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The McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching & Outstanding Commitment to Quality Education. The McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award is funded by the McPherson Endowment established by the founding president Dr. Harry McPherson and his family now held by the Napa Valley College Foundation.

Founding President Dr. Harry McPherson has helped generations of Napa Valley College students. From his vision and institutional leadership to his support of scholarships and encouragement of individual students, he touched many lives. Establishing the McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award is another example of his support of our outstanding faculty and his commitment to excellence in education.

2026 McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award

The Office of Academic Affairs and the Napa Valley College Foundation congratulate this year鈥檚 recipient of the 2025 McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing excellence in teaching and outstanding commitment to quality education.

Greg Miraglia is an LGBT activist, college professor of LGBT studies and criminal justice, author, radio host and producer, and professional speaker. He has a Master鈥檚 Degree in Education, a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Business, and is a graduate of the California Commission On Peace Officer Standards and Training Master Instructor Development Program.

Mr. Miraglia is a Dean Emeritus at Napa Valley College and currently serves as the program coordinator for Criminal Justice Education and Training and Pride Learning Community coordinator.  He is the onsite liaison for the early college program at New Technology High School.  Mr. Miraglia is also a part time member of the faculty at City College of San Francisco and Santa Rosa Junior College.  He teaches six different LGBT studies courses and a number of criminal justice classes including introduction to administration of justice, community policing, 21st century policing, criminal law, and criminal procedures. His teaching is informed by his formal education, professional experience, and extensive research. 

Mr. Miraglia serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Matthew Shepard Foundation and is also a radio program host and producer on Outbeat Radio, a weekly LGBT program on KRCB Radio.  He is also an Ambassador for the Gilbert Baker Foundation in New York and the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and Museum in Washington DC.

Teaching has always been a passion for Mr. Miraglia. He enjoys most designing and facilitating learning experiences that enable students to discover new knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking. His passion for technology has inspired the creation of numerous online courses that enable students to access education in ways other than coming to a campus. Mr. Miraglia鈥檚 love of teaching continues to grow today with his work in the early college program at New Technology High School.

Congratulations to Professor Miraglia.

Forest Quinlan brings energy, authenticity, and high expectations to the chemistry classroom, creating an environment where students are challenged, supported, and fully engaged. As a first-generation college student raised by a single mother on welfare, Forest鈥檚 journey to higher education was shaped by perseverance and a deep belief that hard work and a good education would change his life trajectory and elevate him out of poverty.

He began his academic path intending to become a high school science teacher, hoping to help and inspire others, just as others had done for him. He later shifted to Chemical Engineering, drawn to its rigor, opportunity鈥攁nd, as he puts it, 鈥渁 great paycheck.鈥� He went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis. After several years in two different postdoc research positions, a chance opportunity to teach for Sacramento City College reignited his passion for the classroom. He found his calling in the community college system, teaching for four years across multiple campuses, before landing at Napa Valley College in 2008.

From the start, Forest focused on improving the student experience. He led efforts to modernize introductory chemistry labs, replacing outdated practices with more relevant, hands-on learning. He also helped build a stronger sense of community in STEM, contributing to the founding of the SACNAS chapter and advising multiple student clubs over the years.

Known for his fast-paced, highly interactive teaching style, Forest uses a Socratic approach that pushes students to think critically and participate fully. In his classroom, no one sits on the sidelines. Students are expected to try, to engage, and to learn from mistakes. His goal is simple: if students can explain what they have learned to someone else, they truly understand it.

Affectionately known as 鈥淭铆o Bosque,鈥� Forest creates a classroom culture that is both demanding and supportive. He tells them upfront, 鈥淚 will not teach you anything you do not already know, but I will teach you the why and the how it happens.鈥� He connects chemistry to everyday life, through humor and real-world examples, making complex concepts approachable. His philosophy is clear: learning is hard work, and he will work as hard as the students work to achieve their goals. Their success is his success.

Congratulations to Professor Quinlan.

List of Past Winners 鈥�

2025
Kirstie Iwamoto
Claudette Shatto

2024
Antonio Castro

2023
Janet Stickmon

2022
Janice Ankenmann
Michael Campbell

2021
Cathy Gillis
Jeannette McClendon
Jennifer King

2020
Dr. 鈥婼ally Baldwin
Dr. Lisa Yanover

2019
Kelly McCann
Paul Gospodarczyk

2018
Dr. Steven Fawl
Paul Wagner