CCI’s Nadia Najjar Named Finalist for Charlotte’s 2025 Teaching Excellence Award

Nadia Najjar, teaching associate professor of software and information systems in the College of Computing and Informatics, has been named as an honorable mention finalist for the UNC Charlotte Teaching Excellence Award for non-tenured faculty.           

Najjar is dedicated to empowering students through computer science and is committed to creating learning environments where all students can thrive. She focuses on building meaningful relationships with her students and continuously improving her instructional approach.

“My passion for teaching is driven by a desire to help students feel seen, heard and supported in their learning journey,” said Najjar. “I believe fostering genuine connections builds trust, and that trust inspires students to engage deeply, take risks and grow.”

Najjar designs her courses around hands-on learning, teamwork and opportunities for students to reflect on what they’re learning. She designs clear learning paths, breaks down complex topics into manageable steps and shows students how the material connects to real life.  Najjar’s goal is to spark curiosity and help students see how what they’re learning ties into their own interests and future careers.

“Dr. Najjar goes above and beyond to be respectful to her students and makes sure that all her students are learning the best they can through creative methods that sets her teaching style apart,” said Jimmy Sarath, one of Najjar’s students.

Through programs like the Active Learning Academy, the STEM Learning Academy and the Student Experience Project, she has implemented interventions that support belonging and student engagement.

“Nadia is truly a distinguished educator and mentor for our students and effectively integrates education innovation with research,” said Weichao Wang, professor and chair of software and information systems.

Najjar plays an essential role in curriculum leadership and student mentorship. She serves as director of the Integrated Critical Core Center, oversees foundational course structures and advises both undergraduate and graduate students on research, career paths and academic success. Najjar also actively contributes to pedagogical research, publishing work in computer science education and winning national recognition, including a Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Computer-Supported Education.

“Dr. Najjar’s mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey, and I have no doubt that her influence will continue to inspire students for years to come,” said Mohammad Azad, a student of Najjar’s.                                          

The other two honorable mention finalists for this year’s award are Andrew Goff, lecturer of biological sciences and Susana Cisneros, a senior lecturer of Spanish who ultimately won the award. Najjar, Goff and Cisneros were formally recognized in a campus ceremony Sept. 11.