Because the continuing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prevented members of the College of Arts and Sciences from meeting in person on September 29, Interim Dean Dr. Diane Zosky has published her address on the college website and has recorded it as well. Both are available at CAS.IllinoisState.edu
In addition to the dean’s address, nine faculty members were recognized this year for their excellent work during the 2019-2020 academic year. Dr. Nobuko Adachi (Sociology and Anthropology) and Dr. Linda Clemmons (History) were the winners of the 2019-2020 Outstanding College Research Awards. Dr. K. Aaron Smith (English) and Dr. Katie Jasper (History) were recipients of Outstanding College Teaching awards. Dr. Kass Fleisher (English), Dr. Adena Myers (Psychology), and Dr. John Kostelnick (Geography, Geology, and the Environment) won Outstanding College Service Awards; and Dr. Allison Harris (Physics) and Dr. Benjamin Schmeiser (Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) are the current Shaw Fellowship recipients. In addition, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History Mark Wyman was presented with the Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize.
Several talented faculty were presented with plaques in appreciation for their service as chairs and directors of three of the College’s units. Professor Ricardo Cortez Cruz served as acting chair of the Department of English last year. Professor Craig Gatto served as the director of the School of Biological Sciences from 2010 to 2020, and Professor Craig C. McLauchlan served as chair of the Department of Chemistry from 2013 to 2020.
Eight faculty and staff were celebrated as recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences’ annual Excellence Awards. They are:
Jun-Hyun Kim, Department of Chemistry: The Janice Witherspoon Neuleib Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement
Ela Przybylo, Department of English: Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement by a Pre-tenured Faculty Member
Tara Lyons, Department of English: The John A. Dossey Award for Outstanding Teaching
Lindsey J. Thomas, School of Communication: Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Pre-tenured Faculty Member
Jenifer Bowman-Milligan, School of Communication: Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Non-Tenure Track Faculty Member
Nathan J. Carpenter, School of Communication: Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Administrative Professional
Patricia Gudeman, Department of Sociology and Anthropology: The Scott M. Elliott Award for an Outstanding Civil Service Member
R.C. McBride, School of Communication: Award for Outstanding Administrative/Professional Staff
The College of Arts and Sciences is delighted to welcome ten new faculty this year. They are:
From the School of Biological Sciences, Lise Comte, who will be joining the College in January; and
Pirmin Nietlisbach;
Department of Chemistry, Bhaskar Chilukuri;
Department of English, Eda Ozyesilpinar;
Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, Melissa Heil;
Department of Physics, Mahua Biswas;
Department of Politics and Government, Jason Cieslik;
Department of Psychology, Shengtian Wu;
School of Social Work, Nathan Stephens; and
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Intan Suwandi.
The College of Arts and Sciences thanks all members for their extraordinary work over the past six months to ensure that the important work of the College continues and looks forward to the day that we are able to gather safely to celebrate our accomplishments!
