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2024-2025 Faculty Award Winners: SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award Winner

Dr. Alexandra Szarabajko is the award recipient for this year's SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award!

Headshot of Dr. Alexandra Szarabajko

Dr. Alexandra Szarabajko is the assistant professor and program chair of Exercise Science (EXSC) at Columbia College. Originally from Germany, Dr. Szarabajko came to the U.S. as a Division I track and field student-athlete. She holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and a M.P.H. in Health Promotion/Health Behavior from Oregon State University, along with two master's degrees—one in General Psychology and another in Physical Educationfrom Eastern Kentucky University. 
 
Dr. Szarabajko has made it her mission to enhance the educational experience of students within the EXSC program and beyond. Since joining Columbia College in 2022, she has made substantiative revisions and course additions to the EXSC curriculum. She has created two minors within the program to broaden the program’s appeal and accessibility to other students on campus and is leading the implementation of a new exercise science and public health laboratory to enhance student practical experience while also providing outreach services to increase the health, physical activity and well-being within the surrounding community.
 
Over the past two years, Dr. Szarabajko has successfully mentored four students through the Biomedical Research Summer Program, funded by SC INBRE. Under her guidance, these students not only presented their research at professional conferences but also had their abstracts published in a peer-reviewed journal, showcasing the impact and quality of their work. Additionally, she has several peer-reviewed publications and was recently invited to serve as a content area advisor for the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise, published by Oxford University Press.

Teaching Philosophy

Word cloud from teaching philosophy for Szarabajko including words like teaching, student, and research

Word cloud generated by Copilot.

The following quotes were sent as a part of the nomination process:

“Her communication is clear and effective and offers guidance in a manner that is both engaging and encouraging. She has a natural ability to build relationships with both students and colleagues, making collaboration a seamless and rewarding experience.” -Colleague

“In addition to her research accomplishments, Dr. Szarabajko is an inspiring educator. Her teaching philosophy reflects a holistic approach, fostering intellectual curiosity and personal growth among her students. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and applied learning, creating an engaging and supportive environment that empowers students to excel both academically and professionally.” -Colleague

“I have never felt so passionate about the content I am learning and supported professionally in my academic career. Dr. Szarabajko has the qualities of a great leader in which as her student and mentee I feel equally pushed to reach outside of my comfort zone and inspired to make her and myself proud in this opportunistic time before my graduation.” -Student

“Her mentorship extended beyond simply teaching research methods, she helped me develop leadership skills. The experience I gained working with her has had a lasting impact on my professional development, and I am confident it will continue to influence my future career.” -Student

What is the SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award?

The SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award is given to a Columbia College faculty member who exemplifies not only teaching excellence, but also uplifts students through excellent teaching, collaboration, and mentorship. Award winners are dedicated to their students and to improving their work as educators.