Meet the 2025 Faculty Conference Scholarship Recipients
Stacy Ybarra Evans
Adjunct Faculty
San Antonio College
Why do you teach?
My passion for teaching stems from a deep commitment to fostering student success and driving pedagogical excellence. This is evidenced by my experience in designing and delivering courses for first-year students, developing and implementing comprehensive faculty development programs, and mentoring colleagues. I am driven to create inclusive and engaging learning environments, to empower students to achieve their academic goals, and to cultivate a culture of innovation and scholarly inquiry in teaching and learning. Teaching, for me, is about facilitating transformative learning experiences and contributing to student growth and development.
Why are you excited to attend the 2025 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence?
My involvement with the NISOD Conference demonstrates my strong appreciation for its value to educators. I have been an active participant, both presenting at the conference and earning a “Best of Show” award for a poster. These experiences underscore NISOD’s importance as a venue for sharing expertise and best practices, fostering professional growth and development, and enabling valuable networking and collaboration to advance student success.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
A fun fact about me is I was Palo Alto College’s 2024 Outstanding former student and was able to go up on stage and shake many community college graduate hands.
Garrin Fraze
Program Coordinator, Horology
Paris Junior College
Why do you teach?
To share my passion for watchmaking and give back to an industry and program that has done so much for me.
Why are you excited to attend the 2025 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence?
To gain insight from more experienced educators and learn techniques that will allow me to be a more effective and impactful instructor for my students.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
My love for watchmaking started when I was 12 and my grandfather gave me an antique Waltham pocket watch.
Amanda Melniczek
Instructor, Communication
Chair, Center For Teaching and Learning
Guilford Technical Community College
Why do you teach?
I love engaging with students and investing in their educational journeys. As a first-generation student, I create learning environments that create connection between understanding communication concepts to benefit students’ personal and professional lives.
Why are you excited to attend the 2025 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence?
I am excited to learn new strategies to best serve students, faculty and staff at my institution. I also love to network and engage with other professionals passionate about teaching and learning.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
Have visited 49 of 50 U.S. States
Tina Mote
Instructor, Mathematics
Triton College
Why do you teach?
I want to help all I can overcome their math phobias, traumas, anxieties, and challenges. I also love helping students who love math and getting them to go deeper into the artistry and beauty of the field. I love adapting the material to fit the way each student’s mind functions. I teach so I can be an advocate for students, particularly when I see they struggle with believing in themselves. If I did not have teachers along my journey who believed in me when I stumbled, I would not be in my position now as a college professor. Teaching is my way of giving back. I am a first gen college student who came from a low socioeconomic dysfunctional family .This background has given me compassion for all who are trying to reach outside of their comfort zone and/or their background and whatever I can do to help boost students around me, help them achieve their goals…well, it’s everything to me.
Why are you excited to attend the 2025 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence?
I am still pinching myself that I am able to go this year!!! I am excited to network with others across the nation and learn better ways to serve my students and my college, particularly in light of the challenges of the world we are currently living in. From looking at past session offerings at NISOD conferences, attending NISOD will help strengthen my ability to connect with students, help me establish more equitable and inclusive practices, and help me to increase my students’ sense of belonging in the classroom and on campus. I am also very interested in learning about ways to incorporate AI into my classroom and everyday life.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
(1) I ran a half marathon in Millinocket, Maine in December (in 15 degree weather). (2) One of my favorite music artists is Professor Longhair; (3) I’m working my way through learning about the 2012 and 2020 Rolling Stones Magazine Top 500 Greatest Albums of all time
Richard Pierce
Associate Professor
Client Relationship Manager
Yavapai College
Why do you teach?
Change is inevitable. Growth is an option. My passion is to foster growth through teaching – the most noble profession.
Why are you excited to attend the 2025 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence?
I am a first time attendee. I am excited to learn and share the great work being done with my colleagues.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
I think, and view the world in terms of music. I am kind of weird. Nuff said.
