For the first time in three years faculty and staff were able to gather together again and celebrate their achievements during two in-person events this month that recognized their talent, creativity and dedication to Lehigh during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Because of the pandemic, the dinner and festivities that accompany the annual awards had been put on hold.
“The faculty and staff recognized are vital to Lehigh," said Provost Nathan Urban. "Their impact is evident in the success of our students, the dedication to our mission, and the campus environment as a whole. These individuals stood out to their colleagues and community members due to their dedication and innovation. I look forward to the ways in which they will continue to impact the Lehigh community."
On April 25, faculty were presented with their awards during an event at Zoellner’s Diamond Theater. There were 15 faculty members who received Lehigh’s most prestigious honors, the Lehigh University Awards. Two new categories were added this year.
One award acknowledges faculty who have made exemplary contributions to and advanced Lehigh’s international presence. The other award, determined by the provost, acknowledges a faculty member who goes above and beyond their scope of work.
Several other faculty were recognized during the event for awards they received from their individual colleges.
Staff were celebrated during an event on May 2 at Stabler Arena with six staffers taking home an award.
Members of the Lehigh community were invited to nominate faculty and staff who made an impact, whether through innovation, being a top performer in their department, or going out of their way to lend a helping hand. The nominations were due Feb. 17. Recipients were chosen by the University Awards Committee and Senior Leadership.
Faculty Awards
Alfred Noble Robinson Faculty Award:
Karmel Shehadeh, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering.
The Alfred Noble Robinson Award is awarded to a faculty member, or in exceptional cases, divided between two members of the Lehigh faculty. Winners of this award have shown extraordinary enthusiasm for Lehigh’s goals and priorities, often working beyond their direct area on university-wide projects or committees.
Carl & Ingeborg Beidleman Research Award in Business & Economics:
Eric Fang, founding director of the Center for Digital Marketing Strategy and Analytics and professor of marketing and Iacocca chair of marketing.
This award is given to highlight quality research and refereed scholarship in business and applied economic disciplines at Lehigh; to reward those involved in distinguished research, and place research on an equal level with teaching and university service in the annual recognition of faculty achievements.
Christian & Mary Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching:
Larry Snyder, Harvey E. Wagner Endowed Chair, professor and director of the Institute for Data, Intelligent Systems and Computation (I-DISC).
Awarded to a tenured member of the faculty (professor or associate professor) for distinguished teaching performed during the academic year.
Global Engagement and Internationalization:
Dinissa Duvanova, associate professor of international relations.
This award honors faculty who have made exemplary contributions to the internationalization of Lehigh while advancing the university’s mission of excellent teaching, research and service.
Hillman Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising:
Susan Perry, assistant dean of academic affairs for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and professor of practice with the department of bioengineering.
Hillman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising:
Lawrence Tartaglia, assistant professor of biological sciences.
These awards recognize excellence in teaching, research or advancing the interests of Lehigh University. In that context, these awards recognize exemplary graduate or undergraduate student advising defined as either: a) Guiding students through their exploration and pursuit of an academic course of study; or b) Assisting students in the development and/or completion of research related to their degree program.
Hillman Faculty Award:
Xuanhong Cheng, professor of bioengineering, materials science and engineering.
Tamas Terlaky, George N. and Soteria Kledaras ’87 Endowed Chair and professor of industrial and systems engineering and healthcare systems engineering.
Awarded for excellence in teaching or research work, or for advancing the interests of the university in any way the Trustees may select, or for a special financial need requiring aid, of which the Trustees may become aware, or for any other reason which they may deem just and proper.
Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching:
John Vilanova, professor of practice in journalism & communication and Africana studies.
Lehigh sponsors this award to be given to a member or members of the teaching staff for distinguished teaching performed during the academic year. This award, previously supported by the Lindback Foundation, and known as the Junior Lindback Award, is presented to an early-career faculty member (assistant professor, lecturer or instructor).
Libsch Early Career Research Award:
Ethan Van Norman, associate professor, school psychology program.
This award is presented to highlight faculty members who are early in their research career; reward those who have demonstrated the potential for high-quality research and scholarship done at Lehigh; place research and scholarship on an equal footing with teaching and university service in the annual awarding of recognition. The recipients must have held a position at Lehigh for at least two years.
Libsch Research Award:
Frank E. Curtis, professor, department of industrial and systems engineering.
Michael L. Raposa, professor of religion studies, E.W. Fairchild Professor of American Studies.
The objectives of this award are to recognize excellence in research, scholarship and/or artistic achievement, including the overall impact, as well as the quality and quantity of scholarly contributions; reward those who perform distinguished research; place research and scholarship on an equal footing with teaching and university service in the annual awarding of recognition. The recipients must typically have completed at least 10 years as a tenure-track faculty at a college, university or in an equivalent position at another type of institution.
Provost Faculty Citizenship Award:
K. Sivakumar (Siva), professor of marketing.
This award is determined by the Provost for a faculty member who goes above and beyond their scope of work.
Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching:
Mary Anne Madeira, assistant professor, department of international relations.
Ludovica Cesareo, assistant professor of business.
Awarded to a member of the faculty who comes closest to the following standards: mastery of his or her field and superior ability in communicating it to others; an exceptional talent for encouraging students to want to understand alternatives and to make choices; knows how to extract from students the full measure of their potential to learn; guides their thoughts in a spirit of free inquiry and learns from them as he or she teaches; never rests from being a teacher; impresses on his or her students that they have only begun to learn while at Lehigh and that their real quest for knowledge and application of what they are taught will come after graduation; ultimate goal is not only to lead his or her students to excellence in their chosen field, but also to excellence as human beings and as leaders of society.
Perry A. Zirkel Award for Distinguished Teaching in Education:
Bridget V. Dever, professor of education and director of the school psychology program.
This award recognizes a faculty member in the College of Education who has a national or international reputation as a respected scholar, is respected by students and colleagues for rigor in teaching and is recognized within the college as having non-inflationary grading standards.
Faculty College Awards
Deming Lewis Award:
Catherine Ridings, associate professor of business and director of the Business Information Systems program.
Named for Lehigh’s 10th President, this award is given by the 10-year reunion class and is presented to the professor they feel has most significantly influenced their educational experience.
Joseph A. Dowling III Social Science Faculty Award:
Allison Mickel, associate professor of anthropology.
This award recognizes a faculty member in the social sciences who exhibits excellence in teaching and research, scholarship or creative activity.
Robert C. and Virginia L. Williamson Award for Social Research:
Mary Anne Madeira, assistant professor, department of international relations.
The award recognizes the best published research in the social sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences.
