The APA teaching awards are designed to recognize teachers from across the country, including those who do not belong to the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. Mayo competed in categories that included demonstrated influence in interesting students in the field of psychology; development of effective teaching methods, courses, and/or teaching materials; outstanding classroom performance; and scholarly activity.

Mayo won the 2003 University System of Georgia Board of Regents' Award for Research in Undergraduate Education for Two-Year and State Colleges and has won other academic distinctions and scholastic honors.

While at Gordon, Mayo has been praised for his "methodical studies of teaching which improved the learning of his students." Robert Neimeyer, editor of the Journal of Constructivist Psychology, has commended Mayo's work, citing its "novelty and rigor."

Over the past few years, Mayo has conducted an active research program in his psychology classes. He has used such teaching innovations as scored group discussions, autobiographical narratives, and a journaling technique in which students are asked to keep a record of observations and then research and categorize the behaviors they see.

Mayo has presented his research at major teaching conferences and has had his work published in professional journals, including the Journal of Constructivist Psychology, Constructivism in the Human Sciences, and Teaching of Psychology. In addition to serving on national education task forces, he has coauthored an introductory psychology text and study guide and has written various book and article reviews.