The American Academy of Religion is pleased to announce that the AAR Committee on Teaching and Learning has unanimously chosen Dr. Emily Bailey of Towson University as the 2026 recipient of the AAR Katie Geneva Cannon Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Bailey’s strong focus on student-centered teaching mixed with her commitment to integrating technology and her ability to attract undergraduate majors make her an exceptional Teaching Award winner. One of Dr. Bailey’s recommendation letters stated “she bridges the divide between providing students with religious studies content, and giving student a supportive environment in which to think deeply and with nuance about a topic (religion) that many of them may have spent little to no time thinking about previously.”
Dr. Bailey’s community engagement and attention to religious literacy have led to her evolution as an educator, emphasizing her dedication to keeping religion relevant through creative, intentional, and inclusive instructional classroom design. The Committee on Teaching and Learning looks forward to engaging with Dr. Bailey throughout 2026 and congratulates her on her excellent and dedicated teaching.