Professor Leon Tilley Receives 2025 Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching
The faculty member was honored at Academic Convocation 2025.
Note: During Academic Convocation, Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio read the following citation bestowing the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching upon Professor of Chemistry Leon Tilley.
The Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching is given each year to a full-time faculty member whose teaching has had a marked influence on the lives of Stonehill students. The Committee on Excellence in Teaching selects the outstanding professor from those nominated by students and faculty members. The award is named in honor of one of Stonehill’s most accomplished teachers and the recipient stands as a symbol of the entire faculty’s commitment to teaching and academic excellence. At this 2025 Academic Convocation, Stonehill College is proud to bestow the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching on Professor Leon Tilley, Professor of Chemistry.
Professor Tilley brings incredible energy and creativity to teaching that transforms every chemistry class into an adventure! His passion for chemistry is absolutely contagious—he brings such infectious enthusiasm every single day that students can't help but get excited about the material.
His courses brilliantly combine the structure students need with the excitement they crave. While his PowerPoint-based lectures provide reassuring consistency, Professor Tilley moves dynamically around the front of the room, bringing the material to life. He hand-builds Styrofoam models to show crystal structures, weaves in humor throughout his lessons, and brings in guest professors and student teachers to keep things fresh. What really sets him apart is how he connects chemistry to what students are passionate about, making even the toughest concepts click and turning difficult courses into thrilling learning experiences.
Professor Tilley demonstrates remarkable flexibility in supporting student success. Rather than rushing through assessments, he adjusts assignment deadlines and exam dates when students need more time to truly understand the material, proving that genuine learning matters more than rigid schedules. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, he creates a welcoming classroom environment each semester while staying committed to growing as an educator. His willingness to constantly evolve his teaching methods shows he genuinely cares about reaching every student.
Beyond his classroom flexibility, what truly makes Professor Tilley extraordinary is his dedication to his students. He's on campus from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., always ready to help with problem sets, discuss chemistry, or provide support when students need it. He runs weekend review sessions until 10:00 p.m., provides extensive practice materials, and even brings in his famous homemade strawberry cookies to nourish his students. As a research mentor, he works hands-on in the lab, provides thorough feedback on student theses through multiple revisions, and makes himself readily available when students need guidance. Students consistently describe him as "the most available professor" they've ever had and credit him as a constant, supportive presence in their academic lives.
Students light up when they talk about how his enthusiasm kept them going in chemistry, with many saying he's the reason they didn't give up on the subject. Even when students change majors, they consider him a lifelong mentor who supported their personal growth. His ability to make chemistry come alive while building meaningful relationships with students makes him an exceptional educator who truly makes a lasting impact.
And so, it is with profound pride that today, Stonehill recognizes Professor Leon Tilley for his outstanding teaching in service to our students.