Awards

Call for Nominations for Faculty Awards

Nominations: Deadline March 3, 2024

In cooperation with the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, the Faculty Senate President is asking for nominations for five major faculty awards. A brief description of each is included below.

Faculty, please consider yourself or your colleagues for nomination. All 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 nominations remain active and updates are requested. Students making nominations may, if they like, seek the assistance of the President of the Faculty Senate.

Many of you are familiar with these awards and the fact that each distinction includes an award of $2,000.

In cooperation with the Provost, the Faculty Senate President invites nominations of University of Denver faculty for the following five major faculty awards:

  • Distinguished Scholar Award
    • This award recognizes unusually significant and meritorious achievement in professional scholarship, as evidenced by publications and their enhancing effect on classroom teaching.
  • Distinguished Teaching Award
    • This award recognizes excellence in teaching. The nomination should emphasize the degree to which a person’s teaching has constructively influenced his/her students. The nominee must have completed three or more years of teaching at the University of Denver.
  • Faculty Service Award
    • This award is given to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding service to the University, the community, or the profession.
  • University Lecturer
    • This award recognizes superlative creative and scholarly work. The lecturer is chosen without regard for time spent at the University or popularity as an individual or as a teacher. The award is announced at the Fall Convocation and presented at the University Lecture in the spring.
  • Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award
    • This award recognizes excellence in teaching by an adjunct faculty member, here defined as a teacher whose primary employer is not the University of Denver. It is named after Ruth Murray Underhill, who served as an instructor at the University from 1948-1952 and as an adjunct faculty member into the 1970s. Nominees should have taught at least one course per year for the University for each of the three years prior to nomination. Courses must have been taught in a degree-granting program but need not have been taught in a single department or unit.

Please consider nominating your colleagues or yourself for any of the awards.Nominations from deans, directors, and department chairs are particularly appreciated considering those individuals have access to annual review, reappointment, promotion, and tenure materials that could help identify outstanding performance by faculty members. Nominations from the prior two academic years will automatically remain in consideration without any additional action required.

The Awards Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Personnel Committee makes recommendations to the Provost, the Chancellor, and the Board of Trustees, who make the final selections. The committee recommendations are taken very seriously.

We have a NEW Nomination Process this year:

To open a Faculty Awards Submission, please email Allee Burke at institutionalresearch@syria-events.com and provide the name of the nominee. Once the process is open, you will receive an email from Watermark and will see the process in your Workflow inbox.

For each nomination, please submit using this Watermark interface the following materials:

  • 1. A nomination letter that summarizes the nominee’s scholarship, teaching, and/or service accomplishments, as relevant to the award sought;
  • 2. A current curriculum vitae for the nominee;
  • 3. No more than five (5) letters of support (e.g., from colleagues, students, alumni, or others who might share valuable insights.

The Faculty Awards Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Personnel Committee will make a recommendation to the Provost based solely on the materials requested above.

Additional materials will not be considered. You may nominate the same person for multiple awards, but you must submit separate nomination letters and supporting materials for each award.

When you are finished uploading your nomination materials, select “Actions” in the top right hand corner and select “Submit to Committee Chair” for the Faculty Awards Subcommittee chair to compile your submission for review. The nominee will not receive any notification regarding the nomination.

If you have any questions please contact Allee Burke at institutionalresearch@syria-events.com.

Please note that the deadline for nominations is March 3, 2024. Submissions are final and cannot be amended or supplemented once submitted.

 

Faculty Award Recipients

Distinguished University Professor

The basis for selection as a Distinguished University Professor shall be the attainment of national and, typically, international distinction for outstanding research, scholarly or artistic achievement that has significantly benefited their field.

Nomination Guidelines

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Paul Rullkoetter, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

    2022-2023: Elysia Davis, Department of Psychology, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

    2021-2022: Susan Schulten, Department of History

    2020-2021: Deborah Avant, Josef Korbel School of International Studies; Lynn Schofield Clark, Media, Film and Journalism Studies

    2019-2020: Anne DePrince, Psychology

    2018-2019: Ilene Grabel, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2017-2018: Doug Clements, Morgridge College of Education; Julie Sarama, Morgridge College of Education

    2016-2017: Not Awarded

    2015-2016: Not Awarded

    2014-2015: Martin Rhodes, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2013-2014: Haider Khan, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2012-2013: Kimon Valavanis, Electrical & Computer Engineering

