The Blinn College District names its 2025 Teaching Excellence Award winners

John Dujka, Victoria Izzo, Marcia Jackson, Robyn J. Marcak, and Xinxin Tang are recognized for their innovative teaching skills and dedication to student success

August 25, 2025

The Blinn College District has recognized five instructors with its 2025 Teaching Excellence Award for their exceptional accomplishments, passion for learning, and the impact they have made on their students.

This year’s recipients are:

• John Dujka, Instrumental Music Professor, Brenham, Sealy, and Schulenburg Campus award recipient
• Victoria Izzo, Anthropology Instructor, Part-time award recipient
• Marcia Jackson, Psychology Professor, Rising Star award recipient for a full-time faculty member with less than three years of teaching experience at Blinn
• Robyn J. Marcak, American Sign Language Professor, Bryan/RELLIS Campus award recipient
• Xinxin Tang, Associate Degree Nursing Professor, technical award recipient

Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District, presented each honoree with their award plaque during the College’s Faculty Convocation on Thursday, Aug. 21.

John Dujka

Dujka has served as a faculty member in Blinn College’s Music Department since 1990. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Houston.

Dujka teaches piano, music theory, and music appreciation courses. He was inducted into the Blinn College Hall of Honor in 2023 and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Texas Music Teachers Association and the Brenham Music Teachers Association.

“I’m motivated to share my love for music and performing with my students in hopes that they will discover their own musical passion,” Dujka said. “Perhaps the most important reason I teach is to find those ‘diamonds in the rough’—the young pianist who has talent and potential but never had a teacher who showed them how to develop their piano technique to play more challenging works.”

Victoria Izzo

Izzo has been a part-time instructor in Blinn’s Anthropology Department since 2024. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University, her Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Central Florida, and she is pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Anthropology from Texas A&M University.

In addition to her instructional responsibilities, Izzo is passionate about mentoring students to prepare them to transfer to four-year institutions. She is a member of the Society for American Archaeology and the American Association of Biological Anthropology.

“To put it simply, I teach because I love it,” Izzo said. “Anthropology teaches you to embrace the wonderful weirdness that all humans share and I feel great pride in empowering my students, helping them through difficult times, and teaching them that anthropology can be fun along the way.”

Marcia Jackson

Jackson has been a professor in Blinn’s Psychology Program since 2022. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Wesleyan College, Master of Science from Radford University, and doctorate from Walden University.

Outside of the classroom Jackson serves as co-sponsor of Blinn’s Psychology Club and Psi Beta honor society, and is a member of the American Psychology Association.

“I teach because I love the challenge and have a passion for watching my students grow,” Jackson said. “I have been teaching the same subject for more than 20 years, but it never gets old or boring. Each semester brings a new group of students with their hopes, dreams, and personalities and I am privileged that each day offers a new opportunity to impact young life.”

Robyn J. Marcak

Marcak has been a professor in Blinn’s American Sign Language (ASL) Program since 2007. With a teaching career that spans 28 years, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Science in Deaf Education from Lamar University. She is certified in two areas: All Levels in Deaf Education and Secondary Level in ASL in the State of Texas. In addition, she is a state, national, and global certified evaluator for ASL assessments. Marcak is Blinn’s first Deaf professor to receive the Teaching Excellence Award.

Marcak currently organizes Blinn’s ASL curriculum and its requirements for incoming ASL students to transfer to a four-year university. She has presented at numerous conferences and holds professional memberships with the Texas Community College Teachers Association, American Sign Language Teachers Association, and the National Association of the Deaf. Marcak also served on numerous state and national boards of directors to promote ASL and interpreting educational needs.

“Teaching ASL is my passion, and every class is an opportunity to inspire students to see beyond language and embrace a culture built on connection, accessibility, and understanding,” Marcak said. “I share my personal experiences growing up as a Deaf individual and give hearing students the skills and knowledge they need to communicate effectively and make a difference in careers serving our Deaf individuals. I’m committed to bridging the barriers between the hearing and deaf worlds and together we can make that happen!”

Xinxin Tang

Tang has been a faculty member with Blinn’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program since 2018. An alumna of the ADN Program, she also holds a Bachelor of Science from Nanjing University in China and a Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Through individualized mentoring and tutoring, Tang assists at-risk and first-generation college students, ensuring they have the tools, confidence, and resources needed to succeed in their nursing education. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the National League for Nursing, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, and Texas Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

“Every day I teach, I’m reminded that nursing education doesn’t just create great nurses – it transforms students into confident, empathetic caregivers ready to change the world,” Tang said. “It is a privilege to help my students become compassionate, skilled advocates who will make a difference in their patients’ lives for years to come.”