Jessica Lepler

Excellence in Teaching, 2025

College of Liberal Arts

Lepler, associate professor of history with a specialization in early America, transforms the study of the past into a deeply engaging and accessible experience. Her classes are known for their intellectual rigor, creative assignments, and innovative methods, and they are filled with warmth, compassion, and respect. She is commended by students for being engaging, thoughtful, and helpful. Lepler designs courses that foster active learning, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking, incorporating what Professor Kurk Dorsey has described as “unusual methods.” These have included visits to the UNH Dairy (for her History of Animals course), the organization of newspaper labs, and extending invitations to colleagues to discuss various aspects of animal research.

From delivering “impeccably planned” lectures to mentoring undergraduate researchers and doctoral students, she ensures that every learner is heard, challenged, and supported. Lepler fosters meaningful learning experiences by creating a classroom built on mutual, communal learning where complex histories are explored through thoughtful dialogue and interdisciplinary exploration.

Beyond the classroom, she demonstrates leadership in teaching innovation, such as co-developing the Professionalization for Historians graduate seminar, and she played a key role in the history department’s curriculum revision, ensuring greater accessibility and cohesion across the major.