NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Drs. Emmerentie Oliphant, assistant provost of academic affairs and Buddy Zeagler Endowed Professor for Community-Based Research, and Brittney Falahola, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, were named recipients of The University of Texas System’s 2026 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.
Established in 2008, the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award is one of the most prestigious teaching honors in the nation, reflecting the UT System’s mission to recognize and reward faculty members who demonstrate excellence in classroom teaching and student engagement. Each year, recipients are selected through a rigorous process led by UT System leadership and peers to recognize faculty members whose dedication and innovation have profoundly impacted student learning and success. Awardees receive a $25,000 monetary prize, medallion and certificate.
Oliphant and Falahola will be recognized during the UT System Board of Regents' November meeting.
Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant
During her 32 years in academia — including the past 20 years at SFA — Oliphant has always focused her teaching approach on empowering students, connecting learning to real-world experiences and inspiring a passion for social work that transforms lives and strengthens communities.
This teaching philosophy comes from a practical teaching style, one where students can share and reflect on their own lived experiences. Through assignments such as documenting their daily lives through photos, students explore personal strengths and challenges while developing empathy and a deeper understanding of the experiences of their future clients.
“I believe I have a tremendous responsibility to elevate social work for students while teaching them how to think outside the box,” Oliphant said. “I treat every student as a unique individual whom I can impact greatly through showing them how to empower others, respect all clients no matter who they are and develop creative ways to help individuals, families and communities. I do this with a deep understanding that the person in my classroom is more than just a student.”
Inspired by her parents, who taught her the values of hard work, resilience, integrity and compassion, Oliphant discovered her calling in seventh grade, when she decided she wanted to become a social worker while growing up in South Africa.
Now, her inspiration comes from her students.
“I am now mostly inspired by the passion, excitement and energy of my students,” Oliphant said. “They inspire me to look at the world and all its challenges through a strengths-based lens. I keep on going because of my parents who set the example that we have a responsibility toward this world.”
While working in the School of Social Work, Oliphant held leadership roles along with her regular teaching duties, including director of the Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work programs. In September, Oliphant was named assistant provost of academic affairs, and is responsible for accreditation, curriculum, policies, compliance, the Office of the Registrar and the Steen Library.
In 2018, Oliphant was named the Buddy Zeagler Endowed Professor for Community-Based Research, an endowment established in recognition of the School of Social Work’s efforts to engage undergraduate and graduate students in serving rural East Texas communities. Supported by its namesake, Buddy Zeagler, former president and CEO of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, the endowment provides research opportunities for faculty and scholarships for students involved in her projects, helping strengthen student recruitment and retention.
To Oliphant, the award is a personal milestone and a reflection of those who supported her throughout her journey.
“To receive this award after 32 years in academia is the highlight of my career,” Oliphant said. “I believe this award showcases the important work that we do at the School of Social Work and as social workers across the globe. The award reflects the support and encouragement I received and still receive from my students, mentors, colleagues and family. Many people have invested in my professional and career development, and this award is the result of their commitment to me. I also am grateful for the UT System’s recognition of social work.”
According to Dr. Jordan Barkley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at SFA, Oliphant exemplifies the qualities that define exceptional teaching and the impact of an educator who inspires students, fosters academic growth and helps shape future generations.
“Dr. Oliphant embodies every quality the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award seeks to recognize: innovation, engagement, mentorship, leadership, adaptability and a profound commitment to student success,” Barkley said. “Her teaching represents the very best of higher education and reflects the transformative power of an educator dedicated to both academic excellence and human flourishing.”
Dr. Brittney Falahola
For Falahola, teaching stretches far beyond equations and formulas.
Now in her 10th year at SFA, Falahola built her teaching approach around helping students recognize their potential, build confidence in mathematics and understand that learning comes from both successes and setbacks.
In many of her courses, Falahola implements standards-based grading, which emphasizes both successes and productive failures. This approach encourages students to work through challenges, move beyond partial understanding and recognize they are capable of success even when they don't grasp a concept right away.
“In my courses, I aim to create a classroom in which students can set aside past experiences and strive for success in mathematics,” Falahola said. “Through meaningful conversations and interactions with students in class, during office hours and at conferences, I have the privilege of witnessing how students develop into confident adults who are equipped to face the challenges that come with living life.”
Falahola was inspired to become an educator by all the educators who supported her throughout her educational journey, especially her high school calculus teacher. Additionally, Falahola developed a deep enjoyment for sharing her knowledge of mathematics with others and helping them understand mathematical concepts.
“As I continue in this profession, one of the main joys that keeps me coming back semester after semester is the opportunities I get to talk with students about math and support their growth in the subject and in life,” she said.
In her role, Falahola’s responsibilities stretch across teaching, scholarly activity and service. She teaches multiple courses each semester and serves on a number of committees and research groups related to teaching and assessment, teacher preparation programs and academic integrity.
Falahola said the award is a tremendous honor and a meaningful recognition of her commitment to supporting students.
“It is such an honor to receive this award,” she said. “It means a lot that the UT System would recognize a mathematics teacher just doing her best to support her students.”
According to Barkley, Falahola creates a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel valued, build confidence and develop the resilience needed to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
“Dr. Falahola’s teaching is profoundly human-centered,” Barkley said. “Students repeatedly describe her as encouraging, compassionate, approachable and genuinely invested in their success. Her classrooms are spaces where students feel valued, challenged and empowered to persist through difficulty. Through her mentorship and instructional excellence, she not only teaches mathematics but also cultivates confidence, resilience and a belief in students’ own capabilities.”
