Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
Academic Affairs
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • Meet our Team
    • Annual Report
    • Accreditation
    • Colleges
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Research and Creative Activity
    • Licensure
    • Communications
  • Curriculum & Programs Backback to Main menu
    • Course Development
    • Program and Unit Development
    • Course, Laboratory, Miscellaneous Fee Proposals
    • Education Policy Advisory Committee
    • General Education and Dual Enrollment
  • Assessment & Review Backback to Main menu
    • Student Learning Outcomes
    • Assessment Committee
    • Assessment Resources
    • Academic Program Review
    • Academic Planning Council
    • General Education Assessment
  • Faculty Life and Retention Backback to Main menu
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Faculty Senate
    • Faculty Advisory Committee
    • Faculty Development Fellowships
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Fulbright Program
    • Faculty Evaluation and Advancement
    • Faculty Credentials
    • Faculty Workload Policy
    • Faculty Searches and Recruitment
    • Collective Bargaining Agreement 2023-25
    • Documents and Resources
  • Honors & Awards Backback to Main menu
    • Honors & Awards
    • President's Excellence Awards
    • Chancellor's Awards
    • Campus-wide Faculty Awards
    • Staff Awards
    • Student Honors Convocation
    • UNO Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi
  • Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Global Engagement
    • Community Engagement
    • Academic Communities
    • Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships
  • Initiatives
  • Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund Projects

Excellence in Teaching Award

  1. UNO
  2. Academic Affairs
  3. Honors & Awards
  4. Excellence in Teaching Award

  • Related Resources

  • Distinguished Research or Creative Activity Award
  • Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
  • Faculty Excellence in Engagement Award
  • Faculty Service Learning Award
  • Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award
  • Outstanding Honors Faculty Award
  • Additional Resources

  • Faculty Awards
  • Faculty Honors Convocation Program
  • Staff Awards

Excellence in Teaching Award

Recognizing Michele Desmarais: 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

The Excellence in Teaching Award at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, established in 1969, honors exceptional dedication, effort, and exemplary conduct in fulfilling the University’s primary mission: educating all students. Outstanding and committed educators are a university's greatest strength. At UNO, we are fortunate to have faculty whose contributions deserve special recognition.


Michele Desmarais headshot

Michele Demarais, Ph.D.

Department of Religious Studies
College of Arts and Sciences

Michele Desmarais, an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies and a teaching faculty member in the Native American Studies program, has shaped both academic and interdisciplinary initiatives at UNO. Dr. Desmarais is a Métis, Dakota, and European poet and scholar from Canada. Her contributions reflect a passion for teaching and a visionary approach to education that leaves a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and academic programs.

Dr. Desmarais was instrumental in the creation of the Medical Humanities Minor, which has since grown into a major, attracting students from a variety of academic backgrounds. By embedding Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum, she enriched the program, offering students a holistic and comprehensive approach to understanding healthcare. Dr. Desmarais’ leadership in Medical Humanities expanded educational opportunities for students and fostered critical conversations about healthcare, ethics, and Indigenous perspectives.

Dr. Desmarais is also recognized for her advocacy and scholarship in the field of Mad Studies, which centers on the experiences of people with mental illness. Using her lived experiences of mental illness and intergenerational trauma, rooted in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, she has captivated her audience during presentations on the origin and evolution of Mad Studies. Students describe the presentation as ‘brilliant,’ moving,’ and ‘brave.’ Dr. Desmarais’ willingness to share her experiences inspires students to explore new ways of thinking about mental health and healthcare. One student even commented, “After the conclusion of the lecture, I immediately went and signed up for one of Dr. Desmarais' classes. Her vulnerability and transparency in her journey was nothing short of admirable.”

Throughout her career, Dr. Desmarais’ enthusiasm for teaching has been a defining feature of her work. A first-generation student herself, the joy she brings to the classroom is apparent to her students and colleagues. Her integration of Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum, her passion for mental health advocacy, and her commitment to student mentorship have set her apart as an influential and compassionate educator. The admiration for her teaching extends beyond UNO, showing the wide-ranging influence of her work.


Nomination Information

Download the Excellence in Teaching Award nomination criteria and forms


Most Recent Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients

Year Recipient Department/School
2023 Song-Young Park School Health and Kinesiology
2022 Betty Love Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
2021 Kelly Gomez-Johnson Teacher Education
2020 Ramazan Kilinc Political Science
2019 Brian Dorn Computer Science
2018 Jennifer Riley Accounting
2017 Tammie Kennedy English
2016 Abbie Syrek Communication

View the complete list of previous award recipients

Contact Us

  • Academic Affairs
  • Phone: 402.554.2262
  • Email: academic.affairs@unomaha.edu

Related Resources

  • Distinguished Research or Creative Activity Award
  • Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
  • Faculty Excellence in Engagement Award
  • Faculty Service Learning Award
  • Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award
  • Outstanding Honors Faculty Award

Additional Resources

  • Faculty Awards
  • Faculty Honors Convocation Program
  • Staff Awards

Academic Affairs

Contact Us
  • Academic Affairs
  • 202 Eppley Administration Building
  • 6001 Dodge Street
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.2262
  • academic.affairs@unomaha.edu
Social media
Resources
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Center for Faculty Excellence
  • Service Learning Academy
  • Information Technology Services
  • Catalogs
  • Academic Calendar

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.