    2011-2012: Howard Markman, Psychology

    2010-2011: Mario Lopez, Mathematics & Computer Science

    2009-2010: Jack Donnelly, The Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2008-2009: Andrei Kutateladze, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    2007-2008: Barry Hughes, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2006-2007: Bin Ramke, English

    2005-2006: Maciej Kumosa, Engineering

    2004-2005: Wyndol Furman, Psychology

    2003-2004: Ricardo F. Iznaola, Music

    2002-2003: Stanley Gudder, Mathematics

    2001-2002: James C. Wilson, Engineering

    2000-2001: Alan Gilbert, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    1999-2000: Donald H. Stedman, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    1998-1999: Not Awarded

    1997-1998: Aaron Goldman, Physics & Astronomy; Bruce Pennington, Psychology

    1996-1997: Sandra S. Eaton, Chemistry & Biochemistry; Gareth R. Eaton, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    1995-1996: Sarah M. Nelson, Anthropology

    1994-1995: Frank E. X. Dance, Human Communications

    1993-1994: J. Donald Hughes, History; Steve Carpenter, Physics & Astronomy

    1992-1993: Thomas Drabek, Sociology; Susan Harter, Psychology

    1991-1992: Ved Nanda, Law

    1990-1991: Marshall Haith, Psychology; David Murray, Physics & Astronomy

United Methodist Church – University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award

This award recognizes an outstanding faculty member for contributions to scholarship and teaching at the University of Denver. Faculty are honored for exceptional teaching, concern for students, and commitment to high standards in professional and personal life.

This award is no longer bestowed. The final award was conferred in 2016-2017.

  • View Past Recipients

    2017-2018: Not Awarded

    2016-2017: Gloria Miller, Morgridge College of Education

    2015-2016: Linda Wang, Lamont School of Music

    2014-2015: Pallab Paul, Daniels College of Business

    2013-2014: Lavita Nadkarni, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

    2012-2013: Michael Kinyon, Mathematics

    2011-2012: Corinne Lengsfeld, Mechanical & Materials Engineering

    2010-2011: Bonnie Clark, Anthropology

    2009-2010: Anne DePrince, Psychology

    2008-2009: John Kinnamon, Biological Sciences

    2007-2008: Daniel McIntosh, Psychology

    2006-2007: Cindy McRae, College of Education; Margaret Whitt, English

    2005-2006: Ilene Grabel, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2004-2005: Peter Adler, Sociology & Criminology

    2003-2004: Jeffrey B. Rutenbeck, Mass Communications & Journalism Studies

    2002-2003: Eleanor McNees, English

    2001-2002: Andrew E. Busch, Political Science

    2000-2001: Tracy B. Ehlers, Anthropology

    1999-2000: Barbara J. Wilcots, English; Oscar Somoza, Languages & Literatures

    1998-1999: Julie Nice, Law

    1997-1998: Dean Saitta, Anthropology

    1996-1997: Kathy E. Green, Education

    1995-1996: Sandra S. Eaton, Chemistry & Biochemistry; Richard Clemmer-Smith, Anthropology

    1994-1995: Frederick Greenspahn, Judaic Studies

    1993-1994: Bernard Spilka, Psychology

    1992-1993: Janette B. Benson, Psychology

    1991-1992: James P. Gilroy, Languages & Literatures

    1990-1991: Robert P. McGowan, Management

    1989-1990: George W. Shepherd, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    1988-1989: Alexandra Olsen, English

    1987-1988: Tricia S. Jones, Speech Communications

    1986-1987: Will Gravely, Religious Studies

    1985-1986: Joseph Campos, Psychology

    1984-1985: Barry Hughes, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    1983-1984: James E. Sorensen, Accountancy

    1982-1983: Wilbert Moore, Sociology

    1981-1982: Herb Greenberg, Math

Distinguished Scholar Award – Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award

  • View Past Recipients

    (S = Scholar, T = Teacher, F = Faculty)

    1991-1992: Robert M. Dores (F), Biological Sciences

    1990-1991: Donald G. Sullivan (F), Geography

    1989-1990: Gregory A. Robbins (T), Religious Studies

    1988-1989: Ved P. Nanda (S), Law

    1987-1988: Aaron Goldman (S), Physics & Astronomy (S); James E. Platt (T), Biological Sciences; Sarah M. Nelson (S), Anthropology; Paul Colomy (T), Sociology

