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Awards & Honors

Annual Awards

Each year several awards are given to faculty members who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the University. The awards are:

The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Outstanding Teaching

New Page 1 Villanova presents The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Outstanding Teaching annually to a full-time faculty member for distinguished teaching at Villanova University. The award is administered by the Committee on Faculty.

 

Faculty selection for this award, which recognizes academic excellence and outstanding teaching, begins with student votes. Undergraduate students (except Freshmen) vote for their top three faculty choices who are not previous winners. The names of the top eight vote recipients in student balloting (plus ties and minimum of two faculty from each college) are sent to full-time faculty for their vote. The six to eight faculty who are among the highest vote getters in the faculty vote are evaluated by the Lindback Committee (composed of former Lindback winners and one undergraduate). The Lindback Committee reports to the Committee on Faculty which forwards its top three recommendations to Father Donohue, who chooses the winner.

 

The award includes an honorarium and a medallion presented at commencement ceremonies in May.

Award Recipients Since 1963
 

Award Winners Date
Dr. William G. Driscoll 1963
Joseph J. Hicks 1964
Dr. Benedict A. Paparella 1965
Thomas C. Linahan 1965
Dr. Robert E. Wilkinson 1966
William J. O’Neill 1966
Dr. Joseph George 1967
Dr. José R. de la Vega 1967
Joseph W. Ratigan 1968
Robert B. Whiting 1968
Dr. Ralph Koliner 1969
Alvin A. Clay 1970
Dr. Daniel T. Regan 1971
Dr. Robert W. Langran 1972
Dr. Gerald A. Dougherty 1973
Dr. Robert D. Lynch 1975
Dr. Edward V. McAssey 1975
Dr. Lewis Mathers 1976
Dr. Edward J. Mathis 1977
Dr. Robert P. Derstine 1977
Dr. Charles E. Zech 1978
Dr. Sebastian M. Rainone 1979
Dr. Brian J. Jones 1979
Dr. Nicholas M. Rongione 1980
Dr. James J. Clarke 1981
Dr. Bernard P. Prusak 1982
Jean M. Maurer 1983
Dr. Thomas F. Monahan 1983
Dr. John A. Doody 1984
Wesley E. Schwarz 1985
Dr. Rodger Van Allen 1986
Dr. Anthony Zygmont 1986
Dr. James J. Schuster 1987
Dr. James M. Emig 1988
Dr. Michael W. Varano 1988
Burke T. Ward, J.D. 1989
James C. O’Brien 1990
June Lytel-Murphy 1990
Dr. James N. Giordano, Jr. 1991
Dr. Barbara E. Wall 1991
Dr. John Immerwahr 1992
Dr. Robert L. Nydick 1992
Dr. J. Porter Tuck 1993
Daniel J. O’Mara 1993
Dr. Elaine Webster 1994
Dr. Anthony Godzieba 1995
Dr. James J. Murphy 1995
Dr. Sterling Delano 1996
Dr. Russell Gardner 1997
Rev. Lee Makowski, O.S.A. 1998
Dr. Rick Eckstein 1999
Dr. Thomas W. Smith 2000
Dr. Michael Berthold 2001
Dr. Theresa Capriotti 2002
Dr. John Olson 2003
Dr. Vito Punzi 2004
Dr. Eduard Casillas 2005
Dr. Sally Scholz 2006
Dr. Isabella “Belle” Erickson 2007
Dr. Philip Stephens 2008
Dr. Klaus Volpert 2009

 

The Lawrence C. Gallen, OSA, Faculty Service Award

Lawrence C. Gallen, O.S.A. Faculty Service Award for 2006-2007

Introduction and Eligibility

The Lawrence C. Gallen, O.S.A. Faculty Service Award is intended to recognize members of the Villanova University faculty who have, over many years, contributed outstanding service to the Villanova University community. All active, tenured faculty members with ten years of service or longer are eligible, including those who currently hold administrative positions, provided that they have taught full-time at Villanova for at least ten years. Above all, the faculty member’s service should have consistently exceeded the normal requirements and ordinary expectations of their position.

The President will open the annual nominations for the award by sending a letter to faculty, chairpersons, academic directors, and deans, with a copy of these guidelines. The evaluation criteria and selection process will be generally publicized by electronic posting, with a link to VPAA, University Senate and Faculty Congress websites. These sites will contain a link to the Committee on Faculty, to enhance responses by email.

Deadlines for 2008-2009*

Nominations for the Gallen Faculty Service Award will be accepted until Friday, January 16, 2009 (if necessary, this deadline may be briefly extended). Supporting materials may be submitted after that date, but no later than Friday, February 13, 2009. After the nominating committee of the Committee on Faculty has made a careful review of these materials, to be completed by the end of March, the Committee on Faculty will recommend three faculty finalists to the VPAA for submission to the President of the University.

