The accomplishments of Auburn's professors were recognized Tuesday at the fourth annual Faculty Awards Celebrating Excellence Ceremony.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary Ellen Mazey gave opening remarks.
"We recognize those whose scholarly work in the past year has impacted Auburn's purpose by presenting them with the highest awards given to faculty," Mazey said.
Retired Head of the Board of Trustees Robert E. Lowder welcomed honorees and guests.
"I think about the impact my own Auburn University professors had on my life," Lowder said. "I can personally attest to the effect our faculty has on our students."
Lawrence C. Wit, associate dean and professor of biological sciences, served as the master of ceremonies.
Marcaylyn Price, development coordinator for the Office of Planned Giving, provided piano music before and after the ceremony.
Vice President for Alumni Affairs Debbie Shaw presented the first awards.
The award for Distinguished Graduate Faculty Leadership was given to Kimberly Walls, music education professor.
Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards were presented to Theodore Becker, political science alumni professor, Carolyn Robinson, horticulture assistant professor, and Shari Park-Gates, consumer affairs assistant professor.
The following faculty were named new alumni professors: Frank Bartol, animal sciences adjunct professor, Curtis Jolly, agricultural economics and rural sociology professor, Mary Mendonca, biological sciences professor, Subhash Sinha, mechanical engineering professor, Wei Wang, associate professor in industrial design, and Mark Steltenpohn, professor in geology and geography.
Morris Bian, history associate professor, won the Creative Research and Scholarship Award.
Vice President for Research John Mason presented the Distinguished Diversity Researcher Award for an early career, and innovative diversity researcher was given to Mitchell Brown, political science assistant professor.
This award, for established diversity researchers, was presented to Francesca Adler-Baeder, associate professor and extension specialist in human development and family studies, and Constance Hendricks, community health professor and registered nurse.
Assistant Vice President for University Outreach Royrickers Cook presented the Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach to Barry Burkhart, psychology professor.
Mazey and Gerald and Emily Leischuck presented Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching to Sushil Bhavnani, mechanical engineering professor and Mendonca, one of the new alumni professors.
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