Department of Computer Science Recognizes 2025–26 Teaching Award Recipients

The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science announced its 2025–26 teaching award recipients, recognizing faculty members, teaching assistants and a student-led course facilitator for their work in undergraduate education.

This year’s awardees are Assistant Professor Alan Zaoxing Liu, who received Best Professor; Senior Lecturer Christopher Kauffman, who received Best Lecturer; Mario Alvarenga, who received Best Undergraduate TA; Segev Elisha-Cliff Elazar Mittelman, who received Best Graduate TA; and Amrit Magesh, who received Best STIC Facilitator.

The department presents the awards annually to recognize instructors and student educators who contribute to undergraduate computer science courses. Students are invited to submit nominations in the spring, and recipients are selected near the end of the academic year.

“Strong teaching is built through consistent and often unseen work, from preparing students for difficult concepts to supporting them when they get stuck and helping them see what they are capable of building,” said Department Chair Matthias Zwicker, who holds the Elizabeth Iribe Chair for Innovation and the Phillip H. and Catherine C. Horvitz Professorship. “This year’s awardees brought that commitment to their classrooms, discussion sections and student-led courses. We are proud of their contributions to teaching excellence in our department.”

About the Award Recipients

Alan Zaoxing Liu, an assistant professor of computer science, was recognized as Best Professor. Liu joined the department in fall 2023 after serving on the faculty at Boston University

His research spans computer systems, networks and cybersecurity, with a focus on scalable and trustworthy approximate computing systems. At UMD, Liu teaches CMSC414 and CMSC498B, courses that introduce students to computer and network security, cloud computing and applied projects using commercial cloud tools.

“I am honored to receive this award, especially because teaching has been one of the most inspiring parts of my work at UMD,” Liu said. “It is rewarding to see students grow in confidence, take ownership of difficult ideas and surprise themselves with what they are capable of building and understanding. I am grateful to my students, teaching assistants, colleagues and cloud industry partners, whose support and resources have helped turn our educational vision into something meaningful.”

Christopher Kauffman, a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, was named  Best Lecturer. He joined UMD in fall 2023 after teaching in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

At UMD, Kauffman teaches CMSC216 and CMSC330, courses in computer systems and programming languages that introduce students to topics such as machine architecture, operating systems and the organization of programming languages.

“I am honored that my teaching has had a positive impact,” Kauffman said. “I have always believed in communities of learning, where our academic mission is strengthened by the people who come together to support it. I am grateful to work alongside outstanding teaching assistants, staff, colleagues and students who help make the classroom successful, and I hope to continue being part of that collective for years to come.”

Mario Alvarenga, a computer science major with a concentration in machine learning, received the Best Undergraduate TA award for supporting undergraduate instruction in CMSC131 and helping students work through course material.

“I am grateful for this award and appreciate the recognition,” Alvarenga said. “It reflects my passion for my students and my commitment to their education. I will continue to push myself and my students toward greater academic success.”

Segev Elisha-Cliff Elazar Mittelman, a computer science Ph.D. student, was recognized as Best Graduate TA. He is advised by Associate Professor of Computer Science Leonidas Lampropoulos, and his research interests include programming languages, formal verification and software testing.

“I am honored to receive this award and grateful to the students who reached out, worked through challenges and spent countless hours trying to understand complex material,” Mittelman said. “Teaching is one of my greatest passions. Few things are more fulfilling than helping a student reach the moment when an idea clicks. Mentorship from great teachers helped me discover my interest in formal methods and testing research, and I hope to help inspire that same curiosity and confidence in the next generation of students.”

Amrit Magesh, a computer science major with a minor in the Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students program, received the Best STIC Facilitator award. He facilitated CMSC389E: Digital Logic Design Through Minecraft.

The course uses Minecraft to teach digital logic concepts, including components of a basic computer such as an arithmetic logic unit, RAM and ROM. 

The STIC program allows students to design and teach one-credit courses under faculty supervision, allowing undergraduates to explore topics not always covered in the standard curriculum. 

"It is a great honor to have taught CMSC389E and reestablish its curriculum to guide students to learning computer science at the lowest level in an intuitive way," Magesh said. "I am thankful for the CS department and my peers for giving me this recognition."

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications