Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award
The Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award is conferred annually as part of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Awards. The award, which comes with a $1,500 cash prize, recognizes an App State faculty member for their innovative teaching methods in the classroom, making a difference in the way students learn. This university-level award is open to all App State faculty who have taught a minimum of five years at the university, have demonstrated excellence in, and commitment to, teaching, and are actively teaching in the academic year in which they are selected.
Dr. Shannon Cline
Award Year: 2025
Senior Lecturer, Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education
Dr. Shannon Cline is a senior lecturer in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education at App State, where she has been a faculty member since 2014. Known for her student-centered approach, she has taught 25 different courses across the department's academic programs, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to student learning.
Additionally, each semester, she leads two to three service-learning courses, collaborating with more than 50 community partners in the High Country to provide students with meaningful, real-world experiences that foster both personal and professional growth.
"As a teacher, Shannon exemplifies the highest standards in the profession, and I believe she has had a major impact on hundreds of students' lives," said one of Cline's nominators. "Her passion for teaching, commitment to student success and ability to create meaningful connections between the classroom and the community make her truly deserving of this recognition."
Cline's dedication to innovative and impactful teaching has been recognized with multiple awards, including college teaching awards in 2016, 2019 and 2024. She holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida, as well as a master's degree from the University of Indiana.