Rebecca Watts Hull Named 2026 ANAK Award Winner
Watts Hull was recognized for her commitment to lasting, institutional change through sustainability education. Through her role in the Center and her position as both an instructor and RSO advisor, Watts Hull works to empower students to make an impact on campus and helps fellow faculty implement sustainability across the curriculum initiatives.
Rebecca Watts Hull, assistant director for Faculty Development for Sustainability Education Initiatives at the Center for Teaching and Learning, was awarded the 2026 faculty ANAK Award.
Awarded each year by the ANAK Society, this award is considered one of the highest awards a faculty member can receive; its recipients are determined solely by students. The ANAK Award recognizes one faculty member and one staff member per year who have demonstrated great service to Georgia Tech.
Watts Hull was recognized for her commitment to lasting, institutional change through sustainability education. Through her role in the Center and her position as both an instructor and RSO advisor, Watts Hull works to empower students to make an impact on campus and helps fellow faculty implement sustainability across the curriculum initiatives.
“Dr. Rebecca Watts Hull’s work in sustainability education connects teaching and research to real-world impact and exemplifies the best of Georgia Tech’s mission,” said Laura Carruth, executive director of the Center. “Her unwavering dedication to students and her commitment to accessible, student-centered learning empowers learners to see themselves as agents of change, equipped to address complex sustainability challenges with rigor, creativity, and purpose. She is a valued member of the CTL team, and I am delighted that ANAK has recognized her contributions with this award.”
The award recognizes Watts Hulls’ lasting impact and legacy at Tech. Throughout her seven years at Tech, Watts Hull has worked to develop meaningful partnerships across Institute units and between the Institute and community partners.
Watts Hull is passionate about equipping students to become change makers, fulfilling Tech’s mission to “improve the human condition.” A key part of this goal is her work with Georgia Tech’s strategic plan, which elevates sustainability as a core value. “This recognition is deeply rewarding to me because it signals strong student support for the Sustainability Next education initiative,” said Watts Hull.
Today, Watts Hull works closely with the Sustainability Education and Curriculum Committee and the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems to manage the Undergraduate Sustainability Education Innovation grant program, implementing sustainability education and helping faculty incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into core and elective classes. To date, over 20,000 students have benefited from real world sustainability concepts taught in their courses through the grant program.
Watts Hull also brings together a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and researchers to discuss education for sustainability through the Community of Practice on Transformative Teaching with the UN SDGs, providing space for faculty to learn from one another and continue advancing education for sustainability initiatives.
“I am honored to be recognized by such impressive student leaders,” said Watts Hull. “I think this award shows us their appreciation of transformative teaching and mentoring that support positive social change. I am inspired by the commitment of Georgia Tech’s student leaders to make a difference in the world.”
Watts Hull follows in the footsteps of other CTL and sustainability education champions. In 1990, Dave McGill, founding director of the Center, received the award; in 2021, Jennifer Hirsch from the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain, also received the ANAK award.
Join us as we extend our congratulations to Watts Hull.