UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Each year, Penn State honors several members of its faculty and staff for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership and meritorious service. The 2012 Faculty/Staff Award recipients -- 34 outstanding University employees and one program -- reach across campuses, colleges and administrative units and exemplify best practices and achievements among Penn Staters reflecting the University's mission of teaching, research and service.
The honorees will receive their awards at a ceremony at noon Thursday, April 19, at the Nittany Lion Inn.
Links to all 22 articles about this year's award recipients are available at http://live.psu.edu/tag/2012_Faculty_Staff_Awards. The award recipients are listed below by category.
Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards
-- The Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching: Robin Bower, associate professor of Spanish and comparative literature and culture, Penn State Beaver; Mark Casteel, associate professor of psychology, Penn State York
-- The George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching: Karen Barr, senior instructor of business, Penn State Beaver; Aquila Kikora Franklin, assistant professor of theatre/dance, College of Arts and Architecture; Christine Masters, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, College of Engineering; Katherine Masters, lecturer and lab director in chemistry, Eberly College of Science; Heather McCoy, senior lecturer in French, College of the Liberal Arts; Laura Palmer, associate professor of biology, Penn State Altoona
-- The Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching (2012 Penn State Teaching Fellows) -- David Aurentz, associate professor of chemistry, Penn State Berks; Frederick Haag, associate professor of visual arts, Penn State York; Mark Maughmer, professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering
-- The Penn State Excellence in Advising Award: Faculty -- Irene Ferrara, senior instructor of engineering, Penn State Altoona; Staff -- Ro Nwranski, academic adviser, College of Health and Human Development
-- The President's Award for Excellence in Academic Integration: Laurie Grobman, professor of English and women's studies, Penn State Berks
-- The President's Award for Engagement with Students: Patricia Barthalow Koch, professor of biobehavioral health, College of Health and Human Development
-- The Undergraduate Program Leadership Award: Richard Cyr, professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science
Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards
-- The Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award: J. Martin Bollinger Jr., professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology, Eberly College of Science
-- The Graduate Faculty Teaching Award: Ali Borhan, professor of chemical engineering in the College of Engineering
-- The Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award: Gordon De Jong, distinguished professor of sociology and demography, College of the Liberal Arts
-- Arts and Humanities Medal: Michael Bérubé, Paterno Family Professor of American Literature, College of the Liberal Arts
-- Engineering Medal: Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
-- Life and Health Sciences Medal: Eric Post, professor of biology, Eberly College of Science
-- Physical Sciences Medal: Raymond Schaak, professor of chemistry, Eberly College of Science
-- Social and Behavioral Sciences Medal: John McCarthy, professor of sociology, College of the Liberal Arts
Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards
-- The Barash Award for Human Service: Paula Parker, staff assistant, Penn State Justice and Safety Institute
-- The McKay Donkin Award: Avis Kunz, assistant dean for outreach and online education, College of the Liberal Arts
-- The Shirley Hendrick Award: R. Keith Hillkirk, chancellor, Penn State Berks
-- The Award for Administrative Excellence: Daniel Larson, Verne Willaman Dean, Eberly College of Science
-- The Staff Excellence Award: Julie Evak, coordinator of undergraduate education, College of Communications
-- The Support Staff Award: Kelly Morgante, travel and education program assistant, Penn State Alumni Association
-- The Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award: Shannon Sullivan, professor and head of the Department of Philosophy, College of the Liberal Arts
-- The W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards: Faculty -- Barry Ickes, professor of economics, College of the Liberal Arts; Staff -- Elena Galinova, senior undergraduate studies adviser, Division of Undergraduate Studies
-- The Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach: Samuel Monismith, associate professor of health education, Penn State Harrisburg
-- Community Engagement and Scholarship Award: Penn State Lehigh Valley CHANCE program (Connecting Humans and Nature through Conservation Experiences)
A full description of each of the Faculty/Staff Awards with contacts for further information is online at http://www.psu.edu/ur/awards/faculty.html.