Meet the 2026 Sargent College Award Winners

The Sargent College Awards are intended to recognize members of Sargent College who have made impactful contributions in excellence, leadership, and pedagogy at the college. Below are the winners of the 2026 Sargent College Awards!

Staff Award of Merit: Aura Flores-Canelas

As Department Manager of the Department of Physical Therapy, Aura Flores-Canelas oversees the daily administrative operations and support for her department. She has been a part of the Sargent College team since the Fall of 2021, and is being recognized for her impactful service to the larger Sargent community. She is also a Master’s student at BU’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, where she is studying Higher Education Administration.

“What sets Aura apart is her collaborative spirit and strong communication skills. Her influence extends beyond her department, transforming administrative operations across the college. She is also a creative problem-solver—when faced staffing shortages, she took on two roles without compromising the level of service provided to faculty and students,” says Assistant Dean Jennifer Keenan.

Faculty Award of Merit: Dr. Jana Iverson

Dr. Iverson received the 2026 Faculty Award of Merit, recognizing her exemplary strategic leadership and inclusive initiatives, which have significantly strengthened Sargent College’s research culture. She has been an Associate Dean for Research and a Professor in Sargent College since 2022, and is has also been recognized as a Christopher A. Moore Professor in Pediatric Rehabilitation. Dr. Iverson is also the PI of the Infant Communication Labs.

“As Dean of Research, Dr. Iverson has worked intentionally to dismantle departmental silos and build a more connected scholarly community. She created accessible, cross-departmental forums that help faculty navigate funding opportunities, research infrastructure, and collaboration,” comments Dr. Mary Beth Holmes.

Whitney R. Powers Award for Teaching Excellence: Dr. Jesse Moreira-Bouchard

Dr. Jesse Moreira-Bouchard received the 2026 Whitney R. Powers Award for Teaching Excellence. This honor recognizes their exceptional commitment to student-centered teaching, inclusive pedagogy, scholarly leadership, and curriculum innovation. They have been at Sargent College since 2017, and have gone on to become the Co-PI of the Boston University Queer Understanding, Equity, and Education Research Lab (Q.U.E.E.R. Lab).

“Jesse is an outstanding educator. From the moment that class began, [they] established the learning objectives for this hands-on class. This class was technically demanding as students for the first time were learning to take a patient history and seek permission to take their blood pressure. [They were] able to present these complex concepts in a way that was accessible to all students without oversimplifying the material,” says Professor Kelly Pesanelli.

Congratulations to all the winners!