Class of 2026 Selects Teachers of the Year
The University of Scranton’s graduating senior Class of 2026 selected Sinchul Back, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the cybercrime and homeland security program, and Andrew Venezia, Ph.D., associate professor of health and human performance, as its Teachers of the Year. Dr. Back, left, and Dr. Venezia, right, accepted their awards from Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, at Class Night, held Friday, May 22, at the DeNaples Center.It is one of the highest honors at The University of Scranton.
And, this year, it was presented to two individuals.
The University’s graduating senior Class of 2026 awarded this year’s Teacher of the Year to Sinchul Back, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the cybercrime and homeland security program; and Andrew Venezia, Ph.D., associate professor of health and human performance.
Created in 1997 by the University’s Faculty Senate, the Teacher of the Year award recognizes faculty members who exemplify excellence across multiple dimensions of teaching and student engagement. Honorees must be committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence and fairness, ensuring an enlightening, rigorous and equitable learning environment for all students. Voting was conducted in April. Dr. Back and Dr. Venezia accepted their awards on Friday, May 22, at Class Night, held inside the DeNaples Center’s McIlhenny Ballroom.
Dr. Back, who has worked at Scranton since 2019, is a retired Marine captain who served as an instructor in counter-terrorism tactics and counter-intelligence operations for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. He previously served as a legislative aide for the South Korea Senate and the Massachusetts State House.
Dr. Back holds a Ph.D. in International Crime from Florida International University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Bridgewater State University and a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Political Science from Northeastern University. He teaches courses on cybercrime, cyber intelligence, mobile forensics, digital forensics investigation and introduction to homeland security.
Dr. Venezia, who has worked at Scranton since 2016, teaches in the kinesiology program and nutrition concentration and serves on the advisory committee for the neuroscience program. Among his courses is Advanced Physiology of Sport and Exercise, which he’s taught to every graduating kinesiology senior since 2016. He has also mentored several students in the University Honors Program.
Dr. Venezia earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise science from Bloomsburg University. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from the University of Maryland.
Faculty members may earn the Teacher of the Year award no more than once.
