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Ghazaleh Parvini, a lecturer in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS), is the recipient of CICS’s 2025 College Outstanding Teaching Award (COTA), which recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring individual faculty members at each of the university’s colleges for their instructional accomplishments.

The COTA program, administered jointly by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the individual colleges, are presented annually during the spring semester; each award consists of a $1,000 prize and a commemorative plaque. Candidates for the 2025 award were selected based on faculty nominations and student feedback.

“Ghazeleh stood out for showing an incredible dedication to course development, student engagement, and mentorship,” noted the awards committee. “She has taught a wide variety of courses, from theory to practice, and designed several courses from scratch.”

The committee also acknowledged that comments from students reflecting on Parvini’s teaching were equally impressive, with several commenting on how she serves as an excellent role model for them as a woman computer scientist.

One of Parvini’s students noted, “Professor Parvini is one of the few computer science female professors I’ve had at UMass, and I look up to her as an ideal. As a woman in tech, it’s incredibly inspiring to see her succeed... She’s a constant inspiration, and I would be honored to follow in her footsteps.”

Another said, “As a female instructor, she brought a unique and engaging perspective that resonated with students, making the classroom more inclusive and dynamic. Her dedication and ability to connect with students truly make her a role model for me, and her dedication to both teaching and mentorship makes her highly deserving of the College Outstanding Teaching Award.”

Parvini, whose current research focuses on theoretical computer science topics like graph theory and designing exact and randomized algorithms for hard problems, says the distinction is “an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my academic journey. Knowing that students see me as a role model, particularly as a woman in computer science, is both humbling and deeply meaningful.”

She added, “Beyond personal achievement, this award is a testament to the vibrant learning community we’ve built together—a space where curiosity thrives, ideas flourish, and students feel empowered to grow. It reinforces the value of passionate, student-centered teaching and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in the classroom. I hope that through both my teaching and mentorship, I can encourage more students to confidently pursue their ambitions in computer science.”

More information about the COTAs can be found on the CTL website.