Jackson School Graduate Students Recognized as Top Teaching Assistants

September 17, 2025

Sophia Bautista and Jackie Epperson, doctoral students at the Jackson School of Geosciences, each received an Outstanding Teaching Assistant (TA) Award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) this summer.

Winners receive a one-year membership to the NAGT, which includes an online subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education and the organization’s quarterly magazine, In The Trenches.

Bautista received the award for her assistance teaching EVS 311: Field Seminar and Sustainability. She said that being a TA has been one of the most fulfilling experiences she has had as a graduate student thus far, and that she loves hearing about how students share what they learn with their parents and siblings.

“My ultimate goal is to have my students be better stewards of the Earth and their environment, and being a TA is a special way to fulfill that,” Bautista said.

Epperson received the award for her assistance teaching GEO 416S: Earth and Planetary Processes Through Time. She has extensive experience as a TA, having taught seven courses at the Jackson School, including two field camps. Epperson said that she loves helping students figure out what they’re passionate about and helping them succeed.

“Every group of students and instructor teams had been unique,” she said. “This creates a totally different experience every time, which means I’m constantly learning how to be a better instructor, mentor and peer.”

Congratulations to both of our winners! To learn more about the award and see the full list of awardees, visit: https://nagt.org/nagt/awards/ta.html

For more information, contact: Anton Caputo, Jackson School of Geosciences, 210-602-2085; Monica Kortsha, Jackson School of Geosciences, 512-471-2241; Julia Sames, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 210-415-9556.