Susannah Wood’s students describe her teaching style as “enthusiastic, informative, passionate, reflective, and encouraging.” Those qualities have earned Wood the University of Iowa College of Education’s 2011-2012 Collegiate Teaching Award, the college’s highest honor recognizing excellence in teaching.

Wood is an associate professor in the UI Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education. Her research area includes counselor preparation, school counseling, and gifted education. She joined the College of Education faculty in 2006.

In addition to teaching master’s and doctoral-level courses in the Counselor Education and Supervision as well as School Counseling programs, Wood is the faculty advisor for the university’s chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society International (CSI). CSI is an international honor society for counselors, counselor educators, and counseling students promoting scholarship, leadership, and service.

David K. Duys, an associate professor and coordinator of the School Counseling and Counselor Education and Supervision programs, says Wood’s teaching is consistent with the ideals of graduate education.

“Dr. Wood is able to simultaneously challenge her students’ growing understanding of their field while supporting their development as critical and reflective practitioners,” he says.

Cassandra Storlie, a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision, describes Wood as a “fiercely intelligent, committed professor with innovative ideas that have helped move students to new levels of development.”

“Her teaching style is interactive and engaging in and out of the classroom setting,” Storlie says. “She provides in-class activities that not only prepare students for the world of work, but initiate healthy discourse to allow the classroom setting to be a true learning laboratory.”