University Park, Pa. -- Every year, the University recognizes faculty and staff for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership and meritorious service. The 2006 Faculty/Staff Awards recipients were honored at a formal banquet on March 20. Being recognized this year are 30 individuals from across the University system who best exemplify Penn State's commitment to excellence.
Shannon, Hurley receive Excellence in Advising Awards
The 2006 Penn State Excellence in Advising Awards are presented to Robert Shannon and Brent Hurley. The award, established by the Undergraduate Student Government's Academic Assembly, annually honors one full-time faculty member and one full-time professional adviser from any Penn State location who have at least two years of advising experience. The award acknowledges excellence in advising, academic and career guidance, enthusiasm and assistance to students in decision-making and goal-setting. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16644
Yapa earns award for Excellence in Academic Integration
Lakshman Yapa, professor of geography at Penn State University Park, has been awarded the 2006 President's Award for Excellence in Academic Integration. The President's Award is given to a full-time faculty member who has exhibited extraordinary achievement in the integration of the University's three-point mission of teaching, research or creative accomplishments and service. The award was established in 1996 to recognize faculty members who have excelled in all three areas of their professions. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16646
Assaf receives Award for Administrative Excellence
Masume Assaf, associate director of international student services, has been honored by Penn State with the Award for Administrative Excellence. The award, established in 1970, is given annually to a University faculty or staff member whose performance methods and achievements exemplify the highest standards of administrative excellence. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16648
Four Penn State faculty receive Atherton Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Four Penn State faculty members have received the 2006 George W. Atherton Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The award recipients are Brian A. Curran, associate professor of art history, Penn State University Park; Laura A. Guertin, assistant professor of earth sciences, Penn State Delaware County; Jennifer Marchand-Reilly, associate professor of human development and family studies, Penn State Mont Alto; and Robert W. Speel, associate professor of political science, Penn State Erie. The award, named after Penn State's seventh president, was established in 1989 as a continuation of the AMOCO Foundation Award. It honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16649
Burlingame receives community service award
Philip J. Burlingame, associate vice president for Student Affairs, is the 2006 winner of the Barash Award for Human Service. The annual Barash Award for Human Service was created in 1975 by the family of the late Sy Barash. It honors a full-time member of the faculty, staff or student body on the University Park campus who, apart from his or her regular duties, has contributed the most to public service activities and organizations or the welfare of fellow human beings. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16651
Melton, Shapiro selected to receive award for distinguished teaching
Robert G. Melton, professor and director of undergraduate studies for aerospace engineering at Penn State University Park, and David Shapiro, professor of economics, demography and women's studies also at the University Park campus, have been selected for the 2006 Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among tenured faculty who have been employed full time for at least five years with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their duties. Milton S. Eisenhower, brother of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as president of Penn State from 1950 to 1956. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16654
Schmiedekamp receives President's Award for Engagement with Students
Ann Schmiedekamp, associate professor of physics at Penn State Abington, is the 2006 recipient of the President's Award for Engagement with Students. The award is given to a full-time member of the faculty who goes beyond her responsibilities to engage and encourage students in learning, demonstrating deep caring and involvement. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16655
Abdalla wins faculty outreach award
Charles W. Abdalla, associate professor of agricultural and environmental economics at Penn State University Park, has won the 2006 Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach. The award honors those who have positively and substantially affected individuals, organizations or communities through problem-solving or development, as a result of extending their scholarship. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16656
Five earn Faculty Scholar Medals for 2006
Five Penn State University Park professors have received the 2006 Faculty Scholar Medals for Outstanding Achievement. R. Keith Gilyard, distinguished professor of English, will receive the arts and humanities medal; B. Franklin Pugh, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, will receive the life and health sciences medal; Peter E. Schiffer, professor of physics, will receive the physical sciences medal; Darrell G. Schlom, professor of materials science and engineering, will receive the engineering medal; and Ann C. Crouter, professor of human development, will receive the social and behavioral sciences medal. Established in 1980, the award recognizes scholarly or creative excellence represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. A committee of faculty peer reviews nominations and selects candidates. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16657
Stokes receives Graduate Faculty Teaching Award