    1986-1987: Paul Dempsey (S), Law and Charlotte "Barney" Sanborn (T), Sports Sciences / Physical Education

    1985-1986: Joseph S. Szyliowicz (S), Josef Korbel School of International Studies; James A. LaVita (T) Math & Computer Science

    1984-1985: J. Donald Hughes (S), History and Robert C. Schultz (T), Philosophy

Distinguished Scholar Award

This award is to recognize unusually significant and meritorious achievement in professional scholarship, as evidenced by publications and their enhancing effect on classroom teaching.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Jesse Owen, Morgridge College of Education

    2022-2023: David Gao, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

    2021-2022: Thomas Nail, Department of Philosophy

    2020-2021: Lawrence Golan, Lamont School of Music

    2019-2020: Anna Sher, Biological Sciences

    2018-2019: Jennifer Bellamy, Graduate School of Social Work

    2017-2018: Amin Khodaei, Electrical & Computer Engineering

    2016-2017: Nancy Leong, Sturm College of Law

    2015-2016: Seth Masket, Political Science

    2014-2015: Kimberly Bender, Graduate School of Social Work

    2013-2014: Christina Kreps, Anthropology

    2012-2013: Donald Bacon, Daniels College of Business

    2011-2012: Paul Rullkoetter, Mechanical & Materials Engineering

    2010-2011: Doug Hesse, English

    2009-2010: Suisheng (Sam) Zhao, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2008-2009: Stephen Shirk, Psychology

    2007-2008: Micheline Ishay, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2006-2007: Howard Markman, Psychology

    2005-2006: Jan Keenan, Psychology

    2004-2005: Jack Donnelly, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2003-2004: Susan Sterett, Political Science

    2003-2004: Andrei G. Kutateladze, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    2002-2003: Jeffrey Jenson, Graduate School of Social Work

    2001-2002: Lawrence N. Argent, Art & Art History

    2000-2001: Robert Granfield, Sociology

    1999-2000: Wyndol Furman, Psychology

    1998-1999: David Barnes, Law

    1997-1998: Jack Donnelly, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    1996-1997: R. (Buck) Sanford, Biological Sciences

    1995-1996: Peter Golas, History

    1994-1995: E. Spencer Wellhofer, Political Science

    1993-1994: J.C. (Chuck) Wilson, Engineering

    1992-1993: Hugh D. Grove, Accountancy

    1991-1992: Not Awarded

    1990-1991: Joyce Goodfriend, History

Distinguished Teaching Award

This award recognizes excellence in teaching. The nomination should emphasize the degree to which a person’s teaching has constructively influenced his/her students. The nominee must have completed three or more years of teaching at the University of Denver. It is presented at the Fall Convocation.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Lina Reznicek-Parrado, Department of Spanish Language, Literary, and Cultural Studies, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

    2022-2023: Catherine Sailer, Lamont School of Music, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

    2021-2022: Julie Morris, Department of Biological Sciences

    2020-2021: Lauren Picard, Writing Program

    2019-2020: Steven Iona, Physics and Astronomy

    2018-2019: Debra Austin, Sturm College of Law

    2017-2018: Kathy Green, Morgridge College of Education

    2016-2017: Ramona Beltran, Graduate School of Social Work

    2015-2016: Laura Rovner, Sturm College of Law

    2014-2015: Paul Michalec, Morgridge College of Education

    2013-2014: Phoenix Cai, Sturm College of Law

    2012-2013: Artur Poczwardowski, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

    2011-2012: David Thomson, Sturm College of Law

    2010-2011: Keith Miller, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    2009-2010: Larry Conyers, Anthropology; Roddy MacInnes, Art & Art History

    2008-2009: Shelley Smith-Acuna, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

    2007-2008: Susan Sadler, Biological Sciences

    2006-2007: Scott Leutenegger, Computer Science

    2005-2006: Roberto Corrada, Law; Jean East, Graduate School of Social Work

    2004-2005: Joseph Hornback, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    2003-2004: P. Bruce Uhrmacher, Education

