UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Each spring, Penn State recognizes outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence. These awards highlight many of the University's faculty and staff who go above and beyond in their work at Penn State.
This year's honorees will be recognized at an invitation-only awards ceremony at noon on Thursday, March 28, in Presidents Hall at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
Additional information about each of these University-wide awards is available here.
This 2024 faculty and staff award winners are as follows:
Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards
Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching
Lolita Paff, associate professor of business and economics at Penn State Berks
Scott Showalter, professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Eberly College of Science
George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching
Sommar A. Chilton, associate teaching professor in the College of Health and Human Development
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Siu Ling “Pansy” Leung, associate teaching professor in the College of Engineering
Kuei-Nuan Lin, associate professor of mathematics at Penn State Greater Allegheny
Sarah E. Nilson, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver
Kara Stone, assistant teaching professor of English at Penn State Scranton
Penn State Teaching Fellows: The Penn State Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Juan Gil, professor of mathematics at Penn State Altoona
Sonia Molloy, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State York
Jacqueline O’Connor, professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
Penn State Excellence in Advising Award
Elizabeth Agler, academic adviser for the School of Visual Arts in the College of Arts and Architecture
Carol Putman, associate teaching professor in management at Penn State Behrend
President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration
Kenan Ünlü, professor of nuclear engineering in the College of Engineering, and the director of the Radiation Science and Engineering Center
President’s Award for Engagement with Students
John Simpkins, head of musical theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture
Undergraduate Program Leadership Award
Catie Grant, assistant teaching professor and director of the CommAgency in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
Teaching and Learning with Technology Impact Award
Anna Divinsky, assistant teaching professor of art in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Office of Digital Learning
Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award
Tina Chen, associate professor of English and Asian American studies and director of the Global Asias Initiative at Penn State
Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards
Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award
Michelle Vigeant-Haas, associate professor of acoustics and architectural engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering
Graduate Faculty Teaching Award
Allison Henward, associate professor of education in the College of Education
Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award
Jennifer Graham-Engeland, professor of biobehavioral health and professor-in-charge of the graduate program in the College of Health and Human Development
Faculty Scholar Medals
Arts and Humanities: Bonnie Collura, professor of art and sculpture in the College of Arts and Architecture
Social and Behavioral Sciences: Shaun Gabbidon, Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg
Engineering: Enrique Gomez, professor of chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and by courtesy materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Life and Health Sciences: Katsu Murakami, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Eberly College of Science
Physical Sciences: Mikael Rechtsman, professor of physics in the Eberly College of Science
Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer and Economic Development: Tak-Sing Wong, professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards
McKay Donkin Award
Cyanne E. Loyle, associate professor of political science and international affairs in the College of the Liberal Arts
Award for Administrative Excellence
Renata Shaw, administrative support assistantfor the chancellor, director of campus development and director of campus relations at Penn State Beaver
Staff Excellence Award
Jane McCandless, academic adviser in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Support Staff Award
Amy Stover, financial coordinator in the Department of Mathematics in the Eberly College of Science
Barash Award for Human Service
Peter Buck, affiliate faculty and associate director of climate and sustainability education, Penn State Sustainability
Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award
Terry Watson, assistant director of academic advising and student disability services at Penn State World Campus
W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award
David Hughes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security and professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and biology in the Eberly College of Science
Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach
Edward Jenkins, professor of practice in accounting and professor-in-charge of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in the Smeal College of Business
Shirley Hendrick Award
Michelle Wiley, director of academic development at Penn State World Campus
Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award
Centre Film Festival, led by Pearl Gluck, Donald P. Bellisario Career Advancement Professor and associate professor of film production
Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship
Lena Surzhko-Harned, associate teaching professor of political science and associate director of the Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend
