2026-27 Award Recipient:

Marissa Williams

University of Louisville

Meet Marissa

Marissa Williams is an Academic Program Manager at the University of Louisville, where she supports First-Year Experience and student success initiatives through a Community of Care mindset. Drawing on a decade of experience in academic advising and teaching First-Year Experience courses for exploratory students, she brings a student-centered approach to her work and is committed to continuous improvement. In the classroom, whether in person or online, she fosters welcoming learning environments through active learning, student choice, individualized support, and meaningful connections to students' lived experiences. Beyond teaching, she strengthens First-Year Experience programs through curriculum design, instructor development, resource creation, and campus-wide collaboration. She is especially passionate about building community among instructors through connection, shared learning, and ongoing support. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cross-stitching, attending concerts, and exploring with her husband, Ben, and their dog, Snitch. 

Learn about previous recipients of the Excellence in Teaching First-Year Seminars Award