Instructions for Nominators

Full-time tenured faculty, chairpersons, academic directors, and deans are eligible to nominate. Eligible faculty may self-nominate. Nominators should consult the eligibility guidelines below and then contact the prospective nominee to ensure that he or she agrees to be nominated. Then submit the name of the nominee (no special form is required, just an email) to the Committee on Faculty in care of Victoria McWilliams, Chair of the Committee on Faculty, using the following email address: victoria.mcwilliams@villanova.edu

As nominator, you may submit by email a one-page supporting statement on behalf of the nominee. If more than one nominator chooses to nominate the same person, they may each provide a separate statement, or together they may submit a joint supporting statement of no more than three pages.

Instructions for Nominees

The Committee on Faculty will notify the nominee by email, and the nomination will become effective when the nominee responds, confirming his or her willingness to be considered. The nominee will then need to submit by email a list of service activity at Villanova, with dates of service and a description of the nature of each type of service activity. This description may be in outline or narrative form, and should include the following information (overall length, up to five pages):

  1. Leadership role in the service activity: to what extent did the nominee initiate the activity and take a formal or informal leadership role in carrying it out (COF will give significant weight to the nominee’s level of contribution and initiative rather than just participation).
  2. Accomplishments of the service: indicate specific outcomes as they have affected the Villanova University community.
  3. Whether the service was compensated or uncompensated: if compensated, to what degree (reduced load, small amount, 20%, paid position, etc.); if uncompensated, indicate if it was an appointed or elected position (e.g. departmental committee, Faculty Senator), vs. a more informal, voluntary activity.
  4. Include service that was both ‘visible’ and ‘invisible,’: ‘visible’ service would occur within a formal position (e.g., chair of Faculty Congress), whereas ‘invisible’ service could be extensive work on curriculum development, voluntary student counseling, etc.

As appropriate and necessary, each nominee may submit paper copies of one or two additional documents.

Procedures for Review and Selection

The Committee on Faculty will designate a nominating committee to be composed of at least five Committee on Faculty members (including the Chair, unless ineligible) and three previous Gallen Award winners, who need not be members of the Committee on Faculty. The Committee on Faculty members who are nominators or nominees are not eligible to participate. The nominating committee will meet, discuss the nominations (considering the criteria noted above as well as the nominees’ record of past nominations), and will then recommend three faculty finalists to the VPAA. The recommendation will list the finalists alphabetically, but indicate the vote for each finalist. A brief explanatory statement explaining the results may be attached. Supporting materials will also be forwarded. The VPAA will forward the recommendation and materials to the President, who will make the final selection. The chair of the Committee on Faculty will send to the Villanovan and Blueprints a statement describing the award, process and criteria, and alphabetically listing the finalist and other nominees. The presentation of the award will take place at Commencement.

Previous Winners

Year Gallen Faculty Service Award Winner Department
1994 Dr. John A. Doody Philosophy
1995 Dr. Michael J. Hones Physics
1996 Dr. Rodger Van Allen Theology
1997 Dr. Robert W. Langran Political Science
1998 Dr. Donald B. Kelley History (ret.)
1999 Dr. Michael L. Levitan Mathematical Sciences
2000 Dr. Michael E. Burke History (ret.)
2001 Dr. Harry R. Strack  Political Science (ret.)
2002 Dr. Lowell Gustafson Political Science
2003 Dr. Charles L. Cherry English
2004 Dr. Teresa Anne Nance  Communication
2005 Dr. Walter Conn Theology & Religious Studies
2006 Dr. Nancy Sharts-Hopko College of Nursing
2007 Dr. Barbara E. Wall Office of Mission Effectiveness
2008 Dr. Susan Mackey-Kallis Communication
2009 Dr. Joseph Betz Philosophy

* Revised procedures approved by the Committee on Faculty at its meeting of Dec. 17, 2003; with revised deadlines for 2008-2009.

 

The Outstanding Faculty Research Award

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Villanova University, as befits all universities, has as one of its primary objectives the discovery of new knowledge. Support for the scholarly activity of its faculty within the well-known teacher-scholar model is evident in many forms.

The University routinely grants sabbatical leaves and teaching reductions; it supports summer faculty research programs; it maintains an Office of Research and Sponsored Projects to assist faculty in preparing research proposals and managing grants; and it explicitly stipulates scholarly research in its formal considerations regarding faculty evaluation (e.g., tenure, promotion, and merit). In short, scholarly research is integral to the University’s mission. Thus, it is appropriate that those faculty members who have become outstanding scholars should receive clear recognition for their accomplishments.

To this end, Villanova established the Outstanding Faculty Research Award. The annual award is administered by a committee of previous award recipients and is chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The award includes an honorarium, a medallion presented at commencement ceremonies in May, and a certificate presented at a formal luncheon. The recipient also delivers a lecture as part of the Falvey Library lecture series.

Award Recipients Since 1981
 

Award Winners Date
Dr. José R. de la Vega 1981
Dr. Ingeborg L. Ward 1981
Dr. John D. Caputo 1982
Dr. Roman Maksymowych 1982
Dr. Edward F. Guinan 1983
Dr. Robert L. Grob 1983
Dr. George T. Radan 1984
Dr. Bernard F. Reilly 1984
Dr. Alain J. Phares 1986
Dr. Wayne G. Bremser 1987
Dr. Walter E. Conn 1987
Dr. Gerald M. Long 1988
Dr. Rodger Van Allen 1988
Dr. Edward M. Sion 1989
Dr. Philip J. Stephens 1989
Dr. Lucy McDiarmid 1990
Dr. Charles E. Zech 1990
Dr. Thomas W. Busch   1991
Dr. Rachel T. Hare-Mustin 1991
Dr. Matthew J. Liberatore 1992
Dr. Bernard J. Gallagher III 1993
Dr. George P. McCook 1994
Dr. Vincent B. Sherry 1994
Dr. R. Kelman Wieder 1995
Dr. Andrew Woldar 1996
Dr. Moeness Amin 1997
Dr. Jeffrey W. Hahn 1998
Dr. Richard N. Juliani 1999
Dr. Michael F. Brown 2001
Dr. Aaron M. Bauer 2002
Dr. John A. Pearce II 2003
Dr. Ann Mosely Lesch 2004
Dr. Mary Desmond 2005
Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer 2006
Dr. Ahmad Hoorfar 2007
Dr. Robert H. DeFina 2008
Dr. Charles R. Taylor 2009

The Pohlhaus-Stracciolini Award for Teaching Excellence

The Pohlhaus-Stracciolini Adjunct Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

Villanova established The Pohlhaus-Stracciolini Award for Teaching Excellence during the Fall Semester 2007. The award is given to an adjunct faculty member and is administered by the Committee on Faculty.

Adjunct faculty members receiving the award must meet the same qualities as expected of Lindback Award recipients. The adjunct faculty member being honored demonstrates a commitment to the life of the mind and to the well being of students. The recipient’s teaching is intellectually stimulating, challenging and accessible, with efforts extending beyond the classroom.

The award includes an honorarium and a medallion presented at commencement ceremonies in May.

Award Recipients Since 2008

Award Winners Date
Mr. James Barnes, Chemistry Dept. 2008
Dr. Michael H. Prosch, Philosophy Dept. 2009

Faculty Award for Innovative Teaching

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Award for Innovative Teaching is given annually to a full-time professor whose courses employ creative techniques to enhance student learning and growth.

Award Recipients Since 2007-08

Award Winners Date
Dr. Randy Weinstein, Chemical Engineering 2008
Dr. Debra Arvanites, Management & Operations 2008
Dr. Marycarol McGovern, College of Nursing 2009

The Outstanding Faculty Mentor Teaching Award

Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

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The Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually to an extraordinary professor who has been in a full time position for less than seven years.

Award Recipients Since 2007-08
 

Award Winners Date
Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Economics & Statistics Dept. 2008
Dr. Bridget Wadzuk, Civil & Environmental Engr. 2009

Faculty Awarded Tenure, Promotion and Emeritus Status

Effective August 22, 2009
Faculty Awarded Tenure with Promotion to Assoc. Prof. Department
Dr. Rebecca Brand Psychology
Dr. Gordon Coonfield Communication
Dr. Judith Giesberg History
Mr. Michael Hollinger Theatre
Dr. Patrick Markley Psychology
Dr. Matthew Matell Psychology
Dr. Jill McCorkel Sociology & Criminal Justice
Dr. Peter Spitaler Theology & Religious Studies
Dr. Maria Toyoda Political Science
Dr. Deanna Zubris Chemistry

 

Faculty Promoted to Associate Professor Department
Dr. Angela DiBenedetto Biology
Dr. Masako Hamada Global Interdisciplinary Studies
   

Faculty Members promoted to Professor Department
Dr. John Carvalho Philosophy
Dr. Jonathan Doh Management & Operations
Dr. John Kurtz Psychology
Dr. Michael Pagano Finance
Dr. Georgia Papaefthymiou-Davis Physics
Dr. Carmen Peraita Modern Languages & Literature
Dr. Sridhar Santhanam Mechanical Engineering



Faculty Member promoted to Research Professor Department
Dr. Yimmin Zhang (effective June 1, 2009) Center for Advanced Communication

 

