UNCSA announces of 2025-26 Excellence in Teaching Award winners

Six permanent faculty members and one adjunct faculty member have been named winners of the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2025-26, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Patrick J. Sims has announced.

Permanent faculty recipients are: Scott Beckwith, given posthumously, School of Design and Production; Jason Bohon, School of Drama; Marci Harvey, High School Academic Program; Laura Martin, School of Dance; Jared Redick, School of Dance; and Burton Rencher, School of Filmmaking. The adjunct faculty recipient is Ida Bieler, School of Music.

The criteria for Excellence in Teaching Award-winning faculty include a concern for students; enthusiasm for and command of the subject they teach; ability to motivate and fairly critique students; awareness of recent developments in their field; a commitment to the UNCSA and greater community; and more.

“At UNCSA, our faculty are the foundation of our distinctive educational model, which is to train talented student artists for professional careers in the arts,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Patrick J. Sims. “Most of the faculty members in our five arts schools come from successful careers as artists themselves and seek to teach the next generation what they have learned. The same is true of our two academic faculties, who include many with arts-centric backgrounds and advanced degrees.

“All of our faculty members have a deep commitment to student growth and success and the creative exploration necessary to prepare emerging artists to thrive in the global arts and entertainment industry,” Provost Sims continued. “We congratulate all of our Excellence in Teaching Award winners and nominees and celebrate them for making a difference in the lives of our future artists.”

In 1994, the Board of Governors of the multicampus University of North Carolina established a series of “Excellence in Teaching” awards that reinforced teaching as the primary responsibility and focus of its constituent institutions. The policy notes that the awards are to “encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support good teaching within the University.”

At UNCSA, recipients are chosen each year from those current, full-time permanent and adjunct members of the faculty who are nominated to receive an award. One faculty member’s name is then forwarded to the UNC Board of Governors to receive a UNC System-wide teaching award. This award-winner receives a stipend of $12,500 and a commemorative bronze medallion and will be honored at a later campus event. The Board of Governors is scheduled to select the recipients of the UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Awards later this spring semester.

The recipients of the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2025-26 are:

Scott Beckwith, given posthumously, School of Design and Production

(Beckwith passed away on Oct. 19, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.)

Nomination letters for Associate Professor Scott Beckwith chronicle a legacy of impact that spans his entire career and will continue to serve as an inspiration into the future. As one alumnus wrote, “Looking back at my time at UNCSA, I can say without a doubt that Scott was the faculty member in Scenic Technology that I felt was the most supportive of my career goals and my educational goals. Scott always believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself.” Another alum added, “I would like to nominate Scott for his unrivaled fascination with the craft he has devoted his life to understanding and his complete commitment to imparting that knowledge to his students in digestible and illuminating ways."

Beckwith’s colleagues shared words of appreciation for the role that he played on the faculty, noting his exemplary leadership and professionalism. One observed, “He leads by example and demonstrates a style of collegiality that is unmatched at UNCSA. Scott is often the most calm, collected and discerning colleague." Equally important are his contributions to the field itself. As another nominator remarked, “Scott's work behind the scenes is what gets the world's top artists their showstopping automation. Performer flying, complex scenery, fast and safe turnarounds. Scott is the Beyoncé of stage automation. Literally, actually, completely."

From UNCSA, Beckwith earned a Diploma in Design and Production (D&P) in 1999, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Direction in 2008 and a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Automation in 2010. After returning to UNCSA as visiting faculty in 2016-17, he joined the permanent faculty in 2017, holding leadership roles including director of the Scenic Technology/Technical Direction Program and director of Stage Automation. His career highlights include serving as deck carpenter for the first national tour of “Thoroughly Modern Millie”; performer flying automation operator for “Tarzan: The Broadway Musical” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City; deck automation operator for “Jersey Boys” at the Pallazzo in Las Vegas; and control systems integrator and navigator instructor at TAIT Towers.

