UC Law has rolled out the red carpet for its best and brightest, handing out this year’s Goldman Prize for Excellence in Teaching to a trio of professors who stand out from the pack. As UC Law's highest honor for faculty, the prize is more than just a pat on the back—it’s recognition of educators who have made a serious dent in the academic and personal lives of their students.
Let's give a round of virtual applause to Professor Kristin Kalsem, Professor Stephanie McMahon, and Professor Ryan Thoreson. These three have not only managed to teach but also to fundamentally alter the outlook and trajectories of those under their tutelage. It's no wonder they're being hoisted up as paragons of pedagogical prowess. UC Law Dean Haider Hamoudi was quoted in the announcement saying in a statement obtained by the UC News, "They exemplify the best of what universities provide—they create and disseminate knowledge, they leverage that knowledge creation and dissemination to benefit their students, and through this and other activities, they work to elevate our institution and its impact on the community and broader society."
It's not just a feather in their caps, though. The Goldman Prize carries some heavy symbolism around the UC Law campus. It embodies the school's commitment to academic excellence and the cultivation of an environment where educators are valued for their contributions not only to scholarship but also to shaping the next generation of legal minds.
Get this about Thoreson, McMahon, and Kalsem, though—they're not just hammering out lectures and grading papers. They've shown themselves to be true leaders, individuals who inspire by taking the initiative to engage deeply with their students. By fostering an educational ethos that places a premium on not just memorizing but on critically thinking, debating, and questioning, these professors are preparing their students to take on not just the legal world but the entire social fabric that hangs in delicate balance.
Congrats once again to the winners of this year's Goldman Prize. For the students in the halls of UC Law, consider yourselves lucky—you had front row seats to some of the most impactful teaching around. And for other faculty on campus, let this serve as a benchmark of excellence to strive for in the coming academic year.
