This award is presented annually to an ASU faculty member who delivers an educational experience that creates impactful, transformative narratives regarding issues facing the world and expands the minds of students to help discover innovative solutions.

Kristin Hoffner, a dedicated professor committed to fostering student and faculty success, is this year’s recipient of the Faculty Teaching Achievement Award. 

• Teaching professor for kinesiology, sport performance and clinical exercise science students.
• Director of career track faculty success at ASU’s College of Health Solutions.
• With over 16 years of full-time teaching experience, Professor Hoffner has been employed at ASU her entire career, beginning in 2003 as a teaching assistant in the kinesiology program.

In 2006, Hoffner graduated from ASU with a master’s degree in kinesiology (sport and exercise psychology). Since then, she has been dedicated to teaching and enhancing the excellence of the program. With expertise in exercise, health psychology, kinesiology and psychology, she serves as a teaching professor at the College of Health Solutions, playing a pivotal role in student success.

Hoffner teaches a wide range of courses, offered in full-immersion, hybrid and online formats, providing diverse learning opportunities for students. These courses cover various topics, including exercise, sport, performance, health psychology and more. She is committed to ensuring that the program offers rigorous, compelling courses built on evidence-based pedagogical styles that prioritize student-centered learning. For instance, in her course KIN 348: Psychological Skills for Optimal Performance, Hoffner incorporates a reflective journaling project that encourages students to engage in structured introspection. This allows them to identify areas of growth and practice strategies to overcome challenges. Holistically, the program aims to prepare students for graduate school and careers in health or the health care industry.

Hoffner is also recognized for her mentorship and collaborative spirit. Notably, she co-taught KIN 348: Psychological Skills for Optimal Performance with former ASU Women’s Basketball Coach Charlie Turner Thorne in 2023 and 2024. This unique, team-taught approach fostered greater student engagement and intellectual growth, enriching both the course content and overall learning experience.

As an expert in pedagogy, Hoffner frequently presents at the Lilly Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning. Her presentations have covered a variety of topics, from cultivating engagement and critical thinking in large classroom settings to contributing valuable information to the academic community.

In addition to her teaching, Hoffner serves as the director of career track faculty success at the College of Health Solutions. In this role, she coaches and mentors career track faculty, guiding them in achieving their professional goals. She also leads annual evaluation processes and recommends, reviews and approves faculty professional development opportunities, illustrating a strong commitment to faculty growth in addition to student success.