Dr Grace Jepkemboi Komol, a Kenyan academic employed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was chosen as one of twelve faculty members to receive the 2026 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The award is administered by UAB’s School of Education and Human Sciences and recognises faculty who have demonstrated outstanding teaching performance and lasting impact on their academic communities.

Komol works in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the School of Education and Human Sciences, where she has been teaching for sixteen years.

During her tenure she has chaired, co‑chaired or served on thirty‑seven doctoral committees in the Early Childhood Education PhD programme, mentoring graduate students through their research projects.

The announcement was posted on Facebook, prompting congratulations from the Kenyan diaspora and being highlighted by diaspora‑focused platforms as a source of national pride.

Commentators noted that the honour places Dr Komol among a select group of UAB educators singled out from the broader faculty, underscoring her consistent commitment to student success.

For many Kenyans watching from home and abroad, the award reinforces the view that the country’s educational talent continues to thrive internationally.