C. Shannon Stokes, professor of rural sociology and demography at Penn State University Park, has received the Graduate Faculty Teaching Award for 2006. The honor, established in 1992 by The Graduate School, is awarded to faculty members to recognize outstanding teaching performance and advising of doctoral students. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16673
Kao receives Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award
Teh-hui Kao, chair of the plant physiology program and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State University Park, is this year's winner of the Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award. The award honors faculty members for exemplary leadership that benefits graduate students and faculty in an existing graduate program at the University. The award's design acknowledges the recipient's efforts to enhance student recruitment, professional development and placement, and mentoring and promotion of faculty and students in the graduate program. The winner works to enhance his program's diversity, educational quality, resources and national visibility, and promotes professional ethics and its integration into all elements of graduate programming. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16674
Airhihenbuwa, Crago recognized with W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award
Collins O. Airhihenbuwa, professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State University Park, has received the W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award for faculty, and Nancy Crago, senior extension educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension, has received the staff designation of this award. Established in 1995, the W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award recognizes one faculty and one staff member who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University. It is named for the retired deputy vice president for international programs. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16676
Stratton honored with McKay Donkin Award
Valerie Stratton, associate professor of psychology and head of the Division of Education, Human Development and Social Sciences at Penn State Altoona, has been recognized with the 2006 McKay Donkin Award. Established in 1969 in honor of the late McKay Donkin, vice president for finance and treasurer of the University from 1957 to 1968, the award is presented to a full-time faculty or staff member or retiree for duties or services performed above and beyond those regularly assigned, and that have contributed most to the economic, physical, mental or social welfare of the Penn State faculty. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16678
Irwin honored with mentoring award
Mary Jane Irwin, who holds the A. Robert Noll chair in engineering at Penn State University Park, has received the 2006 Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award. The Palmer Award honors and recognizes outstanding achievement by a faculty member with at least five years of active service who effectively guides junior faculty. Palmer was the senior associate dean of The Graduate School from 1984 to 1991. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16679
Brown-Haywood honored with Robinson Equal Opportunity Award
Felicia Brown-Haywood, director of Student Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, has received the James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who has promoted equal opportunity through affirmative action and/or contributes to enhancing the educational environment of the University through improving cross-cultural understanding. The award is sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16680
Pysher earns Staff Excellence Award
Susan Pysher, coordinator of administrative support systems in the College of Engineering at Penn State University Park, has been selected to receive the Staff Excellence Award. Established in 1993, this award recognizes the consistently outstanding performance of a staff member who has demonstrated and practiced the philosophy of continuous quality improvement, team spirit, managerial excellence in the performance of assigned duties, and leadership in establishing a quality service orientation, so as to benefit his or her unit and the University. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16681
Kline receives Staff Support Award
Linda Kline, staff assistant in the department of agricultural economics and rural sociology at Penn State's University Park campus, is the recipient of the 2006 Support Staff Award. The honor recognizes the overall high quality performance of a non-exempt member of the support staff and dedication to customer service, quality improvement, teamwork and professionalism. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16682
Harpster, Womack win teaching fellow awards
Harold W. Harpster, associate professor of animal sciences, Penn State University Park, and Kenneth A. Womack, associate professor of English, Penn State Altoona, have each won The Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching and have been named a 2006 Penn State Teaching Fellow. The Alumni Association, the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Association established the Penn State Teaching Fellow Award in 1985. The award honors distinguished teaching and provides encouragement and incentive for excellence in teaching. Recipients are expected to share their talents and expertise with others throughout the University system during the year following the award presentation. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16683
Cash receives Undergraduate Program Leadership Award
Erskine Cash, professor emeritus of animal science at Penn State's University Park campus, has received the 2006 Undergraduate Program Leadership Award. The honor, established in 2002, recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership that has transformed or revitalized an existing undergraduate degree program. Read the full story on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/story/16685