Achievement Unlocked: Teaching Award and Promotion
We’re thrilled to celebrate Professor Akram Taghavi-Burris, who was honored in May 2025 with the Kermit E. Brown Teaching Excellence Award, one of the highest distinctions for faculty at The University of Tulsa. This award recognizes her exceptional dedication to student learning, mentorship, and innovation in the classroom.
Akram was also unanimously approved for promotion to Instructional Associate Professor—a milestone that highlights her continued contributions to academic excellence and program leadership.
Since joining TU in 2017, Akram has served as the Program Director for Computer Simulation & Gaming (CSG), overseeing curriculum development, faculty coordination, and student success initiatives. With more than 18 years of experience teaching game development, digital media, and interactive design, she has helped transform the CSG program into a thriving hub for students interested in game development, simulation, and immersive media.
Outside the classroom, Akram is a Unity Educator Ambassador and serves on various IEEE committees. Her research explores XR, AI-driven simulations, and digital twins, pushing the boundaries of how interactive technologies can be applied in entertainment, education, and beyond.
Known for her hands-on mentorship, Akram’s students often cite her as a driving force in their academic and professional journeys. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help students turn their ideas into fully realized interactive experiences,” she said. “The real magic happens when students discover the power of technology to tell stories, solve problems, and spark imagination.”
As she enters this new phase of her academic career, Akram continues to lead the charge in digital innovation, equipping students to shape the future of interactive media.
