Appalachian State University School/College Awards
As part of the annual Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Awards, the Appalachian State University School/College Awards recognize App State faculty members for their innovative teaching methods in the classroom, making a difference in the way students learn. These campus-based awards come with a $1,000 cash prize.
Alana Baird
Award Year: 2025
Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Alana Baird, senior lecturer in App State's Department of Mathematical Sciences, has taught at the university since 2015.
Baird typically teaches first-year students and has found great success through innovative mathematics teaching methods, such as community learning, using new technology to solve problems and incorporating sustainability topics into her curriculum, she shared.
One nominator, a former student of Baird's, said Baird "took a subject that I struggled with very much and seamlessly tied it to real-world applications that are so useful. She took a deeper dive, made it interesting, made it tangible, connected all of the applicable formulas and was always available to make it make sense."
Baird has been recognized among App State's "Most Helpful Faculty and Staff" multiple times and consistently "exceeds expectations" in both the service and instruction categories of annual faculty performance evaluations.
Baird is a two-time alumna of App State's College of Arts and Sciences, graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees in secondary mathematics education in 2011 and 2014, respectively.