Alison Luscomb still remembers the student who changed the direction of her career. While in college, she took a job as a teaching assistant in an organic chemistry lab because it seemed like something that would strengthen her résumé. But after helping a struggling student improve from failing grades to As, she realized her talent for teaching. 

“Being appreciated by that student was a feeling that I'll never forget,” Luscomb said, whose student went on to earn a Ph.D. in medicine. 

This year, Luscomb received the Professional Track Faculty Teaching Award from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences to recognize her work as a senior instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.  

“Her distinguished teaching and ability to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment make her an exceptionally worthy candidate for this honor,” said Qian Wang, chemistry department chair.  

Known for her energetic and approachable teaching style, Luscomb focuses on making chemistry feel less intimidating and more accessible, especially for students encountering the subject for the first time. Her courses emphasize understanding over memorization.  

She also coordinates general chemistry instruction to support thousands of students each year, and she has helped redesign chemistry labs to better connect scientific concepts with real-world clinical applications. 

Luscomb says the most meaningful recognition still comes from students, whether a heartfelt thank-you, a hard-earned success story or simply knowing they’ve gained confidence in themselves along the way. 

In recognition of her achievement, we asked Luscomb to share a few thoughts about her approach to teaching.

What should students expect when they enroll in one of your classes? 

My students have told me that I'm an animated and theatrical teacher. What I love most is helping others discover the most enjoyable way to learn a difficult topic. I strongly believe in providing students with easy-to-use resources, stating learning objectives clearly and utilizing open-source materials to minimize student costs. Those who register for my course can expect a simple syllabus and slides, straightforward course policies and clear expectations. 

What are some of the moments or accomplishments that make you most proud of your work at USC?  

Being awarded the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences Professional-Track Faculty Teaching Award has been a great honor, but I would be lying if I said that it means more to me than the recognition I've received from my students. Everything I do is for my students. Being appreciated by them and seeing them become doctors, lawyers, cardiovascular techs, researchers and teachers is worth a million awards. 

A student once sat in the front row of my General Chemistry I lecture crying because she was struggling with the material and felt overwhelmed. She and I put in hours of work together to help her pass General Chemistry I and II. I'm sure there were times when she wanted to give up, but she never did. She passed Chem I, Chem II, Organic Chem I, and Organic Chem II, the latter two being well-known "weed-out" classes. She recently graduated with her cardiovascular technology degree, and I could not be prouder. 

What do you hope your students remember about you and your courses in 10 years? 

I hope that in years to come they can realize how ubiquitous chemistry is in their daily lives and in their profession and that they can apply the concepts they learned. Chemistry is difficult, and I don't think that's a bad thing. When students look back at their chemistry courses years later, I hope they remember it as both a challenging and transformative time in their lives when they were pushed to their limits and came out better for it. 

As for their instructor, I hope they remember that failing doesn't make them a failure (I had failed Gen Chem I three times myself). I also hope they remember my relentless and terrible dad jokes that I know are awful.  

Who at USC has been a role model or mentor for you and your teaching?  

Amy Taylor-Perry has been an amazing and impactful role model since I was hired in 2019. Dr. Taylor-Perry is a senior instructor and lab coordinator who also develops curriculums, manages scheduling and teaches Honors classes. She has won the McCausland Teaching Award, the Garnet Apple Award and even more prestigious teaching awards that cannot begin to convey the hard work and dedication she consistently exhibits toward her students and colleagues. In the words of Isaac Newton, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."