Each year the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognizes a handful of staff members and academic professionals for their outstanding contributions to the college and service to others. These individuals, who were nominated by members of the campus community, demonstrate excellence and enhance the image of the college.
-
Academic Professional Award
Alison Ahlgren, Mathematics
Joseph Hinchliffe, Political Science
Jun Kai Zhang, Microbiology -
Nancy J. McCowen Distinguished Service Award
Thomas Bedwell, History LAS Staff Award
Margie Salmon, Communication
Deborah Stauffer, English
Academic Professional Award
Alison Ahlgren, Mathematics
Alison Ahlgren’s energy and dedication has inspired her colleagues and benefited students, faculty, and the University. This “teacher of teachers” oversees quantitative reasoning courses that ensure the success of 25 classes and their teaching assistants, and she also coordinates a campus placement program that helps 7,000 incoming freshmen navigate the new electronic math placement exam. Ahlgren also makes time to teach three math classes and lecture at professional meetings. She is a passionate innovator and initiator who always searches for new methods and is never satisfied with the status quo.
Joseph Hinchliffe, Political Science
Joe Hinchliffe serves the Department of Political Science with enthusiasm, creativity, and diligence. As director of undergraduate studies, Hinchliffe is responsible for academic advising and career counseling for more than 1,000 political science majors. His duties also include scholarship and award administration, commencement activities, and teaching. Hinchliffe has also been instrumental in providing new, challenging courses for our students. Under his leadership, the department’s undergraduate office is proactive organization, dedicated to providing students a quality undergraduate experience. Away from his regular tasks, Hinchliffe serves as advisor to student academic clubs. He is an exceptional employee.
Jun Kai Zhang, Microbiology
Jun Kai Zhang is an exceptionally skilled and dedicated scientist whose unmatched technical skills have allowed researchers to explore new avenues in their work. The laboratory manager provides the critical long-term continuity needed to maintain research productivity and quality, and he routinely achieves lab results where others have failed in matters such as genetics, DNA cloning and sequencing, biochemistry, and microbial physiology. Zhang teaches students specialized research methods and provides leadership in detail and accuracy. With his cheerful and kind approach, Zhang has been an extraordinary asset to the University and has had a major impact on the successes achieved in the Department of Microbiology.
Nancy J. McCowen Distinguished Service Award
Thomas Bedwell, History
Tom Bedwell is an energetic colleague whose diligence has been key to the financial strength of the Department of History. He is a proven exceptional financial manager who skillfully balances kindness with a firm adherence to good policy. Bedwell addresses problems with creative and sound solutions, and he is unafraid to speak up for the high principles he maintains. He is willing to put in long hours as necessary to accomplish his task, and his can-do attitude is infectious. Bedwell is a caring individual who works tirelessly on behalf of his colleagues and department. He personifies the Nancy J. McCowen Distinguished Service Award.
LAS Staff Award
Margie Salmon, Communication
Working for the Department of Communication is not just a job for Margie Salmon. It’s a profession. For almost eight years, Salmon has served as an administrative aide performing supervisory, budgetary, and office management responsibilities. Her duties and importance have grown along with the department, as she has negotiated to provide more space for faculty, staff, and students to work and learn. Salmon possesses a positive, industrious, and creative spirit that prompted her nominator to describe her as “the engine behind many initiatives, giving us steam when we need it, whistling us on with support, and quietly taking pride in our journey.”
Deborah Stauffer, English
Deb Stauffer’s official designation as office manager fails to describe all that she does for the Department of English. The department head suggested that she be retitled the “Person Without Whom We’d All Be Floundering.” Stauffer not only is responsible for the day-to-day operations, but also for assisting with department finances, purchasing department supplies and equipment, serving as the point of first contact, and helping new staff become acclimated to the University. When the department needed someone to maintain the webpage, Stauffer volunteered. She is patient, composed, delightful, and an indispensable member of our community.
