College Honors Outstanding Teachers and Advisors

The College of Sciences honored many of its outstanding teachers and advisors during its Teaching and Advising Awards Event at Talley Student Union on March 20.

The event recognized nominees for College of Sciences and university-level teaching and advising awards.

College of Sciences Teaching Awards

LeRoy and Elva Martin Award

The Martin Award, which is given to assistant professors (either tenure track or professional track), recognizes outstanding contributions to the College of Sciences’ teaching mission. The award was created in 2001 by the late LeRoy Martin Jr., a longtime mathematics professor at NC State, to honor his parents, Elva and LeRoy Martin.

Nominees

• Luke Castle, Mathematics
• Stefanie Chen, Biological Sciences
• Sharonda LeBlanc, Physics
• Logan Opperman, Statistics (winner)
• Teemu Saksala, Mathematics
• Arianna Soldati, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (winner)
• Travis Varner, Chemistry
• Kasey Wagoner, Physics
• Christina Zakas, Biological Sciences

University Teaching Awards

Outstanding Teacher Award

The Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes excellence in teaching at all levels. Faculty must be recognized as an Outstanding Teacher before they can be eligible to be nominated for the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching or the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award.

Nominees

• Elizabeth Brown, Mathematics
• Lisa Falk, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Sarah Larson, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Alice Lee, Biological Sciences
• Marion Martin, Chemistry
• Radmila Sazdanovic, Mathematics
• Aaron Titus, Physics

Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award

This award is supported by the NC State Alumni Association and is coordinated by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and the Office for Faculty Excellence. It is one of the most prestigious undergraduate teaching awards at NC State.

Nominees

• Carlos Goller, Biological Sciences
• Ghada Rabah, Chemistry

Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor Award

The Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professorship recognizes outstanding graduate-level teaching, mentoring and service at NC State.

Nominees

• James Bonner, Biological Sciences
• Kailash Misra, Mathematics
• Robert Riehn, Physics

Provost’s Award for High Impact Experiential Learning

The Provost’s Award for High Impact Experiential Learning recognizes excellence in the development, delivery, accessibility and outcomes of high-impact and interdisciplinary experiences that engage NC State students, including undergraduate, graduate and professional populations.

Nominees

• Pat Estes, Miriam Ferzli and Lisa Paciulli, Biological Sciences
• Brian Reich and Mette Olufsen, Statistics and Mathematics
• Laura Clarke and Brand Fortner, Physics
• Chris Osburn, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Carlos Goller and Stefanie Chen, Biotechnology/Biological Sciences
• Emily Griffith, Data Science and AI Academy/Statistics

Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching

The awards were established in 1994 to identify, recognize and support good teaching. Each year, a faculty member from each of North Carolina’s 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics receives the award.

Nominee

• Kay Sandberg, Chemistry 

DELTA Grants

The DELTA Grants program provides support, key services and financial resources to increase student success through faculty partnerships. The goal is to collaborate on reusable efforts with a broad reach to enhance teaching and learning through technology and research-based best practices.

Recipients

• Ryan Chiechi and Jeremy Feducia, Chemistry
• Jason Flores, Maria Gallardo-Williams and Melissa Ramirez, Biological Sciences and Chemistry
• Carlos Goller, Biological Sciences
• Douglas Hamilton, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Erica Kosal, Biological Sciences
• Cassie Lilly, Chemistry

Libraries Faculty Award

The Libraries Faculty Award recognizes NC State faculty members who have contributed consistently and notably to the accomplishment of the Libraries’ mission, vision, and strategic initiatives.

Winner

• Bucky Gates, Biological Sciences

Advising Awards

Advisor Development Institute Certificate

The Advisor Development Institute Certificate recognizes participation in workshops focused on three core competencies — conceptual, informational and relational, as well as their applicability to undergraduate advising — identified by the National Academic Advising Association.  

Recipient

• Cassidy Hawkins, Biological Sciences

College of Sciences Excellence in Advising Award

The awards were established to honor outstanding advisors in the college and recognize the key role they play in ensuring the success of our undergraduate students. Academic advisors are often the first point of contact for students, helping them navigate their academic and personal lives. Each year, one Excellence in Advising Award will be presented to a professional advisor, and another to a faculty member who excels at advising.

Winners

• Maggie Puryear, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Jeremiah Feducia, Chemistry

This post was originally published in College of Sciences News.