Caroline Fowler

Spring 2026 Winner

Caroline Fowler’s teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning, evidence-based pedagogy, and an inclusive classroom culture. In her neuroscience laboratory courses, she connects theoretical concepts to practical understanding through hands-on dissections, collaborative group work, and real-world problem-solving. To reinforce retention and alleviate test anxiety, she employs retrieval practice and spaced repetition—such as weekly drawing assignments and cumulative quizzes paired with individualized feedback. Fowler also champions accessibility and equity by integrating diverse instructional formats and coordinating with campus support services to assist students with varied learning needs.

Throughout her graduate career, Fowler has consistently pursued structured pedagogical development and mentorship training. She completed Baylor’s Center for Improved Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) program and the Graduate Student Mentoring Program, guiding undergraduate researchers such as McNair Scholars and B-TRUE Fellows. As a member of the Psychology and Neuroscience Seminar Committee, she organized departmental workshops on academic integrity and the ethical integration of AI in education. Her development is further highlighted by guest lecturing, participating in recovery awareness training through the Baylor Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center, and completing peer reviews for the Academy for Teaching and Learning (TeaCHE) capstone. Mentor Dr. Elisabeth Vichaya wrote, "Caroline has a gift for translating dense mechanistic material into terms that are accessible without being oversimplified... Taken together, her guest lecture, her laboratory instruction, and her sustained mentorship of undergraduate researchers demonstrate a level of teaching skill and commitment that goes well beyond what is expected of a graduate student."

What Students Say

To teach these structures in a comprehensible manner for students, she developed analogies, visual explanations, real-world ties, and step-by-step breakdowns for almost every single structure. She invents new mnemonics in her spare time and then teaches us how to do the same for future courses. Caroline does not just teach the content; she teaches her students how to learn.