Assistant Professor Allyson Roof, PhD Receives 2026 5-Star Teaching Award
The 5-Star student committee and and several Physiology Department colleagues surprised Dr. Roof during class with recognition of the award.
The W.A. Franke Honors College is thrilled to recognize Dr. Allyson Roof as the winner of the University of Arizona's 2026 5-Star Teaching Award. This award, funded by donors Dr. Margaret M. Briehl and Dr. Dennis T. Ray, is the only student-selected award that recognizes excellence in teaching across The University of Arizona.
Originally from Tucson, Dr. Roof is a proud “desert rat” with a deep appreciation for the Sonoran Desert, especially monsoon season and our purple mountain sunsets. She earned both her BSHS in Physiology and MS in Physiological Sciences from the University of Arizona. Dr. Roof completed her PhD in Integrated Physiology with a focus in Reproductive Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship studying postmenopausal bone loss.
Although Dr. Roof comes from a family of K-12 educators, teaching was not initially part of her career plan. While completing prerequisite coursework on the pre-med track as an undergraduate, she developed a strong interest in physiology.
Dr. Roof is the Associate Director of the Physiology Undergraduate Program at the College of Medicine - Tucson and Course Director for Human Anatomy and Physiology I (PSIO 201). She also teaches an upper-division elective on the Physiology of Aging (PSIO 487), in which students apply their understanding of physiological systems to understand age-related disease and critically evaluate popular claims about “cures” for aging. She is also actively engaged in pedagogical research focused on evidence-based practices in physiology education. In 2024, Dr. Roof was a part of a multidisciplinary team that received the CUES Spanning Boundaries Challenge Grant to study the role of teaching teams in fostering student sense of belonging.
"Dr. Ally Roof is an exceptional teacher and a great mentor to undergraduate and graduate students," said Claudia Stanescu, Associate Professor and colleague of Dr. Roof. "She is innovative and engaging in her teaching and uses memorable examples and real life experiences to make learning fun. She creates a sense of community in her classes, whether large or small, and is one of the most loved instructors in our department. She is an outstanding educator and leader in undergraduate education and I am delighted that she is being recognized with the 5-Star Teaching Award."
What the 5-Star Teaching Award committee members are are saying:
"Getting to meet Dr. Roof during the reception was such a pleasure. Her warmth and genuine care for her students were immediately evident. Listening to her interview and hearing how intentionally she approaches supporting student success made a memorable impression. She is truly deserving of this recognition."
- Nicole Millanes, 5-Star committee member
"Dr. Roof was a pleasure to interview. Her passion for teaching and her enthusiasm for helping her students grasp challenging concepts was evident. From developing interactive practice questions in class where she strongly encourages student engagement even if they are wrong to designing a new textbook with the help of her colleagues to make expectations clearer to students, Dr. Roof goes above and beyond in her classroom."
- Sophia DiPonio, 5-Star committee member & current student
"It has been a true privilege to serve on this committee, and we are honored to present this meaningful, student-driven award to Dr. Roof. As a former student and now a member of her teaching team, I have seen firsthand how her genuine care for student well-being shapes everything she does. Her passion for education and her ability to inspire curiosity and a love of learning brighten the undergraduate experience for all who work with her. I feel incredibly fortunate to learn from Dr. Roof and proud to present this award."
- Taylor Raney, 5-Star committee member & former student
"I enjoyed seeing her compassion for present and past students, wanting to see them thrive in their future endeavors. It is also lovely to see a professor who teaches both large and small classes to be praised by her engaging and warm presence in the course."
- Colton Kirkpatrick, 5-Star committee member