COSAM News Articles 2017 March Auburn University honors Faculty Award winners Tuesday night

Auburn University honors Faculty Award winners Tuesday night

Published: 03/02/2017

By: Julie Huff

Auburn University honored its 2016-2017 Faculty Awards recipients Tuesday night at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, recognizing some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to the university’s mission.

Presented annually, the Faculty Awards honor individuals and groups of faculty for excellence in teaching, research and outreach. Following a competitive review process, recipients are chosen by selection committees comprised of faculty, staff, students and alumni. The honorees Tuesday night were named in 2016.

“Once again, this year's recipients were selected from an outstanding group of talented faculty,” said Timothy Boosinger, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “These awards symbolize the exceptional contributions of our faculty members to Auburn’s mission and demonstrate their extraordinary service and dedication to advancing our university.”

Faculty Award recipients are listed below:

The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Gerald and the late Emily Leischuck, 1964 graduates and retired Auburn University administrators, created the Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 to recognize two full-time, tenured faculty members who have demonstrated effective and innovative teaching methods, along with a continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring.

  • Bob Boyd, professor
    Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics
  • Dan LaRocque, professor
    Department of Theatre, College of Liberal Arts

Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach
The Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach honors the engagement of exemplary faculty members and demonstrates the tremendous impact Outreach has on the community, state and nation.

  • Barbara Struempler, professor
    Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management, College of Human Sciences

Creative Research and Scholarship Award
The Creative Research and Scholarship Award recognizes faculty members who have distinguished themselves through research, scholarly works and creative contributions among the categories of fine arts, liberal arts, business, social/human sciences and sciences, biomedical sciences, engineering and agriculture.

  • Michael Pindzola, professor
    Department of Physics, College of Sciences and Mathematics
    Sciences, Medical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture category
  • Richard Hansen, professor
    Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Harrison School of Pharmacy
    Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Architecture and Design, Business, Social and Human Sciences category

Departmental Award for Excellence in Education
The Auburn University Departmental Award for Excellence in Education was created in 2013 and is administered on behalf of the Office of the Provost through the university’s Biggio Center and the University Senate Teaching Effectiveness Committee. The award recognizes the efforts of departmental faculty for their commitment to improving education at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

  • Department of Geosciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics
    Mark Steltenpohl, alumni professor and chair

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship
The Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship Award is jointly sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association and the Graduate School and is awarded to a faculty member on the basis of excellence in research.

  • Stewart Schneller, professor and former dean
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics

Gary Brown ePortfolio Project Faculty Cohort Award
Recognizes teams of faculty members who have exhibited the spirit of collaboration and professional development promoted by the faculty cohort model, shown leadership in promoting the project and are engaged in practices that support the implementation of ePortfolios at Auburn.

  • Robert Bubb, lecturer
    Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Sciences
  • Emily Cumbie, instructor
    Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences
  • Jamie Sailors, director
    Undergraduate Programs, College of Human Sciences
  • Margaret Vollenweider, instructor and assistant director
    Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences
  • Sharon Wilbanks, director
    Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences

Alumni Professors
The Alumni Professorship program recognizes tenured faculty members with direct responsibilities in two or more of the institutional missions of instruction, research and outreach. Faculty selected to receive a professorship must have demonstrated exceptionally meritorious performance, distinctive competence and potential for continued high productivity and excellence.

  • Dawn Boothe, professor
    Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Stephen Dobson, professor
    Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics
  • Joseph Kloepper, professor
    Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture
  • George Plasketes, professor
    School of Communication and Journalism, College of Liberal Arts

President's Outstanding Collaborative Units Award
Created in 2011, the award recognizes existing faculty collaborations among two or more departments, divisions, offices or programs within the university. To be considered, the work of the collaborative units must have advanced the excellence, impact and reputation of representing units and the university as a whole.

Neuroscience Collaboration

  • Jennifer Robinson, associate professor
    Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
  • Jeffery Katz, alumni professor
    Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
  • Ana Franco-Watkins, associate professor
    Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
  • Thomas S. Denney Jr., professor
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
    Director, Auburn University MRI Research Center
  • Gopi Deshpande, associate professor
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
  • Nouha Salibi, staff scientist
    Siemens Healthcare
    Auburn University MRI Research Center
  • Meredith Reid, postdoctoral fellow
    Auburn University MRI Research Center
  • Ron Beyers, MRI physicist and safety officer
    Auburn University MRI Research Center

Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring
Established in 2012, the award recognizes faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate research, whose efforts support Auburn students interested in careers in research and creative works and who have demonstrated outstanding service to students.

  • Anne Gorden, associate professor
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics

Ralph “Shug” Jordan Professor of Writing
The Auburn University Athletic Department and Tigers Unlimited created this professorship in honor of the university’s beloved and most successful football coach, the late, legendary Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan.

  • Rebecca Barlow, associate professor
    School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Extension Specialist

Research Advisory Board Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award
Presented by the Auburn University Research Advisory Board, the award recognizes high quality, competitive research and scholarly activity that exemplifies and advances Auburn’s research and scholarship mission. The Research Advisory Board includes more than 40 industry professionals from across the country who actively support the university’s efforts to enhance its research and scholarship culture.

  • Bruce Tatarchuk, professor
    Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Alumni Award for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence
The Award for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence recognizes the outstanding teaching of undergraduates from nominations made by department heads, deans, alumni and students. A committee of retired faulty selects the recipients.

  • Billy Ferris, advisor
    School of Communication and Journalism, College of Liberal Arts
  • Ric Smith, lecturer
    School of Communication and Journalism, College of Liberal Arts
  • Alan Meyer, assistant professor
    Department of History, College of Liberal Arts

More information about the awards, including a list of winners from previous years, can be found on the Auburn University Faculty Awards website.

Latest Headlines
Archives
Select a year below.

Stay Connected