Ian M. Hartshorn, assistant professor in the department of political science, has received the 2020 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, Continuing Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts. The award recognizes teaching among tenured and tenure-track faculty in the College.

Hartshorn came to the University of Nevada, Reno in 2015 and teaches popular undergraduate and graduate classes, such as comparative politics of the Middle East and North Africa, comparative political economy and qualitative research methods in political science. Hartshorn also enjoys teaching in the honors program and cross-listed courses with the gender, race, and identity program. He holds a certificate in College and University Teaching from the University of Pennsylvania and was also a Graduate Fellow for Teaching Excellence at the same institution.

“In the classroom I strive to build student solidarity and model my discussions on how my instructors at the small liberal arts college I attended led class,” says Hartshorn about his teaching philosophy. “I like that UNR lets me have a close, liberal arts feeling in the classroom with all of the benefits of an R1 research institution.”

“Hartshorn is committed to contributing a diverse perspective for the students in his classroom,” says Keely Eshenbaugh, a Ph.D. student in the department of political science. “In addition to preparing a wide variety of material for students to consider during the course, Hartshorn is also very active in recruiting students from other fields to join his seminars...His classes are some of the most challenging in the department…but the end result of truly knowing the field, arguments and analysis is so rewarding.”

Carolyn Warner, chair of the department observed that, "In addition to his skills in the classroom, Hartshorn puts considerable time into meeting with students outside of class; he's patient with them and very accessible. His commitment to teaching also shows in how he has ramped up activities for our undergraduates and graduate students through Pi Sigma Alpha and a brown-bag lunch series. He is very deserving of the Teaching Excellence award."