Professor Natalia Schradle, Assistant Professor of Dance and Director of the Coker Repertory Dance Company, has been named Coker University’s recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award by South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU). The award was presented during a special ceremony in Columbia, SC, on April 23, 2025.

Each year, SCICU honors one faculty member from each of its member institutions who exemplifies teaching excellence, dedication to students, and a deep commitment to their campus community. Professor Schradle was selected following thoughtful conversations with a panel of Coker’s previous SCICU honorees, who celebrated the strong tradition of outstanding teaching at Coker.

“We are thrilled to see Professor Schradle recognized for the energy, passion, and creativity she brings to her work,” said Dr. Susan Henderson, Provost of Coker University. “She engages students in ways that stretch far beyond the classroom—and her leadership has helped shape a more inclusive and innovative learning environment at Coker.”

Professor Schradle joined Coker’s faculty with a BFA in Dance and a minor in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and an MFA in Performance Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She is also a certified yoga instructor and movement analyst.

Her creative and scholarly work has been featured across the country and abroad, including performances at the Ocean Dance Festival/World Dance Alliance, The Richmond Dance Festival, and The Fringe Festival. As the Artistic and Executive Director of ANAHATA Dance, she has produced original works in Brooklyn, Durham, and New York City.

At Coker, Professor Schradle has been recognized with the Rising Star Award, the Innovation in Teaching Award, and the Vanguard Award. She serves on several university committees, advises Coker’s LGBTQ+ student organization, and has played a key role in efforts to update and decolonize the dance curriculum.

Through the Coker Repertory Dance Company, she mentors students as they perform and teach in schools across South Carolina—bringing the power of movement and storytelling to communities throughout the state.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Schradle on this well-deserved recognition. Her dedication to her students, her craft, and the Coker community continues to inspire us all.