Augusta University
Stacey Hudson
Dr. Catherine Jauregui, Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Biology, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Augusta University Individual Teaching Excellence Award.
This prestigious recognition is part of Augusta University’s annual Teaching Excellence Awards, which celebrate faculty members whose passion, innovation, and commitment to teaching have made a significant impact on student success and the university’s academic mission.
“I am reminded of the extraordinary caliber of our faculty and the innovative programs that make AU such a distinctive place to learn,” said Dr. Maggy G. Tomova, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “Through their innovation, dedication, and passion for teaching, they have not only elevated the learning experience for our students but also strengthened our university’s culture of academic excellence.”
Jauregui’s research explores the complex interactions between bacteria and host cells, but it’s her engaging teaching style and devotion to student learning that have earned her university-wide acclaim. Her students and colleagues consistently praise her ability to make science come alive in the classroom through interactive, meaningful learning experiences.
One of her favorite techniques is Think-Pair-Share, where students reflect on newly learned material, discuss it in pairs, and then formulate questions to challenge the class’s Microbiology Mentor Chatbot — a playful but effective way to reinforce their own understanding.
“They not only test the chatbot but also evaluate how well it understands the material — which turns out to be a fun and powerful way to reinforce their own learning,” she explained.
Jauregui also uses in-class assignments that turn abstract ideas into active experiences, such as the Gallery Walk on remineralization and demineralization, which gets students up and moving as they analyze and interpret complex biological processes. Another favorite is the Six Thinking Hats activity on vaccination, designed to help students engage with difficult topics from multiple perspectives.
“It helps students connect emotionally as well as intellectually with the material,” she said. “That kind of connection deepens understanding and promotes real learning.”
Her colleagues and students describe her as approachable, passionate, and deeply invested in student development, characteristics that help make complex scientific concepts feel both relevant and accessible.
“Dr. Jauregui’s passion for both research and teaching exemplifies the excellence we strive for at the Dental College of Georgia,” said Dr. Kevin Frazier, Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs at the DCG. “She demonstrates the best of what we ask of our faculty: to be dedicated, innovative and deeply committed to the success of her students.”
Reflecting on her favorite learning moments, Jauregui doesn’t cite a single breakthrough but instead cherishes the ongoing growth she witnesses in her students.
“Seeing students evolve from uncertain first-years into confident fourth-year clinicians never stops being special,” she said. “Equally rewarding is watching those who struggled early in the semester find their footing and begin to trust their understanding. Those turning points, when something finally clicks and their confidence blooms, remind me why teaching is such a privilege.”
She also credits Augusta University’s strong support for faculty development as a key motivator in her work.
“We’re living in a time with so many new tools and opportunities to improve how we teach and connect with our students. It’s hard not to feel excited about it,” she said. “Every semester brings new ways to spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and make learning more meaningful. That constant evolution, and the chance to grow alongside my students, is what gives me the warm fuzzies about teaching.”
AU Teaching Excellence Awards recognize faculty across a range of categories. In addition to Jauregui, 2025 honorees include Dr. ChongWoo Park, Professor of Management Information Systems in the Hull College of Business, honored for excellence in online teaching; Dr. Deborah Richardson, Professor of Psychology in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, recipient of the AU Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award; and The Medical Illustration degree program, awarded the AU Program Teaching Excellence Award.
Jauregui has been an active member of the DCG Faculty Development Committee since 2021 and is the current chair of the AUFS Faculty Development Committee, a committee she has served on since 2020. She also facilitates a Faculty Learning Community focused on the Teaching and Assessment of Critical Thinking, which has been going since January 2023. The Learning Community has provided several workshops to Augusta University faculty.
Jauregui earned a PhD in Cellular Microbiology from the University of Bristol (2009) following a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Exeter (2005).