    2002-2003: Buie Seawell, Business Ethics

    2001-2002: Susan L. Stakel, Languages & Literatures

    2000-2001: Maria T. Riva, Education

    1999-2000: Cathy Grieve, Mass Communications

    1998-1999: Robert Davine, Music

    1997-1998: Roberta Waldbaum, Languages & Literatures

    1996-1997: William Dorn, Math & Computer Science

    1995-1996: Alvin Goldberg, Human Communications

    1994-1995: Jan Laitos, Law

    1993-1994: Diane Benoit, Art & Art History

    1992-1993, Richard N. Ball: Math & Computer Science

    1991-1992: Cynthia V. Fukami, Management; Margaret E. Whitt, English

    1990-1991: M.E. Warlick, Art

    1989-1990: John D. Bazely, Accountancy

    1988-1989: David Longbrake, Geography

    1987-1988: John C. Livingston, History

    1986-1987: Anne R. Mahoney, Sociology

    1985-1986: Jere P. Surber, Philosophy

    1984-1985: Ronald J. Rizzuto, Finance

    1983-1984: Herschel Neumann, Physics

    1982-1983: Joel S. Cohen: Math

    1981-1982: Terrence Toy: Geography

    1980-1981: Jay Trowill, Psychology

    1979-1980: Dennis Barrett, Biological Sciences

    1978-1979: Luis P. Fonseca, Foreign Languages

    1977-1978: Ron Gist, Business

    1976-1977: David Anderson, Foreign Languages

    1975-1976: Gerald W. Chapman, English

    1974-1975: Elizabeth Tuttle, Physics

    1973-1974: Wilbur H. Parks, MS & EE

    1972-1973: William S. Huff, Law

    1971-1972: Allen duPont Breck, History

    1970-1971: Stuart James, English

    1969-1970: George E. Bradwell, Math; Laurance C. Herold, Geography

    1968-1969: Edith Davis, Graduate School of Social Work; Thomas Drabek, Sociology; Wayne Shroyer, Accountancy

University Lecturer

This award is given in recognition of superlative creative and scholarly work. The lecturer is chosen without regard for time spent at the University or popularity as an individual or as a teacher.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: George DeMartino, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2022-2023: Cindi Fukami, Department of Management, Daniels College of Business

    2021-2022: Cullen Hendrix, Korbel School of International Studies

    2020-2021: Bruce Uhrmacher, Morgridge College of Education

    2019-2020: Carl Raschke, Religious Studies

    2018-2019: Malcolm Lynn Baker, Lamont School of Music

    2017-2018: Alan Chen, Strum College of Law

    2016-2017: Sam Kamin, Sturm College of Law

    2015-2016: William Cross, Morgridge College of Education

    2014-2015: Jeanne Abrams, University Libraries

    2013-2014: Susan Schulten, History

    2012-2013: Not Awarded

    2011-2012: Tom Farer, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2010-2011: Ilene Grabel, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2009-2010: Martin Rhodes, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2008-2009: Rick Ball, Mathematics

    2007-2008: Jack Donnelly, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2006-2007: Jeffrey Jenson, Graduate School of Social Work

    2005-2006: Sandra Eaton, Chemistry and Biochemistry

    2004-2005: Barry Hughes, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2003-2004: Not Awarded

    2002-2003: David Levine, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2001-2002: Alton B. Barbour, Human Communications

    2000-2001: James R. Davis, Education

    1999-2000: Bin Ramke, English

    1998-1999: Ricardo Iznaola, Music

    1997-1998: Alan Gilbert, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    1996-1997: Peter Adler, Sociology