Faculty promoted to Emeritus Professor Department
Dr. Jeffrey Hahn Political Science
Dr. Douglas Klieger Psychology
Dr. Alan Whitman Mechanical Engineering

 

Effective August 22, 2009
Faculty Awarded Tenure with Promotion to Assoc. Prof. Department
Dr. Rebecca Brand Psychology
Dr. Gordon Coonfield Communication
Dr. Judith Giesberg History
Mr. Michael Hollinger Theatre
Dr. Patrick Markley Psychology
Dr. Matthew Matell Psychology
Dr. Jill McCorkel Sociology & Criminal Justice
Dr. Peter Spitaler Theology & Religious Studies
Dr. Maria Toyoda Political Science
Dr. Deanna Zubris Chemistry

 

Faculty Promoted to Associate Professor Department
Dr. Angela DiBenedetto Biology
Dr. Masako Hamada Global Interdisciplinary Studies
   

Faculty Members promoted to Professor Department
Dr. John Carvalho Philosophy
Dr. Jonathan Doh Management & Operations
Dr. John Kurtz Psychology
Dr. Michael Pagano Finance
Dr. Georgia Papaefthymiou-Davis Physics
Dr. Carmen Peraita Modern Languages & Literature
Dr. Sridhar Santhanam Mechanical Engineering



Faculty Member promoted to Research Professor Department
Dr. Yimmin Zhang (effective June 1, 2009) Center for Advanced Communication

 

Faculty promoted to Emeritus Professor Department
Dr. Jeffrey Hahn Political Science
Dr. Douglas Klieger Psychology
Dr. Alan Whitman Mechanical Engineering

 

Endowed Chairs/Deanships

In addition to annual awards, Villanova recognizes faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service through the Endowed Chairs Program. In honoring a faculty member with an endowed chair, we in effect charge them to be premier scholars, academic leaders, and models for other faculty. As they fulfill their obligations as chair holders, they produce value -- in the classroom, in the laboratory, in public venues, and, among their colleagues in their departments and colleges. Additional criteria for appointment include compatibility with the particular academic specifications established by the donor of the chair or professorship and compatibility with and ability to contribute to the University's Catholic and Augustinian values and mission.

Current Endowed Chairs/Deanships

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Award Winners Date
Connelly Endowed Deanship Dr. M. Louise Fitzpatrick
The Helen and William O'Toole Endowed Deanship Mr. James Danko
Endowed Chair Name Current Chairholder
The Augustinian Chair in the Thought of St. Augustine Dr. James R. Wetzel
Philosophy Department
Heimbold Chair in Irish Studies S2010
Mr. John McAuliffe
English Department
James R. Birle Chair in Energy Technology
inaugurated 2/21/95
Dr. Alfonso Ortega
Mechanical Engineering Department
Edward A. Daylor Chair in Environmental Engineering
inaugurated 12/14/94
Dr. Ronald Chadderton
Civil & Environmental Engineering Dept.
Robert M. Birmingham Chair in Core Humanities
inaugurated 9/17/98
Dr. John Doody
Associate Dean for First Year Studies, LA&S
Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology
inaugurated 12/2/92
Rev. Michael Scanlon, O.S.A.
Theology & Religious Studies Department
David R. Cook Chair of Philosophy
inaugurated 3/30/93
Dr. William Desmond
Philosophy Department
John F. Connelly Chair in Management
inaugurated 10/15/98
Dr. Matthew Liberatore
Management and Operations Department
Thomas G. Labrecque Chair in Business
inaugurated 11/11/99
Dr. Stephen Andriole
Management and Operations Department
Gerald M. Lemole, M.D., Chair in Integrated Biology
effective 8/22/08
Dr. Aaron Bauer
Biology Department
Moritz Chair in Systems Engineering
inaugurated 10/5/06
Dr. Kenneth Muske
Chemical Engineering
John A. Murphy Chair in School of Business, inaugurated 3/17/99 Dr. C. Raymond Taylor
Marketing and Business Law Department
John M. Cooney Professorship
inaugurated 10/5/99
Dr. Thomas Monahan
Accountancy and Information Department
Richard J. and Barbara Naclerio Chair in
Business
Dr. Ronald Hill
Senior Assoc. Dean for Intellectual Strategy, VSB
Herbert G. Rammrath Chair in International Business Dr. Jonathan Doh
Management and Operations Department
Katherine M. & Richard J. Salisbury, Jr. Endowed
Professorship in Finance
Dr. David N. Nawrocki
Finance Department
Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership
effective 8/2002
Dr. Stephen Stumpf
Management and Operations Department
Barbieri Fellowship Dr. Rebecca Cherico
Center for Liberal Education
VSB Chair in Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship, effective 1/1998. Dr. John A. Pearce
Management and Operations Department