By Grace Schroller
Two members of the Doane University faculty have been recognized for their impactful contributions on campus and online.
Andrea Holmes, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and Erin May, M.Ed., director of extended learning, were named Online Program Pioneers of the Year. The award highlights their efforts to broaden educational access and advance high-quality online learning.
The Golden Goggles awards, presented by Science Interactive, honor educators who make strides in student achievement and promote excellence in STEM education both inside the classroom and beyond. Science Interactive partners with institutions to offer lab experiences through hands-on experiments and digital simulations, helping students gain essential skills regardless of location.
Holmes and May were recognized for their dedication to enhancing education through innovative online platforms while maintaining rigorous academic standards. May has focused on expanding access for non-traditional and underserved learners by developing inclusive, adaptable approaches to science education. Holmes has worked to redesign online chemistry instruction with immersive and rigorous digital lab experiences.
“I was honored to co-accept the Golden Goggles Award for Pioneer Program of the Year on behalf of Doane’s Open Learning Academy,” May said. “This recognition reflects the innovation and dedication of our faculty and instructional design team, who work tirelessly to create and deliver high-quality online science courses. I'm proud to be part of a team that’s reducing barriers and meeting students where they are.”
Nominations for the 2026 program will open early next year. Evaluations include multiple reviews by Science Interactive’s team of scientists and curriculum experts to assess the extent to which nominees positively impact student success.
For more information and to be notified when nominations open, visit https://www.scienceinteractive.com/interactive-science-educators-award/.
