Media Contact
Laura Deupree
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
[email protected]
ATLANTA — Robin Hartinger-Saunders, an associate professor in the School of Social Work (SSW) at Georgia State University, has received the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS) 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award.
The annual award celebrates a faculty member who has exhibited superior teaching during the past three years, as measured in student evaluations, course demand and faculty adoption of their unique teaching methods. Innovative in the classroom, committed to curriculum development and recognized as distinguished advisers, recipients of the award add immeasurable value to the school’s scholarly culture.
“Robin’s passion for teaching, dedication to student success and contributions to educational innovation embody the qualities of an exceptional educator,” said Professor Joon Choi, director of the School of Social Work. “She embodies the qualities of an exceptional educator who quickly adapts to the changing educational technology and environment.”
For more than a decade, Hartinger-Saunders has led many of the School of Social Work’s instructional initiatives. An early adopter of online instruction, she was a significant contributor to the SSW’s development of the B.S.W. and M.S.W. online programs. As the school prepares to launch a new online M.S.W. Mental Health and Wellness concentration in fall 2026, she has lent her expertise in online instruction and trauma-informed practice to help build the new curriculum and has developed one of its new core courses.
Hartinger-Saunders has mentored faculty in effectively using online teaching strategies and integrating AI to enhance student learning. She consistently demonstrates an outstanding commitment to teaching excellence and student success through innovative teaching methods, she integrates active learning strategies to connect theory to practice and she uses design assessments that accommodate diverse learning styles.
As director of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Education and Training Program, Hartinger-Saunders has mentored and advised numerous students preparing for careers in public child welfare.
“Robin will continue contributing to the School of Social Work’s curriculum and teaching innovation, inspiring and positively impacting students’ lives for years to come,” Choi said.