UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — College of Arts and Architecture graduate students Ye Sul Park and Nan Yang are among the recipients of the 2025 Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award. The award is sponsored jointly by the Fox Graduate School, through the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award endowment, and the Office of the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Park is an art education doctoral student who has taught nine sections of courses ranging from introductory level to advanced practicum. She draws on her experience as an art museum educator in both the United States and South Korea to develop curricula, including a visual culture curriculum related to AI.
Through her teaching, she strives to create an environment in which “diverse lived experiences are valued, horizontal relations between teachers and students are fostered, and students feel empowered to step out of their comfort zone and engage more deeply.”
Park said the award recognizes her efforts to create an inclusive learning environment.
“I am deeply grateful for this award, as it affirms that my efforts to create an engaging and supportive learning environment have positively impacted both my students’ learning and the broader Penn State community,” said Park. “My experience as a graduate teaching assistant and instructor has profoundly informed my doctoral research, providing me with opportunities to develop my research questions through real interactions with students and conduct pilot studies within my classes. These experiences ultimately contributed to the development and refinement of a curriculum for my dissertation study.”
Park’s numerous letters in support of her nomination praise her dedication to her students, her passion for teaching, and her understanding of diverse students’ learning styles and processes.
“Ye Sul has been an invaluable addition to the Art Education program at Penn State and a role model for students in all levels of our program. We are very fortunate that she chose Penn State for her graduate studies, and I have full confidence that she has a successful career ahead of her,” wrote one nominator.
Yang, a doctoral candidate in Architecture with an emphasis in landscape architecture, has taught 10 sections of landscape architecture courses on topics including grading and stormwater management, digital graphics, and design studio. Through her teaching, she strives to create a learning environment in which empathy, understanding, and creativity thrive. According to the faculty and students she worked with, Yang demonstrated not only extensive knowledge of the subject material, but also a profound commitment to student learning and engagement. Her teaching methodology integrates digital skill development through customized tutorials, visualization-enhanced instruction using 3D modeling, structured peer-learning activities, and hands-on demonstrations.
Yang said this award is particularly meaningful to her as an international student who entered the program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When uncertainty seemed to be the only constant, teaching courses like grading, stormwater management, and design studios became my essential anchor and encouraged my growth in ways I never expected,” Yang noted. “Throughout my teaching journey, I've learned so much from working alongside professors who showed unwavering commitment to education. I've witnessed students take ownership of their learning through creative expression and finding their voices. Together, we've navigated uncertainty while creating a warm, inclusive, and creative learning environment that depends on everyone's contribution.”
The letters in support of Yang’s nomination highlight her preparedness, extensive knowledge of the subject material, and work ethic.
“Nan Yang exemplifies the very qualities we seek in outstanding educators. Her deep care for students, passion for teaching, and relentless pursuit of improvement make her a highly deserving candidate of Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award,” wrote one nominator.