Jason Bohon, School of Drama

Since joining the School of Drama in 2019, Associate Professor Jason Bohon has redefined movement and mask training by bridging rigorous classroom discipline with global opportunity. Through partnerships with the Accademia dell’Arte, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Royal Shakespeare Company, he offers students a world-class stage for physical exploration. Bohon’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the "brave space" of the studio: “I believe students learn best when they are fully in their bodies, using movement, imagination and play to discover what they can do,” he notes. “My goal is to provide the structure and high expectations they need to take risks, make mistakes and grow through work, not just theory….”

Bohon’s balance of training and discovery has made a profound impact. As one of his students expressed, “His ability to keep a class focused, engaged, hard-working and inspired, while making everyone laugh and filling a room with joy and play is unparalleled. … Jason Bohon is the type of teacher that I will talk about decades after graduating.” This sentiment was echoed in a nomination from a colleague, who wrote, “(Jason Bohon brings) a rare combination of rigor, creativity and care to his teaching practice. I've long been an admirer of his work, and it was immediately clear in observing him that Jason has created an environment where discipline and play are in balance." Another student offered: “Bohon doesn't just teach movement techniques, he inspires a profound connection to the body's capabilities and creative potential. His classes are a dynamic blend of rigorous physical exploration and insightful theoretical discussion, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.”

Bohon earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in performance and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Fine Arts in physical theatre from the London International School of Performing Arts in cooperation with Naropa University. With a desire to deepen his work in mask-making, he is a current B.F.A. candidate in sculpture & ceramics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Before joining the UNCSA faculty, he taught at institutions including the University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Drake University. He has built a distinguished career in theater spanning over 20 years as an actor, director and theater-maker, with nearly 15 of those years devoted to creating and producing original work — a path that led naturally to university teaching. He has collaborated with leading regional theaters, including the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Connecticut Repertory Theatre and Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and toured internationally with Split Knuckle Theatre Company to cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Athens, Frankfurt, Brussels and Bangkok.

Marci Harvey, High School Academic Program

Marci Harvey joined the High School Academic Program faculty as a physics and integrated science specialist in 2017, following two decades of teaching service in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Much of that time was spent at West Forsyth High School, where she was honored as the 2014 Teacher of the Year. Reflecting on the nonlinear path that she took to finding her passion in teaching, Harvey wrote: “I did not initially plan to become a teacher. I planned to pursue dentistry, but while studying at the College of Charleston, my advisor, Dr. Faber, encouraged me to major in chemistry and complete education courses ‘just in case.’… Looking back, maybe teaching was always there. In many ways, my grandmother – my first teacher – set me on this path. She taught me to solve crossword puzzles. That early joy in discovering patterns and making connections still drives me today.”

Harvey embodies a rare blend of scientific mastery and deep human connection. Her colleagues describe her as “the consummate teacher, leader and representative for UNCSA,” noting that by “drawing upon decades of experience, she brings a spirit of collaboration, excellence, creativity, inspiration, curiosity, innovation and compassion to campus every day.” Another faculty nomination says: “Marci is truly a master of her content. She has been teaching science courses for 29 years. This impressive tenure (not only) shows her dedication as a public servant but also demonstrates the length of time she has been working to further develop her scientific content mastery.” Ultimately, this mastery translates into a transformative student experience. As one student shared, “The space she created was so very fun – she allowed us to talk about how we were feeling and really cared for us as people while having a rigor that kept us driven to learn even through our bad days!”

Harvey holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the College of Charleston and a Master of Science in chemistry from the University of South Carolina. She has earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification in chemistry through a rigorous process recognized as the “gold standard” for teacher certification. In addition to her teaching at UNCSA, Harvey serves as a Virtual Instructor for the North Carolina Virtual Public School, leading courses in chemistry, honors chemistry and AP chemistry.

Laura Martin, School of Dance

Professor Laura Martin joined the UNCSA faculty in 2010, accepting a permanent position on the ballet faculty in 2012. Her responsibilities include the annual casting, staging and rehearsal of the Snow Corps, Snow Pas de Deux, and various divertissements in UNCSA’s production of “The Nutcracker.” In her own words: “I am a former professional dancer and current full professor whose earlier life was spent embodying the art I now teach. My decades of experience observing bodies in motion, deciphering movement, and interpreting that which goes unspoken during the rehearsal process guides me as I teach multiple age groups and levels to both ballet and contemporary majors.”

