Posted 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28, 2026
Aaron Koepke receives 2026 Eagle Teaching Excellence Award
At UW-La Crosse, outstanding instructors shape students’ lives inside and outside the classroom.
This year, UWL’s Provost Office received nearly 500 nominations from students hoping to recognize faculty who have had a meaningful impact on their college experience. From these nominations, a university committee selected six faculty to receive 2026 Eagle Teaching Excellence Awards.
They are:
- Aaron Koepke, Marketing
- Dipankar Mitra, Computer Science & Computer Engineering
- Jarred Pfeiffer, Art
- Denise Rueter, Educational Studies
- Shauna Sallmen, Physics
- Kevin Zabel, Psychology
This is the first of six stories highlighting the award recipients.
Aaron Koepke, Marketing
Started at UWL: 2013
Courses: Marketing, business communication courses for the College of Business Administration.
Background: I've worked as an advisor in Student Support Services and as the assistant director in the Student Life Office prior to teaching.
Favorite part of teaching: My favorite part of teaching is helping students learn how to ask thoughtful questions, not just about business communication, but about the world around them. I enjoy seeing students build confidence in their ability to think critically and communicate with purpose. Most of all, I value the opportunity to play a small role in helping students grow into thoughtful professionals, lifelong learners and engaged members of their communities.