fantastic teacher!" - Anonymous

David Reid, Business Law 

"Hey dad, figured I’d fill this deal out to say thank you for everything you’ve taught me over the years. You’ve invested so much time and effort into making me who I am today and I couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you for always being there and setting an example for me, as to what it means to be a good man, leader, husband, Christ follower, and father among many other things. I don’t want to get too cheesy here so I’ll quit but I definitely don’t say thank you enough for everything you do for me, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to say it here. Thanks dad, I’m very proud to be your son." - Cole Reid

"This instructor is genuinely the nicest person I have ever met and he is so caring and thoughtful." - Anonymous

Evangéline Rukundo, Chemistry and Biochemistry

"Dr. Rukundo has been a light on my journey at Baylor. She is always willing to help during office hours and is a friendly face outside. She demonstrates kindness and compassion for her students, and truly makes Baylor feel like home!" - Sarah Banks

Kristyn Rylander, Mechanical Engineering

"Thank you for being awesome!" - Maddox Billman

Janet Sanker, Communication Sciences and Disorders 

"Professor Sanker is always willing to build rapport with her students and she gives them all the tools to do well in her class. She is so supportive in and out of the classroom!" - Charlize Mohr 

Ben Schwartz, Psychology and Neuroscience 

"Thank you for being such a great mentor and supporter of ID lab and my own goals! You always made class interesting + fun, and always made sure everyone felt appreciated!" - Kaleigh Delbridge 

Scott Spinks, Spanish 

"Thank you for the time and attention you give to every class and student, Dr. Spinks! It has been a blessing not only to learn Spanish from Dr. Spinks, but to learn from his compassion for others and passion for his job. ¡El mejor profesor de todos los tiempos!" - Anonymous

Brandon Sterrett, Theatre Arts 

"Love this guy he's awesome!!!" - Jessica Beitler

Kevin Tankersley, Journalism, Public Relations and New Media

"Thank you for being such a great professor and making class fun." - Anonymous

Son Tu, Mathematics

"Dr. Tu is one of the kindest, most attentive professors I've had! His class structure makes it impossible to do poorly. Every day, he gives us a handout and after solving some examples on the board in chalk and clearly stating the problem and formulas, he walks around the classroom and engages us with the questions, making sure no one is left in the dark when it comes to questions. He answers questions personally and doesn't single anyone out or announce it to the class until talking to a few others, which really makes it a safe space to reach out for help. He has daily office hours and always reaches out to make sure students are completely on the same page and tracking along. He makes math interesting and fun and doesn't leave anyone out." - Grace Pettitt

Sarah Walden, Interdisciplinary Core / Rhetorical Theory and Criticism

"Dr. Walden welcomed me with open arms into her classroom, she made every class a fun, exciting, engaging experience that made going to class all the more exciting. Anyone who gets to be part of her class is very lucky to have such an excellent teacher and person!" - Mauricio Hernández

Paul Weisser, Graduate TOR, Political Science

"1. He genuinely cared for the students. 2. Weekly quizzes were actually a vibe. 3. Discussion based class!!! 4. Used student discussion to continue the flow of class. 5. Masterful communicator!" - Anonymous

Paul W. Zinke, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

"Thank you for all your support and encouragement in these classes and beyond!" - Anonymous