College faculty awards
The college honored five faculty members with awards for outstanding advising, teaching, scholarship and service.
Jill Flynn, associate professor of English, was presented the
Excellence in Advising Award for her work with students in the English
education program. Flynn “has distinguished herself as a devoted
teacher-adviser, caring and attentive guide and career advocate who
expertly helps her students navigate their academic and professional
lives,” Watson said. He said she guides her students with patience and
positivity and serves as a role model for the kind of teacher they
strive to become.
P. Gabrielle Foreman, the Ned B. Allen Professor of English,
received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award for “her dedication to
and excellence in teaching,” Watson said in presenting the award,
adding that her teaching evaluations from her students are consistently
excellent. “She is cited in her letters of support for being a teacher
of integrity and passion, encouraging students to approach their
education with ferocity and curiosity, and shaping students’ scholarly
abilities, passion and activism,” he said.
Jinfa Cai, professor of mathematical sciences, was one of two
faculty members to be honored with the CAS Excellence in Scholarship
Award. Cai is internationally recognized as a leader in mathematics
education research, with a “rich and productive” research program,
Watson said. “His scholarship is evident not only in the quality of his
work, his citation record and external grant funding, but in being named
an American Education Research Association Fellow and editor-in-chief
of the top journal in his field,” Watson said.
Stuart Kaufman, professor of political science and
international relations, was presented the second Excellence in
Scholarship Award, with Watson noting that his reputation and impact has
been evident in the number of top-tier and critically acclaimed
articles and books he has written. Kaufman, Watson said, has been “cited
in his letters of support as a creative scholar who is addressing the
big questions of our time, one of the most accomplished scholars in his
discipline and for having a first-rate, original and creative mind.”
Julio Carrion, professor of political science and
international relations, received the Excellence in Service Award for
his “extraordinary work” in a variety of capacities for the college and
for his profession, Watson said. Carrion is the founding director of the
CAS Center for Global and Area Studies, worked on strategic planning
for the college, directed a Fulbright Institute on American Values for
Argentine students and works with Freedom House, a worldwide advocate
for democracy and human rights.
University awards
Also at the Celebrating Achievement and Success event, Watson
recognized Patricia DeLeon, Trustees Distinguished Professor of
Biological Sciences, who has been selected
as the 2017 Francis Alison Faculty Award recipient, UD’s highest
competitive faculty honor, and Salil Lachke, assistant professor of
biological sciences, who earlier this year received the Gerard J. Mangone Young Scholars Award.
Other faculty members and students who previously received University awards were honored at the college event as well.
Those included the four faculty members who were presented Excellence
in Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring awards at this month’s Faculty
Senate meeting: Robin Andreasen, associate professor of linguistics and
cognitive science and of philosophy; Lisa Jaremka, assistant professor
of psychological and brain sciences; Phillip Mink, assistant professor
of English; and Patricia M. Walsh, associate professor of biological
sciences.
Also at the Faculty Senate meeting, Brian Ackerman, professor of
psychological and brain sciences, received an Excellence in Teaching
award—for the third time in his UD career.
The CAS celebration also recognized graduating seniors Linda (Ellie)
Halfacre and Micah Petersen, who previously received this year’s Emalea Pusey Warner Award and Alexander J. Taylor Sr. Award,
respectively, from the UD Alumni Association as the outstanding woman
and man in the Class of 2017. Halfacre will graduate with a bachelor’s
degree in international relations and public policy, and Petersen with
bachelor’s degrees in Chinese studies and international relations and a
concurrent master’s degree in geography.
Celebrating achievement and success
The College of Arts and Sciences holds its celebration each May to
recognize the accomplishments of faculty and students during the
academic year and to honor prominent and successful alumni.
This year’s event began with a performance by the Graduate String Quartet, accompanied by a video
featuring some highlights of the year. A reception followed the
celebration, to honor the award recipients and the college’s 16 newly promoted faculty members.
The event, Watson said, recognizes not only individual honors but
also “the ways our college as a whole continues to illuminate the minds
and hearts of our students and community through academics, research and
public engagement.”
Article by Ann Manser; photo by Doug Baker
