Dr. David Westenberg, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of biological sciences at Missouri S&T, has won a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Each year, the Governor’s Award is presented to an outstanding faculty member from each University of Missouri System institution. The awards are based on effective teaching, commitment to high standards of excellence, sustained success in nurturing student achievement, and significant innovation as an educator. Westenberg’s achievement will be recognized at the June meeting of the UM System Board of Curators.

“Dave has earned almost every professional teaching distinction available, and with good reason,” says Dr. Gina Yosten, Kummer Endowed Department Chair of biological sciences at Missouri S&T. “He is a fantastic ambassador not only for our department, but for the campus as a whole. He is always putting the students first and thinking of new ways to keep them engaged by improving the learning experience in his courses.”

In both undergraduate and graduate courses, including microbiology, genetics, virology, pathogenic microbiology, and first-year seminars, Westenberg demonstrates teaching effectiveness. Over the past several years, student evaluation scores in his courses have been strong, typically ranging from approximately 3.8 to 4.0 on a 4-point scale, reflecting high levels of student engagement and satisfaction.

Rather than relying solely on traditional lectures, Westenberg incorporates group problem-solving, discussion-based learning, concept mapping, and interactive classroom activities. Students analyze biological phenomena, generate questions and work collaboratively to develop explanations. These approaches promote critical thinking and allow students to take ownership of their learning.

“Dave’s approach to teaching is grounded in nationally recognized best practices in undergraduate education,” Yosten says. “He creates learning environments that are inclusive, student-centered, and highly interactive. He views teaching not simply as the delivery of information, but as the process of guiding students to become curious, self-directed learners who actively engage with scientific concepts.”

Westenberg, who joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 1997, holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He spent two years in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and four years as a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College.

In addition to research and teaching, he is co-advisor of the Missouri S&T iGEM synthetic biology student organization and advisor for HELIX, S&T’s American Society for Microbiology student chapter. He has received numerous awards for teaching and service including the inaugural College of Arts, Sciences, and Education Dean’s Medal in 2021, the University of Missouri System President’s Award for Community Engagement in 2020, and the American Society for Microbiology Carski Award for teaching and student success in 2020.

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.