Pine Named Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence

Dr. Michelle Pine, a clinical professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), was recognized on April 24 as a recipient of the 2026 Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence award, one of the university’s highest honors for faculty dedicated to outstanding teaching and mentorship.

This award is presented each year to two faculty members for extraordinary service to students in the classroom; faculty are nominated by students, peers, and college leadership. Recipients receive a stipend and hold the designation of Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence for the remainder of their careers.

“We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Pine’s recognition as a Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence,” said Dr. Bonnie R. Rush, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine in the VMBS. “Her dedication to teaching and mentoring are highlighted through her innovative approaches in the classroom.  She is a positive role model, creating an environment for success at a time that is critical to their professional development.”

Pine earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as a Ph.D. in toxicology from Texas A&M. She joined the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences faculty in 2006 and has served as director of the Gross Anatomy Teaching Laboratory since 2013.

In these roles, she’s been credited for her creativity and innovation in helping undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students develop a strong understanding of anatomy, including through the development of interactive learning tools to support STEM education and to enhance student spatial reasoning. This includes her recent work in helping develop a virtual reality teaching tool, Anatomy Builder VR, to enhance student learning and engagement.

Outside of the classroom, Pine’s research investigates how pesticides, primarily synthetic pyrethroids, affect puberty and neurodevelopment and explores strategies to reduce their toxic effects.

Her innovative teaching and mentorship continue to shape the next generation of veterinary and STEM professionals at Texas A&M through active mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students; under her guidance, more than 20 undergraduates have gained firsthand research experience and worked to build skills relevant to their future study and careers in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

Pine’s commitment to excellence in teaching has previously been recognized through the Provost Academic Professional Track Faculty Teaching Excellence Award and the Eppright Professorship in Undergraduate Teaching Excellence.

Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence awards are given based on the recommendation of a universitywide selection committee facilitated by Dean of Faculties Alan Sams, in concurrence with Provost Blanca Lupiani and Interim President Thomas D. Williams.

In addition to the April 24 University Academic Awards Ceremony, Pine will also be recognized on April 29 at the Transformational Teaching and Learning Conference.