Danielle Feeney named as OHIO winner of MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success

Dr. Danielle Feeney has been selected as the Ohio University winner of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success.

Feeney, who is an assistant professor of instruction in special education in the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education, was announced as the 2023 OHIO winner by the MAC on Feb. 27.

“I am pleased to recognize Dr. Danielle Feeney for her outstanding work with undergraduate and graduate students,” Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs said. “Ohio University is committed to helping all students be successful in reaching their academic and career goals, and Dr. Feeney is very deserving of this honor.”

The MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success recognizes one full-time faculty member from each MAC institution each year who has shown a dedication to student success and inclusion.

This is Feeney’s fourth year at OHIO, where she teaches courses in OHIO's special education program with a focus on assessment, intensive interventions, and methods for students with high-incidence disabilities. She also teaches introductory courses focused on inclusive education and graduate courses on Universal Design for Learning.

“I’m truly honored and so grateful to receive this award,” Feeney said. “And, I share this honor with all who do this work – first and foremost the students, along with the faculty and staff at OHIO who are dedicated and doing amazing things as well (and I get to learn from every day!)”

Feeney said that she feels fortunate to be able to teach undergraduate and graduate students at OHIO. In her courses, she explained, she and her students form strong relationships and invest in each other’s success.

“My love, passion, and dedication for this work is largely due to the students. I’m grateful to get to work alongside them, learn from them, and grow with them every semester,” Feeney said.  “They push me to be not just a better teacher, but a better human.”

This is the fourth year that the Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success has been awarded to recognize the outstanding efforts of MAC faculty who support and develop students both inside and outside of the classroom. 

This student-focused award celebrates the commitment of the MAC to a holistic student experience and the creation of an environment that supports success in school and in life.  

The faculty members selected at each institution have shown an appreciation for the MAC Core Values, including academic achievement, commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity, fiscal responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship, and student-athlete well-being.