Katie Forsythe Wins WSU Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Every year, WSU Global Campus students are invited to reflect on their virtual learning experiences and demonstrate their appreciation for their outstanding instructors by nominating them for the Excellence in Online Teaching Award. This award was created to honor instructors who prioritize communication, encourage academic growth, foster a sense of community, and invest themselves in the success of their online students. Following a months-long nomination period and a thorough selection process, the Academic Outreach and Innovation team announced Katie Forsythe of the Department of Human Development as the 2025–26 winner.
Forsythe received multiple nominations from Global Campus students, each of whom mentioned the enthusiasm she brought to the online course space. Not only could these students see their professor’s passion for her discipline, but they recognized her personal commitment to their own advancement as well. One nominator was especially grateful for the way that Forsythe’s consistent feedback encouraged them to delve deeper into the subject matter, writing that Forsythe returned each graded assignment with “a comment asking another question to further your thought process about the lesson and topic.”
Forsythe also received praise for her ability to foster meaningful connections in the online classroom. Recognizing that online education can sometimes feel isolating, she has made connection a priority in her Global Campus courses. This is evident in how she has made herself approachable and available to students with recorded lectures, regular office hours held over Zoom, and individualized feedback videos, all of which left lasting impressions on her students. “I felt as though I was actually connecting with her and not just a screen,” wrote one.
Much of Forsythe’s success as an online instructor can be attributed to her commitment to understanding the unique needs and life circumstances of Global Campus students. “It’s been helpful for me to acknowledge their strengths and lived experiences,” she said. “I learn something new every single time.” While her online courses are no less intensive than those she teaches in person, they are special in that they have been designed to serve students with vastly different schedules, responsibilities, and levels of professional experience.
These courses have proven to be especially memorable on account of Forsythe’s consistent efforts to get to know her students as individual learners and understand their personal goals and ambitions. One student nominator recalled how she took the time to evaluate an entire class’s worth of resumes, writing that “after receiving [Forsythe’s] feedback, I was able to make important changes to my resume that have [already] served me in my professional life.”
What Forsythe regards as “just a part of her job,” her students see as evidence of her commitment to their success—one reason so many were eager to nominate her for the Excellence in Online Teaching Award. Though this accolade comes with prestige and a generous $3000 bonus in professional development funds, Forsythe said that the greatest reward is knowing that her students thought so highly of her in the first place. “This award means the world to me,” she said. “Having students nominate me means that I must be doing a good job.”
All in all, this nomination demonstrates perfectly what makes WSU Global Campus so special: the deep investment of professors like Forsythe coupled with the dedication of appreciative students, resulting in semesters marked by growth, connection, and belonging.
About the Author
Emma Seckington is a writer for WSU Global Campus, working alongside the Marketing and Communications team to spotlight the unique accomplishments of Global Campus students, faculty, and alumni.