Auburn University President Steven Leath praised the Auburn faculty and said they are the core reason for success at Auburn Tuesday night at the 2018 Faculty Awards Ceremony.
The ceremony was held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Seventeen faculty members and two units were recognized in 10 categories, ranging from liberal arts to engineering.
“When we come together as colleagues to recognize and celebrate each other's achievements, it’s fun,” Leath said. “It seems like we don’t do it often enough, though. We get so busy that we often forget to reflect on each other’s accomplishments, but we get to do that tonight."
Several other administrators congratulated the faculty members including Provost Bill Hardgrave, who also said it is important to have nights like this to honor faculty.
“Tonight is more than just about the awards," Hardgrave said. "It’s about the space our faculty members create that allows innovation to become the mark of our success and for excellence to become our institutional standard."
Kelly Bryant, professor of graphic design, showed great appreciation as he accepted The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.
“It’s very unexpected,” Bryant said. “The level of support I received from my students is absolutely amazing."
Traci O’Brien, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, also expressed gratitude as she accepted the Departmental Award for Excellence in Education.
“We feel gratified, and we are very proud to be a part of this international organization,” O’Brien said.
The full list of awards and recipients are:
The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching:
- James Long, advisory council Professor, School of Accountancy, Harbert College of Business
- Kelly Bryant, professor of graphic design, school of industrial and graphic design, College of Architecture, Design and Construction
The Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach:
- Kyes Stevens, director of the Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project and instructor in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction
Creative Research and Scholarship Awards:
- Shiwen Mao, Ginn endowed professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
- Cathleen Giustino, professor of history, College of Liberal Arts
- David Ketchen, Harbert eminent scholar and professor of management, Harbert College of Business
Research and Economic Development Advisory Board Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award:
- Pradeep Lall, MacFarlane endowed professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring:
- Virginia Davis, alumni professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Departmental Award for Excellence in Education
- Traci O'Brien, chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, College of Liberal Arts
President’s Outstanding Collaborative Units Award:
- Pharmacy Health Services and Auburn University Human Resources
New Alumni Professors
- Dennis DeVires, professor and assistant director for Research Programs, school of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences, College of Agriculture
- Peter Hastie, professor of kinesiology, College of Education
- John Rapp, professor of psychology, College of Liberal Arts
- Benson Akingbemi, professor of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Yaoqi Zhang, professor of forest economics and management, school of forestry and wildlife sciences
Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award:
- Melanie Duffey, assistant professor of interior design, College of Human Sciences
- James Long, Harbert College Advisory Council Professor, school of accountancy, Harbert College of Business
- Matthew Hall, assistant professor, school of architecture, planning and landscape architecture, College of Architecture, Design and Construction
Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship:
- Rex Dunham, professor and associate dean for research, school of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences, College of Agriculture
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