College of Science Announces 2026 Teaching and Advising Awards
Each year, the College of Science honors exceptional faculty and advisors who have made significant contributions to advancing the teaching and advising mission of the University of Arizona. With six award categories, we recognize individuals who exemplify excellence in their fields.
This year’s award winners include Sarah Hoffman, Jon Njardarson, Ashley Jordan, Linda Hollis, Marina Cholanian, and David Smith. The College of Science is proud to recognize these outstanding individuals, along with our recent patent recipients, at the annual Teaching, Advising, and Entrepreneurial Awards Reception.
Distinguished Career Teaching Award
Sarah J. Hoffman
Principal Lecturer | Mathematics
Sarah Hoffman is a Principal Lecturer and Coordinator for the Entry-Level Online Program in the University of Arizona Department of Mathematics, where she leads initiatives that enhance student success, engagement, and persistence in online mathematics education.
Over more than two decades at the University of Arizona, Hoffman has designed innovative, application-driven mathematics courses and developed collaborative instructional models that improve learning outcomes for diverse student populations. A hallmark of her work is the creation of instructional teams composed largely of former students, resulting in learning environments that reflect the diversity and experiences of the students they serve. This approach fosters a strong sense of belonging and helps undergraduates envision themselves as successful members of the academic community. Over the past five years, she has mentored more than 65 undergraduate learning assistants, supporting their development as educators, leaders, and reflective practitioners. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom through scholarship in online learning, instructional teams, and student engagement, which she has shared through publications and conference presentations.
Hoffman earned an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in Mathematics from Western Oregon University.
Distinguished Achievement in Science Education Award
Jon T. Njardarson
Professor | Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jón was born and raised in the small town of Akranes, Iceland. After graduation, Jón moved to Reykjavik to start his studies at the University of Iceland, where he became fascinated by the wonders of Organic Chemistry.
Jón then followed in the footsteps of his ancestors and traveled West across the ocean to Yale University to pursue his doctoral studies, where he learned how to become an expert synthetic organic chemistry. Jón moved to New York City to continue his organic synthesis training as a post-doctoral fellow at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) as a General Motors Cancer Research Scholar. Jón moved to Ithaca, NY in 2004 to start his independent career at Cornell University, and in 2010, Jón and his group loaded the wagons, journeyed across America, and settled in Tucson where he is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona.
Jón’s group works on diverse organic synthesis topics such as new reaction development, total syntheses, drug discovery, novel material chemistry and most recently machine learning. Jón is the creator of the popular Top 200 Drug poster series and the widely used app/website Chemistry By Design (CByD).
Innovation in Teaching Award
Ashley C. Jordan
Professor of Practice | Psychology
Ashley C. Jordan, Ph.D., is a Professor of Practice and Director of Career Track Faculty in the Psychology Department at the University of Arizona.
Her research focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning, with an emphasis on using pedagogical strategies and educational technologies to boost student engagement, learning, and retention. In addition to her work in higher education, Ashley is passionate about leadership and professional development both in academia and in the "real world."
She is particularly interested in how leaders can create environments where individuals feel connected, empowered, and able to thrive. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband and fourteen-year-old twin daughters.
Distinguished Mentoring Award
Linda Hollis
Associate Professor of Practice | Psychology
Dr. Linda Hollis is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Psychology, where mentoring sits at the heart of her work. As a first-generation university graduate, she understands the challenges of navigating higher education alone. Dr. Hollis pairs this personal insight with over two decades of industry experience and advanced degrees in Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Gerontological Studies. Mentees are naturally drawn to her authentic presence and her passion for helping them discover their own voices and make genuine contributions to the world.
Linda is especially committed to supporting first-generation and underrepresented students. Her mentorship spans many areas, from guiding scholars in the Pima-UAZ STEM Bridge Program and advising undergraduate honors theses to supporting early career-track faculty and Innovations in Aging capstone projects. She also co-developed and now coordinates the Healthy Aging Certificate Program in the Psychology Department. Since it launched in 2022, the program has grown to 80 undergraduate students, with 67 graduates already in the workforce or graduate school.
Mentoring doesn't stop with an award. Recently, Linda was selected as a MENTOR Institute Fellow through the Office of the Provost and became the faculty advisor for the University's new Alzheimer's & Other Dementias Awareness Club. Ultimately, Linda hopes that the people she mentors carry forward not only knowledge and skills, but also a commitment to showing up fully for others, the same way she tries to show up for them.
Distinguished Early-Career Teaching Award
Marina Cholanian
Associate Professor of Practice | Neuroscience
Dr. Marina Cholanian is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Arizona. She earned her B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts - Boston in 2007. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Neuroscience (with minors in Medical Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Biology) from the University of Arizona in 2013. She then completed her first postdoctoral fellowship in Physiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine where she studied the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on medullary networks involved in the neural control of respiration. She then completed her second postdoctoral fellowship at the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at Harvard Medical School in 2017, where she studied genetic abnormalities leading to disorders of puberty in humans.
After briefly leaving academia and working in the neuroscience industry as an Application Scientist at Neurotar in Finland, Dr. Cholanian, realized her true passion was in teaching, and began her career as an educator.
In 2018 Cholanian returned to academia this time focusing on teaching various classes at Pima Community College. She joined the Department of Neuroscience in 2021 and has since taught multiple core courses for the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program. She has also been instrumental in developing several upper-level courses, as well as helping to create the new Neuroscience B.S. degree that launched in 2024. Dr. Cholanian also serves on several college and departmental committees, including Faculty Council and the Neuroscience Curriculum Committee.
Distinguished Advising Award
David L. Smith
Senior Academic Advisor | Physics
David Smith was born in Hawaii but primarily grew up in Glen Carbon, Illinois, a quiet suburb outside St. Louis, MO. He attended both Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Carbondale. During his time at SIU, he served as a Resident Assistant and earned a Bachelor of Science in University Studies, with minors in History and Political Science.
After graduating, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he began his professional career in retail and human resources. He quickly discovered that he was passionate about helping others through his work in human resources, although he found the corporate environment less fulfilling. This realization led him to pursue a career in higher education. In May 2014, he began a graduate program at Clemson University in upstate South Carolina.
At Clemson, he worked as a graduate assistant in the Center for Career and Professional Development and served as an advising intern for a year. He earned a Master of Education in Counselor Education, with an emphasis in Student Affairs, in May 2016. Shortly before graduating, he accepted a position with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Arizona and moved to Tucson in June 2016.
His career as an academic advisor has been both fulfilling and deeply rewarding. He spent three years advising students in Computer Science before joining the Departments of Physics and Astronomy in May 2019. The most meaningful part of his work is seeing students I advise graduate and accomplish the goals they once shared with me. Witnessing their growth, perseverance, and resilience continues to inspire me and strengthens my commitment to student success and to advancing the advising profession.