Student-run TEA awards recognise SBS staff

A total of 68 Strathclyde Business School staff were longlisted for the student-run Teaching Excellence Awards (TEAs) which were hosted on May 20.

Jillian D’Agostino, Department of Accounting and Finance, was voted as winner in the ‘Best Non-Teaching/Support Staff’ category while Dr Sharada Davidson, Department of Economics, won the ‘Best in Business’ award category. Fellow staff members who were shortlisted alongside her in 'Best of Business' category were: Kendra Briken; Joanna Butler; Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd; and Thomas McAlinden.

A number of other staff across departments were shortlisted in other categories:

Lucrezia Casulli and Sharada Davidson were both shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Commitment to Equality and Inclusion’ category; Martin Kemmitt, Accounting and Finance, was shortlisted in the ‘Teaching Assistant or Tutor’ category; June Allardyce, Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, was shortlisted in the ‘Best Non-Teaching Staff’ category and Bianca Vasquez Pistorio, tutor in the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, was shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ category.

Of her win, Jillian said, "I was delighted to win the award for Best Non-Teaching/Support Staff category. This award means so much to me as it is student led - students nominate and a student panel decide on the winners. I've been lucky enough to work with students for nearly 28 years and everything I do is driven by a desire to contribute to a positive student experience. So to have been chosen as a winner of one of these awards really is one of the highlights of all the years I have had the privilege to be part of the student journey. Thank you to those who nominated me and huge congratulations to all staff who were nominated and shortlisted. It was so nice to hear so many staff celebrated by students at the awards."

Sharada said, "I was really touched to be nominated for the TEA awards and even more surprised to win! Teaching has always been a very important and fulfilling experience for me and it is lovely to win a student-led award. I am very grateful to the students who took the time to nominate me as well as all the students who I have taught over the years and from whom I have learnt a lot.

"I would like to thank my colleagues in the department, particularly Dr Nikos Danias and Dr Lauren McInally, who I was fortunate enough to work closely with when I was a new member of staff and have been instrumental in shaping my approach to teaching.  I would also like to congratulate all colleagues in the university who were nominated and shortlisted for the awards."

TEAs are student-led teaching awards that are hosted by the Vice President Education, to recognise the best of Strathclyde's teaching staff. Being student-led means it is solely students who nominate, shortlist and pick the winners. Union staff oversee the process to make sure everything runs smoothly and to ensure fairness, but they are not involved in the decision making.

For full information on the awards, click here: https://www.strathunion.com/voice/teachingexcellenceawards/

Published: 21 May 2025