An associate professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) has been recognized with a 2025 Regional Excellence in College and University Teaching Award for Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Melissa Price, who teaches courses in wildlife ecology and environmental problem-solving, was one of six regional honorees recognized across the country. The national award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) honors faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence and innovative methods in teaching.
Price’s work supports CTAHR’s mission of fostering sustainable environmental management and preparing the next generation of conservation leaders in Hawaiʻi. Her teaching prepares students for real-world impact through case studies and problem-solving. In her capstone course, students serve as a “think tank” for state decision-makers, analyzing social, cultural and ecological factors to address environmental challenges.
“As a land-grant institution, the university has longstanding ties to the USDA,” said Price, of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. “The agency recognizes excellence in teaching across land-grant disciplines, including natural resources and wildlife management, and sponsors this award as part of that mission.”
In addition, the award includes a $2,000 stipend to support further teaching improvements at UH Mānoa. The honorees will be formally recognized during the 2026 APLU Annual Meeting.
