Presented by the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University, three faculty members from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University were recognized at the Celebration of Teaching Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 13, 2026.
(left to right) Lisa Gring‑Pemble, associate professor, and Shelley Reid, executive director of engaged teaching, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning. Photo by Greg Johnson/Costello College of Business.
Lisa Gring‑Pemble, associate professor, was named one of two recipients of the David J. King Teaching Award; Steve Maex, assistant professor of accounting, received the Teaching Excellence Award; and Brian Ngac, instructional assistant professor, assistant dean for centers, FWI Corporate Partner Faculty Fellow, and dean’s teaching fellow for information systems and operations management, was named a Teacher of Distinction.
Students are always at the center of my work, and I am grateful to these remarkable young people.
— Lisa Gring‑Pemble, associate professor at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University
Gring-Pemble is a faculty member in the Foundations Area and a faculty affiliate in the Honors College and Department of Communication where she teaches courses in rhetorical criticism, political communication, research methods, and professional skills. Since joining George Mason in 2000, she has pursued teaching and research in three main areas: 1) rhetorical criticism, 2) political communication, and 3) social and global impact. She currently serves as academic director for the College of Public Health’s Learning Laboratory for Community Health and works with undergraduate and graduate students to investigate and address community-identified health challenges in Northern Virginia. Her past teaching awards include the 2005 George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award, the 2017 OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award, the 2019 George Mason University Alumni Association Faculty of the Year Award, the 2024 John Toups Presidential Medal for Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, and recognition as one of the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning’s 2024 Online Teachers of Distinction.
“Receiving the David J. King Award is a tremendous honor,” says Gring-Pemble. “My passion is teaching, and I am blessed with the opportunity to live that passion daily. It's a passion best captured by one of my favorite quotes from E. B. White, who wrote, ‘Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.’ Throughout my 25+ years at George Mason, I’ve aspired to be on the lookout for wonder—in students, courses, and collaborations—even as I aim to cultivate that same sense of wonder in students. Students are always at the center of my work, and I am grateful to these remarkable young people. In these dark, uncertain, and turbulent times, in a world seemingly torn asunder, our students shine brightly, go forth, and offer much-needed hope to the world.”
Maex is a certified public accountant and a certified information systems auditor who brings his experiences to his teaching and research. He coordinates the graduate certificate in accounting analytics and has integrated AI into his course curriculum, teaching topics such as prompt engineering and more generally challenging students to envision creative ways to use AI to solve real-world problems in the accounting and auditing industry. His research focuses on auditing, assurance, and financial reporting quality, with particular interest in the effects of emerging trends in information management (e.g., cloud services, privacy regulation) on firms and their auditors, audit firm quality control systems, as well as assurance in the cryptocurrency marketplace.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Teaching Excellence Award,” says Maex. “When I left practice for academia almost nine years ago, I hoped to help students understand how technology is shaping the accounting profession and the opportunities it creates for their future. This recognition is meaningful because it reflects that purpose and the innovative work happening across our accounting area at Costello. I’m simultaneously grateful to work alongside colleagues who embrace the future of the profession and to have had the privilege of teaching so many exceptional students.”
Ngac has been at George Mason since his freshman year as a student in 2012 and has been teaching since 2018. He launched the Professional Readiness Experiential Program (PREP) to give honors and high-performing students the opportunity to partner with real companies on impactful, real-world projects. This experiential learning helps students build connections, gain visibility, and develop confidence to find real solutions.
“Being named a Teacher of Distinction is truly an honor and reflects my belief that education should extend beyond the classroom and help shape students’ futures,” says Ngac. “Through initiatives like PREP and thoughtfully designed online course delivery, I try to create learning environments where students can engage with real-world challenges, collaborate with industry, and build both technical and professional confidence. The most meaningful part is seeing students grow by gaining clarity, capability, and readiness for the workforce. For me, distinction in teaching is all about creating experiences that leave a lasting and tangible difference in our students’ lives.”
The recognitions of Lisa Gring-Pemble, Brian Ngac, and Steve Maex highlight their commitment to excellence and their dedication to going above and beyond in preparing students to be the leaders of the future.