Stockton University Professor Naz Onel was selected as the inaugural recipient of the university’s Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, according to a June 2 announcement. Onel, a professor of Business Administration, learned of her selection after being honored for 10 years of service at Stockton’s annual Employee Recognition Day on May 7.
“Reading the congratulations letter from Provost Michael Palladino was a moment of pure joy. It was deeply moving to read that my commitment to inclusive teaching practices and my ability to inspire students from various backgrounds truly embody Stockton’s mission of student-focused education,” said Onel. “Receiving this honor is a wonderful milestone that celebrates both my journey at Stockton since 2015 and the incredible growth of the diverse learners I have been privileged to teach every day.”
The award comes with a $4,000 stipend, a commemorative plaque, and recognition at an event in the fall semester. The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation funds the award, which has recognized outstanding faculty members at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1961. This year marks Stockton’s first participation in the program alongside 51 other institutions.
Provost Michael Palladino called it “the university’s highest honor for teaching excellence,” and said it recognizes faculty who demonstrate effectiveness, innovation, inclusivity, and sustained impact on student learning. “I congratulate Dr. Onel on the Lindback Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award, a recognition of her commitment to teaching and learning and to enhancing the learning environment for her students and colleagues,” Palladino said. “She exemplifies the engagement and commitment of Stockton’s faculty and its mission to foster intellectual growth through student-centered education.”
Nominees were chosen by a committee based on five criteria: teaching effectiveness; pedagogical innovation; mentoring; contributions to teaching community; and sustained impact through reflective practice.
Onel also serves as co-author of “Sustainability Marketing: A Global Perspective,” co-lead for “Sustain Tomorrow: Stewardship and Innovation” in Stockton’s Strategic Plan, president of Northeast Business & Economics Association, and editor in chief of SAM Advanced Management Journal.
She said she plans to use part of her stipend for student support initiatives such as funding class simulations or graduate application fees, or investing in resources like a teaching innovation library. “My core philosophy has always been that to inspire my students to become lifelong learners, I must model that exact behavior myself,” she said.
