Honoring Teaching Excellence
Professors Dhruv Chunawala and Nancy Merrill were recently recognized for their excellence in teaching by the Middlesex College Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching.
Recognizing innovative teaching practices and exemplary strength in connecting with students, the Middlesex College Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching (CELT) honored Professor Dhruv Chunawala with the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award and Professor Nancy Merrill with the 2025 Adjunct Excellence in Teaching Award.
“As a community of educators, we honor excellence in teaching each year by recognizing one full-time faculty colleague and one part-time faculty colleague for their excellence in teaching as selected by their peers,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “This year’s recipients are outstanding examples of instructors who care about their students and engage them actively in the teaching and learning process.”
Chunawala joined the Middlesex College faculty in the spring of 2020 and currently teaches six different courses in Computer Science.
“Teaching wasn’t something I grew up expecting to do. But while I was a student at Middlesex College, I started tutoring part time, and something just clicked. By the time I finished my associate degree, I realized how much I loved helping others learn,” said Chunawala. “This place gave me so much, and teaching became my way of giving back to the college. It’s funny how life works—what started as a side job turned into a passion I never saw coming.”
Merrill, who teaches in the Natural Sciences Department, was honored specifically for her Introduction to Forensic Science classes.
“These days a lot of my students know what forensic science is from movies and TV, but when I first started they didn’t,” said Merrill with a laugh. “The most fun I have is having them realize that what they see on TV is not real, there’s so much more to it. I kind of ruin it for them, but bringing reality to them is what I enjoy. We talk about stories and cases and things that happened 30 years ago and it all connects.”
Chunawala is also active on campus with the Computer Science Club, the GitHub Club, and sending his students to computer hackathons where they compete against other teams to solve a complicated problem in a short time span. He says his career is incredibly meaningful and he was thrilled to receive the award.
“What makes this recognition so special is that it reflects our college’s values—where learning isn’t measured in grades but in students who become mentors, where classroom concepts turn into career passions, and where temporary assignments give way to lasting connections,” said Chunawala. “That’s the environment Middlesex College fosters, and I’m forever grateful to contribute to it.”
“I have been teaching for 40 years and I have heard from students over the years, but I have to say that having recognition from my peers was very fulfilling for all the work,” said Merrill. “I am usually humble and don’t look for accolades and I surprised myself with how pleased I was for getting this award.”
Merrill and Chunawala were guests of honor at a celebration on the College’s Edison campus April 8.
