Modern languages professor receives 2026 faculty mentoring award

In recognition of her service in Liberty University’s Koinonia New Faculty Mentoring program, Modern Languages Professor and Residential Department Chair Dr. Annik Miller was recently awarded the 2026 Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Director’s Award for Excellence in New Faculty Mentoring.

The award honors Liberty faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring new faculty members for three or more years.

For more than a decade, the Koinonia program has paired new Liberty faculty with experienced colleagues to help them transition into the university’s academic community. Mentors introduce participants to Liberty’s academic culture, mission, and Christ-centered approach to higher education while also fostering supportive relationships beyond departmental boundaries. The program invites up to 20 faculty mentees each year.

Miller has been teaching German and French in the Department of English and Modern Languages under the College of Art & Sciences since 2013.

For the award, she was recognized for her consistent investment in new faculty across multiple cohorts. Her wide-ranging experience in higher education and multilingual instruction has enabled her to support faculty from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.

“Dr. Miller exemplifies what it looks like to live out Liberty’s mission by pouring into others with humility and wisdom,” said CTE Director Dr. Alexandra Barnett. “Her influence extends far beyond the classroom, and her commitment to mentoring has strengthened our faculty community in meaningful ways.”

The word “koinonia” reflects the biblical concept of Christian fellowship, a guiding principle of the mentoring program.

“At its heart, the Koinonia program is about faithful presence of experienced faculty choosing to invest relationally and spiritually in those who are new,” Barnett said. “It creates another space where faculty feel supported and encouraged as they grow into their roles at Liberty.”

The program is rooted in the biblical model of mentorship exemplified by Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha.

“In Scripture, we see how God uses intentional relationships to prepare His people for meaningful service,” Barnett said. “Through Koinonia, mentors like Dr. Miller come alongside new faculty not simply to pass along knowledge, but to help shape hearts and callings for long-term impact.”

Previous recipients of the CTE Director’s Award for Excellence in New Faculty Mentoring include Education Professor Dr. Roger Mackey, Nursing Professor Dr. Cindy Goodrich, and Biology Professor Dr. Gary Isaacs.