Essix Miskel, Process Operations Technology instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County Campus, received a 2021 Award of Excellence from the American Association of Community Colleges at the national convention in May.  Miskel was given the award for Faculty Innovation because he strives for continuous improvement in his teaching methods, including finding ways to make it easier for students to understand challenging material.

“Receiving this award is very humbling,” he said.  “We have so many outstanding instructors at MGCCC and at many other institutions across the nation.  I am just thrilled to have been selected.”

Miskel credits the college’s administration with providing him the support to accomplish the progressive approaches to teaching and learning that he employs. “Our college administration is innovative, and they promote new ideas in classroom strategies that remain student-oriented and have proven success.”

His 30 years of industry experience also provides the knowledge base he needs when finding novel approaches to particularly difficult competencies.  “Most students come to us with a very rudimentary understanding of tools and how things work. For some of them, this may cause challenges to learn the material. We have to find new and inventive ways to approach the various competencies to help students find success.”

Miskel is the only instructor to receive an Award of Excellence out of instructors at the nation’s 1,200 two-year colleges.

AACC’s Awards of Excellence underscores the Association’s priorities and brings national visibility to promising practices among its member colleges. Nominees are judged by a select committee of the AACC Board of Directors.