2026 USM Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
Tara Carpenter
Teaching Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Tara Carpenter, a Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, began her career at UMBC in 2004. She discovered her passion for education while earning her Ph.D. at Duquesne University and focuses her scholarship on student metacognition and self-regulated learning.
Her work centers on scaling evidence-based teaching practices to large-enrollment STEM courses through the innovative use of digital tools. She uses these tools to implement automated exam wrappers for student reflection, targeted emails, and online spaced practice. These approaches have significantly enhanced the learning experience in General Chemistry and impacted thousands of students.
Her commitment to student success has earned her numerous honors, including the 2023 Faculty Trailblazer in Accessibility Award, the 2021 CNMS Excellence in Teaching Award, the 2015 UMBC Alumni Outstanding Faculty Member Award, and the 2008 Student Organizational Advisor of the Year Award.