Award Recognition
Innovation and Enhancement
Maya Venkatraman has made one of her top priorities improving inclusivity in Computer Sciences classes and for this reason she is receiving the Innovation and Enhancement award. As head teaching assistant, Maya coordinated the teaching staff she led to ensure excellent coverage of office hours and recitations despite the huge class size spread across many different time zones. She frequently encourages her students and supports them by holding extra office hours and ensuring high quality Piazza discussions. She easily embodies the principles of innovation and enhancement because she has never been satisfied with the status quo. Maya is always working to improve the academic experience of her classmates/students and her community as a whole.
To my family, friends and Columbia community, thank you for all that you have given me. Working as a teaching assistant has been one of the most formative parts of my Columbia experience, and I am humbled to graduate knowing that I have helped to create positive change in my department. Lastly, to my students: although I did not get to know each of you personally, I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to teach and learn alongside you.