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Terence Oliver honored with University Teaching Award
Terence Oliver, Walter Spearman Distinguished Professor at UNC Hussman and award-winning motion graphics producer, is among 27 Carolina educators honored with 2026 University Teaching Awards, recognizing excellence in teaching and mentorship across campus.
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and interim Provost Jim Dean announced the winners Feb. 17, praising the honorees for demonstrating “the depth and scope of Carolina’s commitment to teaching and mentoring.”
“This group of vibrant teachers and mentors represents the diversity of people and disciplines on our campus,” Roberts and Dean wrote in a campus message. “Not every outstanding teacher receives this award, but each award winner undoubtedly represents the best of what Carolina has to offer.”
The annual awards recognize outstanding instruction of undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students. This year’s selection process drew more than 1,000 nominations from every academic unit on campus.
Oliver received the James M. Johnston Teaching Excellence Award, which honors faculty members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student learning and development.
“Terence Oliver is an exceptionally deserving recipient of this honor,” said Raul Reis, dean of UNC Hussman. “He is a beloved teacher, a trusted mentor and a valued colleague whose passion for teaching and deep care for students define the very best of UNC Hussman. Terence exemplifies our school’s commitment to creating a supportive learning environment and delivering transformative educational experiences that prepare students to thrive in their lives and careers.”
For Oliver, the recognition confirms a calling he says has guided his career.
“It affirms what I’ve always believed in my heart,” Oliver said. “I don’t have to teach; I get to teach. That privilege, and being recognized for work grounded in purpose rather than obligation, is deeply humbling.”
Students and colleagues alike praised Oliver for his individualized mentorship and dedication to helping students grow both creatively and professionally.
Nominators highlighted his one-on-one feedback sessions, describing them as helpful, memorable and inspiring.
“His enthusiasm is infectious. Students fall in love with the subject, driven by his creativity, energy and unwavering commitment to their success,” one nominator wrote. “Through real-world collaborations with organizations like Morehead Planetarium, the USDA and the Center for Galapagos Studies, students gain experience translating scientific and policy-driven content into accessible, impactful media.”
Student recommendations emphasized his empathy, enthusiasm and investment in their success inside and outside the classroom.
“What drives me is knowing that I am operating in my purpose and calling,” Oliver said. “I am motivated by the opportunity not only to make a difference, but to strive to be the difference.”
That philosophy, students and colleagues say, translates into coursework that connects creative storytelling with real-world impact. Nominators noted that Oliver challenges students to tackle societal issues through visual communication projects rooted in empathy and collaboration.
“Professor Oliver has a rare gift for helping students see that creative work can – and does – matter,” another nominator wrote. “He turns abstract ideas into powerful, human stories and inspires students to lead with purpose, courage and compassion.”
Oliver’s students have consistently earned national and international recognition, including dominating the Society for News Design International Student Competition for the 15th consecutive year. Most recently, UNC Hussman students claimed 19 awards, including three medals – 17 of which came from projects created in Oliver’s “MEJO 484: Information Graphics” course.
Students who studied under Oliver have gone on to careers at major organizations including Google, Adobe, IBM, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, The Washington Post and National Geographic. A recent alumna now working at Amazon Studios in London credited Oliver with opening her eyes to career possibilities she had never considered.
Since joining UNC in 2010, Oliver has taught courses in motion graphics, information graphics, magazine design and graphic design. He previously developed the nation’s first collegiate motion graphics journalism courses at Ohio University and later at UNC.
A pioneer in visual storytelling with more than 30 years of industry experience, Oliver has won more than 50 creative awards and contributed to two Pulitzer Prize-winning projects at the Akron Beacon Journal and the Miami Herald.
He also leads Simply Told Design, a production company that creates explanatory storytelling projects for organizations including Fidelity Charitable, AT&T, MIT Technology Review, Duke University and UNC School of Medicine.
For Oliver, the teaching award reflects not just personal achievement, but shared purpose.
“To be seen and affirmed by both students and colleagues tells me that the work we’re doing together truly matters,” he said. “I believe we are all placed in one another’s paths for a reason, and in this season, we are meant to make a difference together.”
