Recognizing outstanding faculty and staff

At a ceremony and reception held Sept. 11 in Holmes Lounge, members of the Arts & Sciences community gathered to recognize recipients of the annual faculty and staff awards. Each recipient made exceptional contributions to the university through service, leadership, or teaching. Congratulations to all the awardees! 

Staff Leadership Award

This award honors a staff member who demonstrates exceptional initiative and outstanding execution in efforts that help advance the mission of Arts & Sciences. Awardees are particularly adept at understanding the needs of the school and their unit; working with faculty, staff, and leadership to advance efforts that meet these needs; supporting diversity efforts; and fostering a culture of teamwork and inspiring excellence in others.

Na'Nette Ashford, director of graduate admissions in the Office of Graduate Studies

Na'Nette Ashford accepts the Staff Leadership Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Outstanding Achievement in Student Services

This award is open to staff across Arts & Sciences. This award recognizes staff members who have provided exceptional service in student-centered work and activities. Awardees exemplify a strong dedication to students and their wellbeing and success.  

Brooke Taylor, assistant dean of advising in the College of Arts & Sciences

Andy Wiegert, director of student affairs in the Office of Graduate Studies

Andy Wiegert accepts the Outstanding Achievement in Student Services Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Staff Service Award

This award recognizes a staff member who has been a key player in operations critical to their unit and Arts & Sciences. Awardees’ performance has consistently exceeded expectations, improved operational effectiveness, and established them as a reliable and trusted colleague.

Alana Bame, administrative coordinator for the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy

Alex Espeseth, accountant in the College of Arts & Sciences

Tiffany Lang, instructional designer and canvas administrator in Arts & Sciences Computing

Jamie Perkins, technical director and ensembles coordinator in the Department of Music

Barb Winston, administrative coordinator in the Environmental Studies program

Alana Bame accepts her Staff Service Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.
Alex Espeseth accepts her Staff Service Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.
Tiffany Lang accepts her Staff Service Award from Ebba Segerberg, senior associate dean and chief of staff. 
Jamie Perkins listens to remarks during the presentation of his Staff Service Award. 
Barb Winston accepts her Staff Service Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Faculty Leadership Award

The Faculty Leadership Award in Arts & Sciences is awarded to an outstanding faculty member in recognition of their exceptional service to the university. The award was established to recognize Arts & Sciences' long history of outstanding faculty leaders who have shaped the university, from developing educational programs and policy to serving on committees and in administration.

Kit Wellman, professor of political science

Kit Wellman accepts the Faculty Leadership Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.


Excellence in Teaching Award

The Excellence in Teaching Award in Arts & Sciences was established to honor and publicly recognize an outstanding faculty member in Arts & Sciences for his or her exceptional teaching. Arts & Sciences has a long history of distinguished educators and innovative teaching that enriches the lives of undergraduate and graduate students, and the establishment of this award is a tribute to this tradition. 

Abby Jager, senior lecturer in the Department of Statistics and Data Science

Danielle Dutton, professor of English

Abby Jager and Danielle Dutton listen to remarks during the presentation of the Excellence in Teaching Award. 

David Hadas Teaching Award

The David Hadas Teaching Award in Arts & Sciences was established in 2008 by Pamela W. Hadas to honor and publicly recognize an outstanding tenured faculty member in Arts & Sciences who demonstrates commitment and excellence in teaching first-year undergraduate students.

Jennifer Smith, vice provost for educational initiatives and professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences

Jennifer Smith accepts the 2024 David Hadas Teaching Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

 

First-Year Programs Teaching Award

The First-Year Programs Teaching Award in Arts & Sciences recognizes pedagogical innovation in teaching first-year students through First-Year Program course offerings (including Ampersand Programs, First-Year Seminars, and First-Year Opportunity courses). The award was established to recognize the value of bringing first-year students into the university community through programs that promote and actively engage students in learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Mitchell Kundel, senior lecturer in the Department of Biology, for his First-Year Opportunity course "Molecular Biology of Genetic Disease"

Mitchell Kundel accepts the First-Year Programs Teaching Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Dean’s Award for Diversity Advancement

This annual award recognizes contributions from Arts & Sciences faculty who advance diversity in research, teaching, or service. This award highlights transformative research, teaching, or creative practice that significantly advances and promotes diversity on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, neurological ability, socioeconomic status, age, nationality, or sexual identity. Contributions might include research that has driven a change in the nominee’s field of study, teaching or mentoring that significantly benefits underrepresented groups, or service that improves campus culture in ways that advance diversity and inclusion. 

Douglas Flowe, associate professor of history

Douglas Flowe accepts the Dean's Award for Diversity Advancement from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Dean's Early-Career Research Award

This new award recognizes outstanding achievements in research and creative activity by scholars who have recently been awarded tenure. The recipient was selected in consultation with the Arts & Sciences Promotion and Tenure Committee after reviewing tenure cases in the current year.

Rita Parai, associate professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences

Rita Parai accepts the Dean's Early-Career Research Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Dean's Mid-Career Research Award 

The Dean’s Mid-Career Research Award recognizes outstanding achievements in research and creative activity by scholars who have recently been promoted to the rank of professor. The recipient was selected in consultation with the Arts & Sciences Promotion and Tenure Committee after reviewing tenure cases in the current year.

Allan Hazlett, professor of philosophy

Allan Hazlett accepts the Dean's Mid-Career Research Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Outstanding Teaching Awards 

The Dean's Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes exceptional achievements in teaching and creative activity by teaching-track scholars who have recently been promoted. The recipients were selected in consultation with the Arts & Sciences Promotion and Tenure Committee after reviewing promotion cases for the year.

Silas Johnson, senior lecturer in mathematics

Nicole Svobodny, teaching professor of global studies

Silas Johnson accepts the Outstanding Teaching Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.
Nicole Svobodny accepts the Outstanding Teaching Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Emerging Leadership Award

The Emerging Leadership Award is a new award given to a rising faculty leader who has shown tremendous service to the university and Arts & Sciences. 

Tim Wencewicz, associate professor of chemistry

Tim Wencewicz accepts the inaugural Emerging Leadership Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Dean's Strategic Partnership Award

Arts & Sciences only achieves its goals with the help of many people across the university, in other schools, and in the central administration. This new award recognizes a university leader outside of Arts & Sciences who has been an invaluable partner and colleague to our school.

Nicole Moore, senior director of research development

Nicole Moore accepts the Dean's Strategic Partnership Award from Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences.