SEASIDE – A Cal State Monterey Bay professor was recently honored in the 2025 Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences, presented by the USDA and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Jose Pablo “JP” Dundore-Arias, the director of the agricultural plant and soil science program, was one of two people to receive early-career teacher honors and a $2,000 stipend alongside it to be used for improving the educational experience for his students.
Dundore-Arias knew last year that some of his colleagues had nominated him for the award.
“It was very moving, and I felt very honored,” he said in a press release. “But I never really thought it was something I could get. It’s a major recognition.”
A dozen winners were announced across various categories on Jan. 22, with other winners coming from schools such as Penn State, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Illinois-Champagne. CSUMB was the only non-R1 federal land-grant university among the winners.
According to the USDA, the awards “celebrate university faculty for their use of innovative teaching methods and service to students (and) will be presented during the 2026 APLU annual meeting.”
Wendy Fink, the executive director of the Academic Programs section at APLU said in a press release that she was pleased to recognize the winners.
“Their steadfast dedication to teaching and mentorship profoundly influences not only the trajectory of their students, but also inspires colleagues through the academic community, nurturing a culture of ongoing growth and distinction,” she said.
CSUMB Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Lawson recognized the impact Dundore-Arias has made on campus, saying in a press release that Dundore-Aras has “shown himself to be an excellent teacher, but more than that, he is a tremendous mentor to his students.”
“He sees the potential in his students, and guides them to see future pathways that change the trajectories of their lives while also preparing them to be leaders in our regional agricultural industry,” said Lawson.
Dundore-Aras also stressed the importance of community for awards like this.
“This award is recognition of the work that I’ve done, not by myself, but with the community,” he said in a press release. “For me, the importance is the motivation and impact it can have for my students. We’re doing great things and people are watching.”
