UW’s Molly Burchett Receives National Excellence in Teaching Award

Molly Burchett -- the University of Wyoming’s Smyrnios Family Sales Professor, an assistant professor of marketing and a President’s Distinguished Scholar -- has been named the recipient of the 2026 American Marketing Association (AMA) Sales Special Interest Group (SIG) Excellence in Teaching Award.

Burchett received the national honor Saturday, July 25, during the AMA Summer Academic Conference in Denver. The award recognizes educators who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in sales education through innovative teaching, meaningful student engagement and significant contributions to advancing the field of professional selling.

The AMA Sales SIG Excellence in Teaching Award is one of the highest recognitions in sales education, honoring faculty members whose commitment to teaching excellence has made a lasting impact on students and the sales profession. Recipients are selected by peers from leading universities across the country for their dedication to instructional innovation, mentorship and service to the academic sales community.

Since joining the university, Burchett has become a driving force in the continued growth and national recognition of the UW Center for Professional Selling. Through her engaging classroom instruction, student mentorship and commitment to experiential learning, she has helped prepare hundreds of students for successful careers in professional sales while strengthening the center’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier university sales programs.

Burchett’s recognition highlights national momentum of UW’s Center for Professional Selling. The center has experienced record enrollment growth, earned recognition as one of the nation’s top sales programs and continues to expand opportunities for students through corporate partnerships, national sales competitions and experiential learning initiatives.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition. It reflects the remarkable students, colleagues, advisers and partners who make experiential sales education through the UW Center for Professional Selling so meaningful,” she says. “Their commitment continually inspires me to create opportunities that help students grow personally and professionally and achieve more real-world impact than they imagined possible.”

Burchett’s award shows the extraordinary impact she has on students every day, says Mike Burns, the Timothy M. Miles Director of the UW Center for Professional Selling.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Dr. Burchett for earning this prestigious national honor. This award is a testament to the impact she continues to have in the classroom and on the lives of our students,” he says. “Molly’s passion for teaching, commitment to student success and dedication to advancing sales education are evident in everything she does. We are incredibly fortunate to have her representing the University of Wyoming and our Center for Professional Selling, and we’re thrilled to see her outstanding work recognized on the national stage.”

About the University of Wyoming Center for Professional Selling

The UW Center for Professional Selling develops ethical, career-ready sales professionals through experiential learning, corporate partnerships, national sales competitions and industry engagement. As a full member of the University Sales Center Alliance, the center provides students with opportunities to build professional selling skills while connecting with leading organizations across the country. The center has been recognized nationally for excellence in sales education and continues to expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in professional selling and business leadership.