Megan Lupek, an associate teaching professor of forestry and environmental resources in the College of Natural Resources, has been selected as a recipient of North Carolina State University’s 2025-26 Outstanding Teacher Award.
The Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes NC State faculty for exceptional teaching and contributions to student learning; recipients are members of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers for the duration of their tenure.
“It is an incredible honor to receive the Outstanding Teaching Award. My goal has always been to create learning experiences that connect students to real-world challenges and help them see their potential to lead change,” Lupek said. “This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but the passion, creativity and energy that they bring to that work. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such inspiring students.”
Lupek, who serves as co-director of the environmental sciences program, teaches introductory courses exploring how human populations interact with the natural environment, covering topics from population trends and agriculture to energy, pollution, biodiversity, land use and toxic substances.
She also leads a capstone course where fourth-year students tackle real-world environmental projects, applying analytical approaches to problem-solving, working in teams to simulate professional settings, and developing skills in writing, presentations, and decision-making.
Lupek’s teaching emphasizes active, student-centered learning through hands-on activities, field trips, citizen science, group work and using the NC State campus as a classroom, helping students connect course concepts to real-world environmental issues.
In early 2020, Lupek completed the Reflective Educational Design (RED) Core Teaching Certification from NC State’s Office for Faculty Excellence, a program that supports faculty in developing research‑based, reflective teaching practices to strengthen instruction.
“Megan’s dedication to student learning and innovative teaching truly sets her apart,” said Erin Sills, head of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State. “She brings the classroom to life with hands-on experiences, real-world projects and global collaborations, inspiring students to connect deeply with the natural environment. Her recognition with the Outstanding Teacher Award is a testament to the impact she has on every student fortunate enough to learn from her.”
Beyond teaching, Lupek is deeply engaged in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research to evaluate the impact of her classroom strategies, including evaluations of students’ perceptions of open educational resources, climate action projects and first-year environmental justice experiences.
Lupek supports colleagues as a SoTL Faculty Fellow and experiments with digital tools and innovative course design through programs like DELTA Faculty Fellows, enhancing engagement and learning outcomes. Her work also extends globally through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) modules.
Currently, Lupek is leading the “Global Urban Sustainability Through Citizen Science and Collaboration” project, which links 80 NC State students with peers at Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, France, through a COIL module and an urban accessibility hackathon comparing sustainability data from Raleigh and Nice.
Lupek holds a doctorate in forestry and wildlife science with a human dimensions concentration from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Albion College. Outside her academic work, she enjoys hiking, cooking, yoga and spending time with her family.
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