IU South Bend professor receives university’s oldest teaching award

Indiana University honored IU South Bend professor Dr. Mohammad Merhi for his outstanding ability and teaching skills.

Merhi received the Frederic Bachman Lieber Memorial Award at a ceremony on March 25. The honor is the oldest teaching award at IU, established in 1951 and first awarded in 1954. Honorees are recognized for their dedication to helping students reach and expand. They also advance their field and how it is taught.

“Your dedication to education has significantly contributed to Indiana University’s global standing as a beacon of academic excellence,” IU President Pamela Whitten wrote in a letter to Merhi. “Our institution’s international reputation is the direct result of individuals like yourself who have a clear vision of what education can and should be.”

A review committee evaluates instructors who demonstrate excellence in teaching. The committee looks for individuals who have a sustained impact on student learning; support a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to drive innovation; and demonstrate leadership in teaching.

“Receiving the 2025 Frederic Bachman Lieber Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence from the President is both an incredible honor and a humbling recognition of the work I do with my students. It reaffirms the importance of my commitment to fostering an engaging and inclusive learning environment,” said Merhi, a professor of Decision Sciences and coordinator of Graduate Programs and Assessment for IU South Bend’s Judd Leighton School for Business and Economics.

Merhi said he works hard to ensure the success of his students by creating a space where they are encouraged to think critically, take risks, and engage meaningfully with the subject matter.

“Dr. Merhi is an exceptional teacher who works to create an engaging and supportive environment for his students. He has adopted active learning techniques in his classroom and is readily available to students outside of class. He models lifelong learning through ongoing professional development and continuous improvement of his teaching and has won multiple other teaching awards. He truly is a gem,” said Jill Pearon, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at IU South Bend.

Merhi said the honor motivates him to continue improving as an educator.

“The award is a reminder of the responsibility I have to continue growing professionally and to keep seeking out new ways to engage and support my students.”