Brian Wright Receives 2025 All-University Teaching Award
Quantitative Foundation Associate Professor of Data Science Brian Wright has been named a recipient of the 2025 All-University Teaching Award, one of the University of Virginia’s highest honors for faculty. This award recognizes exceptional teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional level across all schools of the University.
Presented annually, the award celebrates faculty members who demonstrate excellence and creativity in the classroom, a deep commitment to student learning, and meaningful contributions to their respective fields. Awardees are selected based on evidence of effective teaching, innovation, dedication to students, and continued efforts to grow as educators.
Wright serves as the School of Data Science undergraduate programs director and led the development of UVA’s major and minor in data science, which has grown to become the most popular minor across the entire University. He is the director of the Collaboratory for the Advancement of Data Science and Education, a wide-reaching partnership with UVA’s School of Education, and he also oversees the Data Science Active Learning Lab, an applied research lab focused on creating effective and innovative pedagogical methods for data science education.
In addition, Wright has served as the Faculty Senate representative for the School of Data Science for multiple terms. In this role, he ensures that the concerns of the University’s newest School are heard while fostering connections across Grounds.
"We can think of no one more deserving of the UVA All-University Teaching Award than Professor Brian Wright. He is deeply respected by his current and former students, and his accomplishments both within and beyond the classroom are truly exceptional," said Jeffrey Blume, professor of data science and Quantitative Foundation Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs.
The Teaching Awards Committee praised Wright for his commitment to excellence in the classroom and said it found the depth of support for his nomination from colleagues and students to be especially compelling. Along with a $3,000 honorarium, Wright was honored along with his fellow recipients at a Rotunda event on April 29.
Read UVA Today's coverage of the awards event.
Concurrently, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs congratulated School of Data Science Ph.D. student Navya Annapareddy on being one of 34 graduate teachers nominated for this year's Graduate Teaching Awards. These teachers represent the top 5% of graduate teachers University-wide and come from five Schools and 24 programs or departments. All will be honored at a reception on April 30 in the Colonnade Club.
