Penn State announces 2021 University-wide faculty and staff awards

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Each year, Penn State recognizes outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence. These awards highlight many of the University's faculty and staff who go above and beyond. 

This year's Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony will be livestreamed at 4 p.m. Monday, April 26. 

This year's 2021 faculty and staff awards include:

New this year: 

•  Distinguished Service Award from Teaching and Learning with Technology — entire Penn State faculty  

Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards

• The Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching — Daniel Cahoy, professor and dean’s faculty fellow in business law in the Smeal College of Business; and Jo Ann Jankoski, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus
• The George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching — Julia Kregenow, associate teaching professor of astronomy and astrophysics in Eberly College of Science; Andrew Mowen, professor of recreation, park and tourism management in the College of Health and Human Development; Mary Napoli, associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg; Marietta Scanlon, associate teaching professor of engineering at Penn State Berks; Sven Schmitz, associate professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering; and Johnathan White, assistant teaching professor of history at Penn State Greater Allegheny
• The Penn State Teaching Fellows: The Penn State Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching — Julie Ealy, associate professor of chemistry at Penn State Lehigh Valley; Eric Hudson, associate professor of physics in Eberly College of Science; and Kirwin Shaffer, professor of Latin American studies at Penn State Berks
• The Penn State Excellence in Advising Award — Ozgun Demirag, associate professor in the project and supply chain management department at the Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend, and Susan Sanders, lead adviser in the College of Health and Human Development
• The President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration — Kristin Buss, Tracy Winfree and Ted H. McCourtney Professor in Children, Work, and Families, Professor of Psychology; professor of human development and family studies; and head of the psychology department in Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts
• The President’s Award for Engagement with Students — Jessica Menold, the Hartz Family Career Development Assistant Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering
• The Undergraduate Program Leadership Award — Joseph Oakes, associate teaching professor of information sciences and technology and computer science program chair at Penn State Abington
• The Teaching and Learning with Technology Impact Award — Stuart Selber, associate professor of English in the College of the Liberal Arts

Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards

• The Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award — Erica Frankenberg, professor of education and demography in the College of Education
• The Graduate Faculty Teaching Award — Koraly Pérez-Edgar, McCourtney Professor of Child Studies and professor of psychology in the College of the Liberal Arts
• The Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award — Melissa Rolls, Paul Berg Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in the Eberly College of Science

Faculty Scholar Medals

•  Amy Allen, liberal arts research professor of philosophy and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies in College of the Liberal Arts; Pamela Cole, liberal arts professor of psychology and human development and family studies in College of the Liberal Arts; Chad Hanna, associate professor of physics and astronomy and astrophysics in Eberly College of Science; Manuel Llinás, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and chemistry in Eberly College of Science; John Mauro, professor of materials science and engineering (MatSE) in College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; and Joshua Robinson, professor of MatSE in College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards

• The McKay Donkin Award — John S. Nichols, professor emeritus of communications and international affairs in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
• The Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award — Mary Beth Oliver, Donald P. Bellisario Professor of Media Studies and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory
• The Award for Administrative Excellence — Steve Sampsell, director of strategic communications for the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
• The Staff Excellence Award — The Support Staff Award — Mandy Engel-Herbert, educational program assistant in the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in College of Engineering
• The Staff Excellence Award — Melissa James, manager and responsible official of Eva J. Pell Laboratory for Advanced Biological Research
• The Barash Award for Human Service — Dan Murphy, director for student orientation and transition programs at Penn State
• The Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award — Crystal R. Sanders, associate professor of history in the College of the Liberal Arts
• The W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty & Staff Achievement Award — Catherine Cutter, professor of food science and assistant director of food safety & quality programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences
• The Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach — Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair in Telecommunications in the Bellisario College of Communications
• Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship — Katherine McLean, associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Greater Allegheny
• The Shirley Hendrick Award — Trisha Everhart, assistant director of online programs in the School of Labor and Employment Relations in College of the Liberal Arts
• The Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award — The People’s Kitchen, led by Penn State Center Philadelphia and other Penn State partners

For additional information on these University-wide awards, go to http://awardsrecognition.psu.edu/.