Martin’s nominations highlight her ability to create a classroom culture defined by both high expectations and deep personal investment in her students' well-being. By customizing her guidance to each individual dancer, she encourages technical growth and personal confidence within a respectful, inspiring environment. As one student nomination noted, “Ms. Martin builds strong faculty-student relationships by combining high standards with genuine support. She tailors guidance to each dancer, fostering both technical growth and personal confidence in a respectful, inspiring environment.” Another student nomination emphasized this unique classroom dynamic, stating, “Ms. Martin combines technical expertise with genuine care for her students, creating an environment that is both disciplined and supportive. Their ability to inspire confidence, nurture creativity and instill a love of dance has made a lasting difference in the lives of her students.”

Martin’s extensive training includes studies at the Washington School of Ballet, the Chautauqua Institute and the Joffrey School, as well as certification in levels 1–7 of the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum. Her professional performance career spans prestigious companies such as the Washington Ballet, Miami City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre; additionally, she spent two years on Broadway performing as both a dancer and singer in “The Phantom of the Opera.” Beyond the barre, her expertise is rounded out by focused studies in Pilates and yoga, alongside additional training in scene study, acting and audition techniques, and monologue coaching.

Jared Redick, School of Dance

A member of the ballet faculty since 2013, Professor and Assistant Dean Jared Redick brings 20 years of elite experience from the Boston, Miami City and San Francisco ballets to his students. Before joining the faculty, he served as artistic director of the New Haven Ballet and the principal of the South Shore Satellite of the Boston Ballet School. His passion for teaching took root during his final season dancing with the Boston Ballet, while he was simultaneously directing the satellite school and choreographing “Peter and the Wolf.” “Watching the whole process, I was taken back to my childhood, sitting in the corner of my mother’s studio with my brother, eating pizza, playing with matchbox cars," Redick recalls. “During that production I understood my future was in passing forward the knowledge and support I had been so generously given.”

Redick’s presence in the studio is defined by a rare ability to accelerate a dancer’s growth while maintaining a supportive atmosphere. As one student nomination notes, “Mr. Redick is an extraordinary ballet teacher whose guidance has sped my training from my very first year at UNCSA. ... His teaching has not only strengthened my technique but also expanded my artistry, discipline and appreciation for ballet as both a classical and evolving form. His classes are rigorous yet deeply supportive, challenging yet always encouraging, and they consistently leave me motivated to grow.” Another student shared, “Mr. Redick shares funny stories and encourages us to stay positive by sharing a positive thing that we experienced/witnessed. ... He knows how to keep students engaged and progressing.” Ultimately, his classroom success is recognized far beyond the university's walls. As a faculty nomination emphasizes, “Jared's dedication, aptitude and results working with our students in the studio more than qualify him to receive this award. What's more, those skills are recognized both regionally and abroad in the dance community.”

Redick earned a High School Diploma from UNCSA and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Hollins University (Virginia) and is working toward a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He holds advanced certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has served in recent years as company rehearsal director/teacher for noted national and international dance companies including American Ballet Theatre, the Royal Danish Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and the Finnish National Ballet. This past year, he created and continues to host the “Company Secrets” podcast, “dedicated to demystifying the professional dance world for aspiring dancers through candid conversations with artistic directors and industry leaders.”

Burton Rencher, School of Filmmaking

Associate Professor Burton Rencher has been a Production Design faculty member in the School of Filmmaking since 2001. Over that time, his teaching philosophy has evolved into a collaborative journey where he imparts vast expertise through a deeply organic lens. In the studio, Rencher’s curriculum is surprisingly vast; he balances the hard sciences of architecture and math with the nuances of philosophy and psychology. This diverse approach stems from his belief that set designers must be masters of the "human experience" to truly tell human stories. His students appreciate his delivery of professional advice, recognizing that his brilliant, multidisciplinary approach based on his deep professional experience is the reason the program has flourished for decades.

