2026 Laureates
Professor Diana Negrín da Silva (unable to attend)
Dr. Negrín da Silva is a dedicated educator in the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley. Her work explores the intersections of environment, identity, race, and migration—especially in Latin America.
Her courses invite students to engage deeply with some of today’s most pressing global challenges, connecting political, cultural, and environmental perspectives in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
What really stands out about Dr. Negrín is her approach to teaching. She creates classrooms that are rigorous, but also collaborative, reflective, and inclusive. Through multimedia, fieldwork, and community-engaged learning, she helps students connect theory to lived experience—and see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them.
Students describe her as an inspiring mentor who supports their growth and makes space for every voice. Her impact goes far beyond the classroom.
Dr. Negrin sent this message to the committee: "I want to thank the selection committee for this year's Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Excellence recognition. This award comes at a moment of profound challenges for educators and students. Affordability, inclusion, and even the merits of the advent of artificial intelligence are testing our classrooms across a diversity of fields and geographies. This award helps reaffirm my commitment to seeing our present-day challenges as ones that reaffirm the classroom as a key place through which we can ignite the ideas behind the solutions which students will extend outside of the classroom. Thank you!"
Professor Paul Eastwick (unable to attend)
His teaching focuses on attraction, romantic relationships, and human connection—bringing together cutting-edge research with real-life relevance.
He has a gift for making complex ideas accessible and meaningful, often using demonstrations, discussions, and even a podcast to connect research to everyday life and popular culture.
Students consistently describe his classes as engaging, clear, and genuinely useful—not just academically, but personally.
Professor Joshua Landy
Professor Landy is the Andrew B. Hammond Chair of French Language, Literature, and Civilization and Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford.
His work brings together literature, philosophy, and the human experience. In his classes, students explore big questions—about identity, truth, morality, and what it means to live a meaningful life—through novels, films, and philosophical texts.
What stands out most is his belief in the power of education to transform lives. He approaches teaching as a way to help students become the best versions of themselves—encouraging curiosity, reflection, and critical thinking.
In his classroom, students don’t just study ideas—they experience them.
Professor Robert Podesva Professor Podesva is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Stanford University and a leading scholar in sociolinguistics.
His teaching explores how language shapes—and is shaped by—identity, culture, and social interaction. He invites students to see language not just as a system, but as a powerful way of understanding human experience.
As a first-generation college student, he brings a deeply inclusive and student-centered approach to his work—creating space for diverse perspectives and encouraging students to see themselves as contributors to their field.
Through collaborative research and dedicated mentorship, he helps students develop both confidence and a strong scholarly voice.
Professor Andrew W. Reddie
Professor Reddie is an Associate Research Professor at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Founder and Faculty Director of the Berkeley Risk and Security Laboratory.
His work sits at the intersection of technology, public policy, and global security—focusing on issues like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and nuclear policy. In both his research and teaching, he helps students understand not just the technical side of these topics, but what they actually mean for governance, global stability, and society.
In the classroom, he’s known for making complex ideas clear, engaging, and relevant. He brings in hands-on simulations, real-world challenges, and interdisciplinary perspectives, helping students think critically and apply what they learn beyond the classroom.
Students consistently praise his clarity, his mentorship, and his ability to connect theory to practice.
Professor Gil-li Vardi
Professor Vardi is a lecturer in History and International Relations at Stanford University, and a scholar of modern military history.
Her teaching explores how warfare has shaped—and been shaped by—politics, society, and culture. But more than that, she focuses on the human side of history: the decisions, uncertainties, and consequences that define these moments.
What makes her teaching especially powerful is how immersive it is. Through simulations and “staff rides,” students are placed directly into historical situations and asked to make decisions without the benefit of hindsight.
It’s an approach that challenges students to think deeply, engage fully, and really understand the complexity of the past.