Daniel Rojas Arroyo, who is completing his M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, is the College of Humanities 2026 Outstanding Graduate Assistant in Teaching Award recipient.
Since fall 2025, Rojas Arroyo has taught Spanish 101 in person, hybrid and online, the intensive Spanish 205 course, which combines two beginning semesters into one semester, and Spanish 253, Intermediate Spanish for the heritage learner.
“Daniel has stood out as one of the most highly motivated, enthusiastic, engaged and collegial members of the teaching team—his passion for teaching, ability to successfully teach different course levels and modalities, energetic collaboration with colleagues, and investment in learning and implementing new techniques to improve student learning continue to shine in every semester that I have worked with Daniel,” wrote Cassidy Reis, Interim Director of the Spanish Language Program, in a nomination letter.
“Daniel’s dedication to student success, eager participation in retention and recruitment efforts, strong and consistent work ethic, and commitment to professional development and growth make him a deserving recipient of the COH Outstanding Graduate Assistant in Teaching Award,” Reis wrote.
Associate Professor Tania Leal wrote that in working with Rojas Arroyo in multiple capacities — a mentor, instructor in graduate coursework and the faculty observer of his Spanish heritage language class — she has seen his “exceptional dedication to teaching, reflective practice, and student-centered pedagogy.”
“Daniel is a thoughtful and well-prepared instructor who designs lessons with clear objectives, strong internal coherence, and a careful progression of activities,” she wrote. “Equally impressive is Daniel’s ability to cultivate a supportive and respectful classroom climate. Students appear comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and experimenting with new language forms—an essential condition for successful language learning. Daniel responds to student errors with sensitivity and encouragement, guiding learners toward more accurate forms while maintaining their confidence and motivation.”
One student in the accelerated Spanish 205 class wrote that Rojas Arroyo is an approachable and kind instructor who created an environment in which students felt comfortable asking questions and didn’t fear making mistakes.
“I walked away with a passion for learning the Spanish language and now I practice Spanish every day in a variety of ways. I attribute most of my present habits, dispositions, and enthusiastic attitude towards Spanish to my experience in Daniel’s class,” the student wrote. “The activities and lessons were a perfect balance of education and activity. They were fun, and often involved collaborating with other students in the class, which helped to create a really lively learning environment and contributed to a classroom experience that always felt exciting.”
Another student nominator, whose family comes from Sonora, Mexico, wrote that Rojas Arroyo, a native of Colombia, frequently encouraged discussion about regional differences in vocabulary and tone, which fostered engagement in the classroom.
“Daniel teaches with genuine care and intentionality. In our relatively small class, he created an environment where students felt seen and encouraged, even when some struggled with motivation or confidence,” the student wrote. “As a first-generation college student who also felt disconnected from my native language, I entered the course with both excitement and uncertainty. Daniel immediately recognized and supported that experience in a way that made learning feel both personal and empowering. During my time as one of Daniel’s students, I not only strengthened my Spanish skills but also gained a deeper understanding of myself as a learner.”