John Pease teaches undergraduate courses, most often Human Societies and Social Stratification & Inequality. He is the national recipient of the 2009 Inspire Integrity Award from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has thrice been named a Philip Merrill inspiring mentor by Maryland undergraduates. He has won the Excellence in Mentoring Award and the Faculty Award for Teaching from the Board of Regents. He has also won the Kirwan Undergraduate Teaching Award and many other teaching and mentoring awards.

Professor Pease chaired the committee that reformed general education at Maryland in the 1990s. The committee recommendations became widely known as "the Pease Report". He is the recipient of the Dean's Medal and the eponym of the John Pease Scholarship.