Auburn University Faculty Award winners announced

Auburn University has announced the recipients of its 2016 Faculty Awards, recognizing some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to the university’s mission.

Presented annually, the Faculty Awards honor individuals and groups of faculty for excellence in teaching, research and outreach. Following a competitive review process, recipients are chosen by selection committees comprised of faculty, staff, students and alumni. Award winners will be recognized at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony hosted by the Office of the Provost in early 2017.

“This year’s recipients were selected from an outstanding group of nominated faculty,” said Timothy Boosinger, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our awards not only represent the exceptional contributions of these faculty members to Auburn’s mission, but also illustrate their extraordinary service and dedication to the University.”

Faculty Award recipients are listed below:

Alumni Professors
The Alumni Professorship program recognizes tenured faculty members with direct responsibilities in two or more of the institutional missions of instruction, research and outreach. Faculty selected to receive a professorship must have demonstrated exceptionally meritorious performance, distinctive competence and potential for continued high productivity and excellence.

• Dawn Boothe, professor
  Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Stephen Dobson, professor
  Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics
• Joseph Kloepper, professor
  Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture
• George Plasketes, professor
  School of Communication and Journalism, College of Liberal Arts

Creative Research and Scholarship Award
The Creative Research and Scholarship Award recognizes faculty members who have distinguished themselves through research, scholarly works and creative contributions among the categories of fine arts, liberal arts, business, social/human sciences and sciences, biomedical sciences, engineering and agriculture.

• Michael Pindzola, professor
  Department of Physics, College of Sciences and Mathematics
  Sciences, Medical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture category 
• Richard Hansen, professor
  Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Harrison School of Pharmacy
  Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Architecture and Design, Business, Social and Human Sciences category

Departmental Award for Excellence in Education
The Auburn University Departmental Award for Excellence in Education was created in 2013 and is administered on behalf of the Office of the Provost through the university’s Biggio Center and the University Senate Teaching Effectiveness Committee. The award recognizes the efforts of departmental faculty for their commitment to improving education at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

• Department of Geosciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics
  Mark Steltenpohl, alumni professor and chair

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship
The Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship Award is jointly sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association and the Graduate School and is awarded to a faculty member on the basis of excellence in research.

• Stewart Schneller, professor and former dean
  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics

Gary Brown ePortfolio Project Faculty Cohort Award
Recognizes teams of faculty members who have exhibited the spirit of collaboration and professional development promoted by the faculty cohort model, shown leadership in promoting the project, and are engaged in practices that support the implementation of ePortfolios at Auburn.

• Robert Bubb, lecturer
  Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Sciences
• Emily Cumbie, instructor
  Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences
• Jamie Sailors, director
  Undergraduate Programs, College of Human Sciences
• Margaret Vollenweider, instructor and assistant director
  Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences
• Sharon Wilbanks, director
  Auburn University Early Learning Center, College of Human Sciences

The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Gerald and Emily Leischuck, 1964 graduates and retired Auburn University administrators, created the Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 to recognize two full-time, tenured faculty members who have demonstrated effective and innovative teaching methods, along with a continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring.

• Bob Boyd, professor
  Department of Biological Science, College of Sciences and Mathematics
• Dan LaRocque, professor
  Department of Theater, College of Liberal Arts

President's Outstanding Collaborative Units Award
Created in 2011, the award recognizes existing faculty collaborations among two or more departments, divisions, offices or programs within the university. To be considered, the work of the collaborative units must have advanced the excellence, impact and reputation of representing units and the university as a whole.

Neuroscience Collaboration

• Jennifer Robinson, assistant professor
  Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
• Jeffery Katz, alumni professor
  Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
• Ana Franco-Watkins, associate professor
  Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
• Thomas S. Denney Jr., professor
  Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
  Director, Auburn University MRI Research Center
• Gopi Deshpande, associate professor
  Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
• Nouha Salibi, staff scientist
  Siemens Healthcare
  Auburn University MRI Research Center
• Meredith Reid, postdoc fellow
  Auburn University MRI Research Center
• Ron Beyers, MRI physicist and safety officer
  Auburn University MRI Research Center

Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring 
Established in 2012, the award recognizes faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate research, whose efforts support Auburn students interested in careers in research and creative works and who have demonstrated outstanding service to students.

• Anne Gorden, associate professor
  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics 

Ralph “Shug” Jordan Professor of Writing
The Auburn University Athletic Department and Tigers Unlimited created this professorship in honor of the university’s beloved and most successful football coach, the late, legendary Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan.

• Rebecca Barlow, associate professor
  School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Extension Specialist