Burton’s impact on his department is both foundational and profound. As one student nomination notes, “Burton is a cornerstone of the Production Design concentration and has shared his expertise with his students for decades. The program wouldn't be what it is today without him.” This long-term commitment has earned him a unique place in the hearts of his pupils; a faculty nomination emphasizes that “Burton is highly beloved and deeply respected by all the Production Design students. ... He is brilliant and the students adore him and learn a tremendous amount from him.” What makes his mentorship particularly effective is his grounded approach to teaching, which combines technical mastery with an unassuming demeanor. Another student nomination highlights this balance, stating, “He has both professional advice and personal examples to back it up. He has done a lot of work, but is not boastful about it, simply matter-of-fact.”

Rencher holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the Memphis Academy of the Arts. His impressive body of professional film work has been recognized with awards and nominations including art director/set decorator for “Two Soldiers,” which won a 2004 Academy Award for best short film, live action; art director for “Stephen King’s “The Stand,” which was nominated for outstanding individual achievement in art direction for miniseries or special at the 1994 Emmy Awards; and art director for “Ruby in Paradise,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival.

In 2022-23, UNCSA awarded the first faculty Adjunct Excellence in Teaching Award. This year’s award recipient is:

Ida Bieler, School of Music

Violinist Ida Bieler joined the UNCSA Music faculty in 2013, but her association with this institution goes back much further. As she explains her connection to music and to UNCSA: "Actually, I do not really believe I chose music as my way of life – rather, I think it chose me. My mother claimed with great assertion that I was literally mesmerized by the sound of violin-playing long before reaching my first birthday, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s magnificent “Scheherazade,” with its hypnotically soaring Violin-heroine as my daily obsession throughout those tender years of 2 to 3, led me to insist upon my study of the instrument. As life would have it, there were substantial crossroads ahead in my childhood, which was severely disrupted through a rare and difficult blood disorder, substantially inhibiting my integration into normal activities between ages 7 to 13. Throughout these challenges, music and the violin proved ever my salvation, my self-expression, my happiness and self-definition, and my deepest communication with this world and what may be beyond. And this personal evolution brought me to the newly opening doors of UNCSA at its very beginnings!"

Bieler’s impact is perhaps best measured by the extraordinary success of those she trains. As one faculty nomination notes, “A UNCSA alumna from the early days of this school, Ida Bieler brings vast knowledge and expertise from an outstanding international career to her students, who have won over a hundred international prizes. They hold positions in over 60 orchestras worldwide and they teach at over 30 academic institutions, ensuring that the guidance she has provided at UNCSA is being passed along to future generations.” This global footprint is matched by the deep, individual growth she fosters within her studio. One student reflected on this personal transformation, stating, “With each lesson, studio class and summer festival, she inspires me in ways no other teacher has before. From professional advice on how to technically improve my playing to delving deep into musical analysis, she helps me understand and love music more and more. She is showing me how to stay strong, how to become a better violinist and human, (and) how to understand myself, music and other musicians.” Ultimately, her work is driven by a tireless commitment to the art form and the people who will carry it forward. As an alum nomination summarized, “Ida Bieler is driven by the sharpest instinct, a brilliant intellect, a colorful lifetime of experience, an ever-evolving breadth of knowledge, and profound devotion to her students and to the future of the musical art form. ... Profoundly optimistic, she is devoted to helping people who wouldn't otherwise be given a chance, and she never gives up.”

Bieler holds a High School Diploma from UNCSA, an Artist Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma from Juilliard, and an Artist Degree with top honors from the Hochschule für Musik (Cologne, Germany). Described by Fanfare Magazine as “a specialist in everything, from Bach to new-music premieres,” Bieler is renowned as a musician of extraordinary scope. A winner of prestigious competitions on three continents, she has enjoyed an exceptional solo, collaborative and recording career worldwide, and is one of the most sought-after teachers of her generation. She has performed the canon of major violin concertos with over 40 orchestras on four continents, including the premiere of Penderecki’s second violin concerto under the direction of the composer. Her groundbreaking achievement as the first American woman appointed concertmaster of a major European orchestra, the “Gürzenich Orchestra” of Cologne, led to a major ensemble career in Germany’s legendary Melos String Quartet and the acclaimed Xyrion Piano Trio. Over the course of a celebrated performing career spanning more than 30 years she has also produced an impressive catalogue of solo and chamber recordings.

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