    1995-1996: Bruce Pennington, Psychology

    1994-1995: Paul Predecki, Engineering

    1993-1994: Donald H. Stedman, Chemistry

    1992-1993: Toni W. Linder, Education

    1991-1992: Lawrence P. Tiffany, Law

    1990-1991: Karen S. Kitchener, Education

    1989-1990: Susan Harter, Psychology

    1988-1989: Stanley P. Gudder, Math & Computer Science

    1987-1988: Gareth R. Eaton, Chemistry

    1986-1987: Steve H. Carpenter, Physics

    1985-1986: Frank E. X. Dance, Speech Communications

    1984-1985: Marshall Haith, Psychology

    1983-1984: Not Awarded

    1982-1983: Norman Bleistein, Math

    1981-1982: Ved Nanda, Law

    1980-1981: Seymour Epstein, Social Sciences, English

    1979-1980: John Horn, Psychology

    1978-1979: David Bayley, International Relations

    1977-1978: David G. Murcray, Physics

    1976-1977: Gunnar Boklund, English

    1975-1976: George Barany, History

    1974-1975: John B. Newkirk, Chemistry

    1973-1974: Wilbert Moore, Sociology

    1972-1973: Juan G. Roederer, Physics

    1971-1972: Gerald W. Chapman, English

    1970-1971: Gresham Sykes, Law

    1969-1970: Herbert J. Greenberg, Math

    1968-1969: Wolfgang Yourgrau, Philosophy

    1967-1968: Harold Mendelsohn, Mass Communications

    1966-1967: Robert L. Chasson, Physics

    1965-1966: John E. Williams, English

    1964-1965: Harry Seligson, Administration

    1963-1964: W. Campton Bell, Theatre

    1962-1963: Thompson Marsh, Law

    1961-1962: Essie White Cohn, Chemistry

    1960-1961: R. Russell Porter, Theatre

    1959-1960: Elwood Murray, Speech

    1958-1959: Fitzhugh Carmichael, Statistics

    1957-1958: Josef Korbel, International Relations

    1956-1957: Vance Kirkland, Art

    1955-1956: Levette J. Davidson, English

    1954-1955: Fred E. D. Amour, Zoology

Faculty Service Award

This award is given to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding service to the university, the community, or the profession.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Angela Parker, Department of History, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science

    2022-2023: Roberto Corrada, Sturm College of Law

    2021-2022: Kim Gorgens, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

    2020-2021: Sarah Watamura, Psychology

    2019-2020: Annette Stott, Art History, DU-Iliff Joint Doctoral Program

    2018-2019: Lisa Martinez, Sociology and Criminology

    2017-2018: Nicholes Ormes, Mathematics

    2016-2017: Sarah Pessin, Philosophy, Judaic Studies

    2015-2016: Nancy Wadsworth, Political Science

    2014-2015: Federico Cheever, Sturm College of Law

    2013-2014: Charles Reichardt, Psychology

    2012-2013: Ved Nanda, Sturm College of Law

    2011-2012: Robert Dores, Biological Sciences

    2010-2011: Alvaro Arias, Mathematics

    2009-2010: Davor Balzar, Physics & Astronomy

    2008-2009: Gordon Von Stroh, Management

Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award/ Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award

This award is given in recognition of excellence in teaching by an adjunct faculty member. The honoree should have taught at least one course per year in at the University in a degree-granting program for each of the three years prior to the nomination.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Tim Leddy, Information Technology Program, University College

    2022-2023: Janney Carpenter, Korbel School of International Studies

    2021-2022: Lauren Delle-Cotgageorge, Graduate School of Social Work

    2020-2021: Oriol Casanas, World Languages

    2019-2020: Kyle Fleming, Lamont School of Music

    2018-2019: Josiah Hatch, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2017-2018: Ellen Winiarczyk, University College

    2016-2017: Floyd Cobb, Morgridge College of Education

    2015-2016: Helene Grall-Johnson, Languages & Literatures

    2014-2015: Richard von Foerster, Lamont School of Music

    2013-2014: Martin Garnar, Morgridge College of Education

    2013-2014: Lavita Nadkarni, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

    2012-2013: Robert McGahey, Sturm College of Law

    2011-2012: Randel Lewis, Reiman School of Finance

    2010-2011: Lynn Holland, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2009-2010: Andrea Gelfuso, Geography & the Environment

    2008-2009: Margaret Sanders, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

    2007-2008: Michelle Meyer, Daniels College of Business

    2006-2007: Not Awarded

    2005-2006: Chris Edwards, University College

    2004-2005: Bradford Bolton, College of Law

    2003-2004: Uri Neil, Judaic Studies

    2003-2004: Raymond G. Boersema, Women's College

    2002-2003: Robert Melvin, University College

    2001-2002: Barbara H. Wright, TWC/University College

    2000-2001: Jeffrey C. Keith, Art & Art History

    1999-2000: Hallie Ward, Psychology

Sarah Pessin Shared Governance Award

This award is given by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee in recognition of faculty member and administrator for their work together on shared governance.

  • View Past Recipients

    2023-2024: Barb Hurtt and Jeff Banks

    2022-2023: Kevin Lynch and Linda Kosten

    2021-2022: Sarah Pessin and Mary Clark

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