Kristy Doran, Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, has won the 2025 University of Arizona 5-Star Teaching Award.
Announced by the W.A. Franke Honors College, the award is the only student-selected award that recognizes excellence in teaching across the University of Arizona. Funded by Dr. Margaret M. Briehl and Dr. Dennis T. Ray, the award comes with a cash prize.
“Profe. Doran's energy, passion, and dedication to her students is apparent both in the classroom and across the community. Her love for learning and her curiosity for the world is unmatched. Our students are incredibly fortunate to have her expertise, and this award is very well deserved!” said Andrew Pongratz, a member of the 5-Star Teaching Award Committee.
For six years, Doran served as Director of the Spanish Basic Language Program, overseeing one of the nation’s largest programs with over 6,000 students enrolled annually. She led innovative changes that advanced student success, supported program employees, and modernized the program through the introduction of Universal Design for Learning principles in the curriculum.
Doran received numerous nominations from students:
“Dr. Doran is by far the most supportive teacher and mentor I have ever encountered. She is clear with her expectations, but is also understanding and supportive when unexpected situations occur. She encourages out-of-the-box thinking and using creative ways to think critically. She has accomplished being the perfect balance of structure, support and engaging,” one student wrote.
“She has become my role-model for how I want to be as a professor one day. As my thesis mentor, she has helped me brainstorm project ideas, taught me how to create a timeline, introduced me to new resources, and supported me every step of the way. She not only values my work academically, but also respects me as a person. She has even gone above and beyond for me by going out of her way to help me resolve a problem I encountered outside of our direct work together,” wrote another.
In 2021, Doran received the Distinguished Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award from the College of Humanities, and the University of Arizona Provost Office Arizona Champion Award.
Prior College of Humanities winners of the Five Star Faculty Award include:
2021: Rob Stephan, Religious Studies and Classics
2018: Edgard Ore-Giron, Spanish and Portuguese
2017: Annette Joseph-Gabriel, French and Italian
2016: Anders Peterson, Spanish and Portuguese
2013: Alain-Philippe Durand, French and Italian
2009: Albrecht Classen, German Studies
2008: Melissa Fitch, Spanish and Portuguese
2004: David Soren, Classics
2000: Jon Solomon, Classics
1997: Ana Perches, Spanish and Portuguese
1996: Elizabeth Harrison, East Asian Studies
1995: Kamakshi Murti, German Studies
1987: Robert A. Burns, Religious Studies
1985: Donna Swaim, Humanities
1984: Vicky Hamblin, French