USU Salt Lake Faculty Member Named TEAL Teacher of the Year

SALT LAKE CITY — Amanda Deliman, assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) at Utah State University, has been named as the 2024 TEAL Faculty Teacher of the Year. Deliman, who teaches a variety of elementary education and early childhood education courses at USU Salt Lake Center, will now be entered for consideration for the 2024 Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services Teacher of the Year award.

“Dr. Deliman is extremely deserving of this recognition,” said David Vernon, associate vice president for USU Wasatch region. “Amanda is dedicated to her students and is always looking for new and innovative ways to help students with their course material. We are lucky to have her as a faculty member in the USU Wasatch Region.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Deliman graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, she worked for nearly 10 years as an early childhood and elementary educator in Indiana. During this time, Deliman earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies at Indiana University.

After being awarded a teaching fellowship, she began her pursuit of a doctorate degree, graduating in 2019 with a doctorate in literacy, culture, and language education. Deliman spent one year working as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, before joining the USU faculty in 2020. In 2022, Deliman received the USU Teaching Excellence Scholar Award from the Office of the Provost.

“I feel deeply grateful to be chosen as the TEAL Faculty Teacher of the Year,” Deliman said. “To be acknowledged this way, in a department full of outstanding educators whom I look up to, is very humbling.”

Working with students who are both traditional and post-traditional students, Deliman enjoys learning about the students with whom she works and seeing them succeed. She strives to cultivate a sense of belonging for her students.

“I feel that everyone has an important story to tell, and I want my students to know that I care about them,” Deliman said. “I strive to cultivate a sense of belonging in the courses I teach by providing openings for students to share their unique histories and experiences. This not only creates a caring learning community but also helps students feel valued for their ideas and contributions. We have students of all backgrounds and age ranges who are eager to advance their degrees. I feel incredibly fortunate to learn and grow alongside them on their journeys.”

Having personal experience in the field of elementary education prior to entering the ranks of professor, Deliman understands the challenges that students will face once they graduate and enter the classroom as educators. She works with students to prepare them for these challenges.

“Teacher burnout causes many folks to leave the profession early,” Deliman said. “In my courses, not only do I want to create a space where students feel a sense of belonging, but I also want to help them develop their own self-awareness and self-management skills so that they are better equipped for a challenging career ahead.”

Deliman has instituted several activities that seek to help students calm themselves and reset their minds. Seeing the increased demand for mental health maintenance, Deliman tries to help students develop these skills and apply them, not only for their future jobs, but also for their wellbeing in general.

“The demand for providing mental health and wellness support for college-age students has soared in the past few years,” she said. “I believe that if we can build in small supports, then perhaps we can minimize some of the growing challenges our students face.”

Located in the heart of the Salt Lake Metropolitan area, Utah State University Salt Lake Center offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings, USU Salt Lake Center offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at saltlake.usu.edu.