Nicole Tanquary Receives CMU Graduate Student Teaching Award

Nicole Tanquary (she/they), a Ph.D. candidate in the rhetoric program in the Department of English, is the recipient of the 2025 CMU Graduate Student Teaching Award.

Tanquary’s research centers on feminist rhetorics, political discourse and studies of public accountability, among other topics. In spring 2025, she taught the self-designed Interpretation and Argument course, “Reckoning with Me Too,” in which students studied the history and impact of the #MeToo movement through a rhetorical lens. 

“Nicole is deeply reflective about their own teaching and practice, which shows in their admirable course design,” said Courtney Novosat, senior lecturer in the Department of English.

Tanquary’s teaching philosophy is centered in the concept of Universal Design, which focuses on delivering course content in a variety of formats in order to meet the needs of all learners, including those with physical or learning disabilities. Tanquary takes this a step further, creating lesson plans that take into account factors such as cultural background and mental health in addition to ability.

“Difference among our students is enriching to our classrooms,” Tanquary said. “As an instructor, my goal is to ensure that all of my students have access to a shared sense of empowerment as they learn to write in academia.

Tanquary is also known for kindness and consideration.

“Nicole brings a unique combination of warmth, creativity and patience to their teaching,” said Julie Pal-Agrawal, a lecturer in writing and communication in the English Department. “She genuinely cares about the well-being and success of her students, and she fosters an environment of trust and mutual respect in their classroom.”

Tanquary’s students echo this sentiment. Design and human-computer interaction sophomore Viviana Staicu explained that Tanquary’s teaching made her more at ease with the writing process. “Her written feedback alone helped me learn and feel more confident in my writing abilities — it felt like I had a personal tutor.” 

Kevin Xu, a sophomore in design and human-computer interaction, said, “She always goes out of the way for her students. At the end of class, she would stay behind to talk to students and answer any questions. I’m very grateful to have had her as my teacher!” 

Tanquary holds a B.A. in Writing and Rhetoric from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and an M.A. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University. She is currently at work on a dissertation titled “How Journalists Depict Sexual Violence and Accountability in U.S. Politics.”