Isaac Stewart, associate professor of biology, was honored with a National Association of Biology Teachers award for his impactful, hands-on approach to science education.

Congratulations to Isaac Stewart, associate professor of biology, for winning a National Association of Biology Teachers award! The Professor Chan Two-Year College Award for the Engaged Teaching of Biology is given to a faculty member who demonstrates the impact of their “professional commitment on a wider student population (beyond the students in their classroom).”

“My favorite irony is that I received notification of this award while out in the field leading a group of adventure field trip attendees exploring the biodiversity of my field sites where I conduct my insect survey research,” Stewart said. “I think this exemplifies my view of teaching in that there is nothing more valuable than the immersive experience to help learners grow,” he said.

Stewart – an entomologist specializing in bumble bee diversity and decline in the United States – has taught at the East Campus since 2015.

He has worked with his biology students to study bee populations at Illiniwek Forest Preserve in Hampton, Illinois, and has supervised student research at Green River Lowland Preserve in Lee County. Since 2020, he and his students have conducted ongoing insect surveys at the preserve.

“Every field season yields new, fascinating versions of what the invertebrate world has to offer,” he said.

About Isaac Stewart

Isaac Stewart’s lifelong fascination with insects began in Dixon, Illinois, where he devoured every entomology book his local library offered and gained hands-on experience through prairie restoration work at Nachusa Grasslands and the Green River State Wildlife Area. He went on to study entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, conducting undergraduate and graduate research on bumble bee diversity and population decline across the United States.

After receiving the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowship in 2009, Stewart committed his career to education. He taught biology at Fisher Jr./Sr. High School for five years before joining Black Hawk College, where he now teaches courses ranging from introductory biology to environmental science. Through classroom, lab, and field instruction, he emphasizes the ecological importance of native pollinators—especially bumble bees—using research-based strategies to actively engage students.

In addition to his teaching and research, Stewart gives community presentations highlighting lesser-known insect species and the unique roles they play in healthy ecosystems. He also serves as a board member of the Illinois Audubon Society.