In recognition of their enduring commitment to the university community in the 2019-2020 academic year, Lehigh has awarded its most prestigious honors, the Lehigh University Awards, to 19 members of its faculty and staff.
“We are deeply appreciative of the extraordinary dedication and exceptional effort our faculty and staff exhibit each and every day,” Provost Nathan Urban said. “We applaud our award winners, who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to the university while making a positive impact on the Lehigh community.”
The awards are typically presented each spring at the Lehigh Appreciation Dinner at Stabler Arena, but due to COVID-19 restrictions and health and safety concerns, the annual dinner was not held in April for the 2019-2020 academic year.
The nominating period for the awards opened in November and ran through Feb. 7. Lehigh notified award recipients by email.
Below is the full list of faculty and staff award winners from the 2019-2020 academic year.
2019-2020 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY AWARDS
Alfred Noble Robinson Faculty Award: Ganesh Balasubramanian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics
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/unit on university-wide projects or committees.
Alfred Noble Robinson Exempt & Nonexempt Staff Award: Scott W. Burden, interim director, The Pride Center for Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
Recognizes outstanding performance in service to the university and unusual promise of professional achievement. Winners of this award have shown extraordinary enthusiasm for Lehigh’s goals and priorities, often working beyond their direct area/unit on university-wide projects or committees.
Carl & Ingeborg Beidleman Research Award in Business & Economics: Steven McKay Price, associate professor in the Perella Department of Finance and director of the Goodman Center for Real Estate, and Charles E. Stevens, associate professor of management
This award is given to highlight quality research and refereed scholarship in business and applied economic disciplines at Lehigh; 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: Angela C. Brown, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Awarded to a tenured member of the faculty (professor or associate professor) for distinguished teaching performed during the academic year.
Hillman Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising: Nicole Lynn Johnson, assistant professor of counseling psychology
This award recognizes excellence in teaching, research or advancing the interests of Lehigh University. In that context, this award recognizes exemplary 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 Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising: Ganesh Balasubramanian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics
This award recognizes excellence in teaching, research or advancing the interests of Lehigh University. In that context, this award recognizes exemplary 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 Exempt Staff Award: Christa D. Neu, university photographer
Recognizes a member of the exempt staff for excellence in administrative and/or research work, or for advancing the interests of the university; sustained excellence in performance that has major impact on advancing the department/university goals; and exemplary initiative and service.
Hillman Faculty Award: Diane T. Hyland, professor of psychology
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.
Hillman Nonexempt Staff Award: Donna D. Ball, department coordinator, Education and Human Services
Recognizes a member of the nonexempt staff for excellence in performance or for advancing the interests of the university; sustained excellence in performance that has major impact on advancing the department/university goals; and exemplary initiative and service.
Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching: Arielle Katherine Carr, professor of practice in computer science and engineering
Lehigh University 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).
Lehigh University Exempt Staff Distinguished Service Award: Rita M. Jones, director, Center for Gender Equity
Recognizes a member of the exempt staff who has contributed in significant ways to the Lehigh community over a number of years.
Libsch Early Career Research Award: Lorenzo Servitje, assistant professor of literature and medicine
This award is presented to: a) Highlight faculty members who are early in their research career (typically 5-10 years since the Ph.D. and/or at the rank of tenure-track assistant or associate professor); b) Reward those who have demonstrated the potential for high-quality research and scholarship done at Lehigh University; c) Place research and scholarship on an equal footing with teaching and university service in the annual awarding of recognition. The recipient(s), who must have held a position at Lehigh University for at least 2 years, will be selected on the basis of one or a combination of the following: a) Demonstration of the potential for nationally recognized scholarly excellence (e.g. significant national-level funding, invitations to speak at prestigious universities and conferences); b) High level of research of as evidenced by prolific scholarly output (e.g. books, papers, reviews, performances); c) Initiation of a potentially significant field of research.
Libsch Research Award: Roslyn E. Weiss, professor of philosophy
The objectives of this award are to: a) Recognize excellence in research, scholarship and/or artistic achievement, including the overall impact, as well as the quality and quantity of scholarly contributions; b) Reward those who perform distinguished research; c) Place research and scholarship on an equal footing with teaching and university service in the annual awarding of recognition. The recipient(s), who must typically have completed at least ten years as a tenure-track faculty at a college, university or in an equivalent position at another type of institution, will be selected on the basis of one or a combination of the following: a) Extended demonstration of nationally/internationally recognized scholarly excellence; b) Bringing significant recognition to Lehigh (national/international fellowships, academy Memberships, reviews and/or high profile publicity in national/international media); c) A major research accomplishment in the last five years (scientific or technological Breakthrough, widely acclaimed book(s), publication or artistic production(s).
Louis & Helen Zirkel Library Staff Award: Mark Canney, manager, Library Lending Services, and Stacey Kimmel-Smith, assistant director, Client Services
Established to recognize outstanding performance and service by a member of the exempt or nonexempt staff of the university libraries.
Perry & Carol Zirkel Nonexempt Staff Award: Mary Ellen B. Kitchen, coordinator, The Pride Center for Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
Established to recognize outstanding performance and contributions by a member of the nonexempt staff. No one is eligible to win this award more than once.
Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching: Mark A. Snyder, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Awarded to a member of the faculty who comes closest to the following standards: a) Mastery of his or her field and superior ability in communicating it to others; b) An exceptional talent for encouraging students to want to understand alternatives and to make choices; c) Knows how to extract from students the full measure of their potential to learn; d) Guides their thoughts in a spirit of free inquiry and learns from them as he or she teaches; e) Never rests from being a teacher and is so infectious in his or her manner that the students scarcely know how deeply he or she is teaching; f) 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; g) 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: Jerome A. Farrell, professor of practice of counseling psychology
Recognizes a current, full-time faculty member in the College of Education. The recipient must: a) Have a national or international reputation as a respected scholar; b) Be respected by students and colleagues for rigor in teaching; and c) Be recognized within the college of having non-inflationary grading standards.