Jan Wiersema, associate teaching professor in agronomy, is the recipient of the term faculty 2026 Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. She facilitates two cornerstone classes in the learning and leadership sciences minor. She is also director of Project LEA/RN™ and very active in the scholarship of teaching, leading countless workshops at Iowa State and other institutions, as well as at national and international conferences.
In terms of her teaching philosophy, Wiersema strongly believes that the focus should be on learning, not on teaching. When the focus is on teaching, it is about what that person will do – which lecture, what power point slides and what lab. When the focus is on learning, it is about what the students will do – making notes, interacting with other learners, asking and answering questions, solving problems and analyzing information.
“Dr. Jan is a rare educator who transforms the act of teaching into a genuine partnership in learning,” stated a colleague. “Her classes are grounded in curiosity, reflection and authenticity.”