Anna K. Fridley Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Teaching Award
Sean Yaw
Sean Yaw, associate professor of computer science in the Gianforte School of Computing in Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, has won the 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Anna K. Fridley Distinguished Teaching Award. The award is given to a faculty member whose accomplishments with students reach beyond the classroom. It is sponsored by the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and carries a $1,000 honorarium.
“Dr. Yaw exemplifies the qualities recognized by this award through his commitment to academic excellence, innovation in teaching and student-centered mentorship,” wrote John Paxton, director of the Gianforte School of Computing, in his letter recommending Yaw for the award. “His excellence in teaching is reflected in his course evaluations, which consistently rank well above department and university averages.”
Yaw has received high marks from students in his course evaluations dating back to him joining the faculty in 2018, averaging 4.89 on a 5.0 scale.
“Many of our students even delay enrollment in required courses until Dr. Yaw is assigned to teach the course,” Paxton wrote.
Yaw has received the student-determined Computer Science Professor of the Year award as well as the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award, given annually to one outstanding tenure-track professor in the college.
“Dr. Yaw has absolutely been my favorite instructor in the (computer science) department,” wrote one student. “He inspired and challenged me in ways that no other professor even came close to matching.”
Yaw is notable for his dedication to students beyond the classroom and advised a student who received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, Paxton added.