Teaching & Research Awards

Research Award Winners

• Briann G. Greenfield
  Dr. Greenfield, associate professor in the Department of History at Central Connecticut State University, is highly regarded for her scholarly work on the role that collective memory has in the creation of community identities and social values. Her work also concentrates on the definition of power structures and the management of cultural resources with a focus on the construction of public memory in 20th century New England, via the popularization of antiquing as an emerging factor in building regional identity.
• Daniel Donaghy
  Dr. Donaghy, an associate professor in the English Department at Eastern Connecticut State University, is a practicing poet and scholar in contemporary British and American poetry whose authenticity and clarity of poetry have earned him a series prize at a top-ranked university press, finalist distinctions in the highly prestigious national poetry prize, and frequent publication in the most widely read literary publications in the country. He is regarded in the university community and beyond as widely developing a reputation among publishers, scholars and readers as a rising star in the literary world.
  
  
• Troy M. Rondinone
  Dr. Rondinone, an associate professor in the Department of History at Southern Connecticut State University, is well respected in the university community and beyond for his scholarly work in American labor history, producing original contributions that shed light on the role that media, military images and rhetoric had in shaping the labor struggles in the second half of the 19th-century and first half of the 20th-century United States. He is also noted for his scholarly treatment of televised boxing in the mid-20th century, primarily using Connecticut sources.
  
  
• Theodora Pinou - System-Level Award Winner
  Dr. Pinou, associate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Western Connecticut State University, is recognized for her scholarly work in ecology and the evolutionary development of vertebrates. She is well known for her scholarship of teaching and learning and for engaging and inspiring students, colleagues and others in scientific research and forging international collaborations. She has published extensively in scientific journals and exemplifies that the creation of knowledge and teaching are intricately related and can be shared with expanding audiences.

Teaching Award Winners

• Marianne Fallon
  Dr. Fallon, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Central Connecticut State University, is an exemplary junior faculty member widely regarded for her effectiveness and commitment to the improvement of teaching and learning in the Department of Psychology, for her focus on learning outcomes, learner-centered pedagogies and innovative curriculum development incorporating research. She is also known for her use of technology-facilitated tutorials, use of student feedback for improvement and continuous exploration of curriculum innovations.
  
  
• Susannah Richards
  Dr. Richards, associate professor in the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University, is recognized by the university community for her tireless work in the interests of students, engaging style of teaching and incorporation of modern technology and concepts in the Reading and Elementary Education curriculum. She is a respected junior faculty member known for her ability to reinvigorate courses, create collaborations with colleagues in the improvement of curriculum and her visibility at the local, state and national levels.
  
  
• Scott P. Ellis - System-Level Award Winner
  Dr. Ellis, associate professor in the Department of English at Southern Connecticut State University, is highly regarded as an exemplary junior faculty member for his contributions to the improvement of academic programs. His dedication to faculty development and role as program administrator include the use of technologies and the incorporation of innovative pedagogies. He is rapidly becoming well-known for his challenging courses and work with students, his contributions to scholarship in teaching and learning, and his role in the First Year Experience and Writing Across the Curriculum programs.
  
  
• Kathryn J. Campbell
  Dr. Campbell, associate professor in the Education and Educational Psychology Department at Western Connecticut State University, is widely regarded as an exemplary junior faculty member in the university community for her consistent high standards, guiding support of students and adherence to the principles of critical thinking and scholarly work. She is a recognized champion in the use of student learning assessment for educational improvement and the incorporation of such evidence in the unit's national accreditation process which she has coordinated.

Research Award Winners

• Dr. Karen Burke
  Dr. Burke, an associate professor in the Department of Education and Educational Psychology at Western Connecticut State University, has advanced the understanding of learning styles in children and adults, has translated this knowledge into curriculum development and assistance to school leaders and practitioners in Connecticut, nationally and abroad, and has promoted the evaluation of instructional strategies within educational accountability systems.
• Dr. Dennis C. Canterbury - System-Level Award Winner
  Dr. Canterbury, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Eastern Connecticut State University, has gained recognition for advancing the field of sociology of development and globalization, encompassing issues of sustainable development, good governance, African and Caribbean development and development theory, alternative development theory, neoliberal globalization, and international economic partnerships.
• Ravi Shankar
  Professor Shankar, an associate professor in the Department of English at Central Connecticut State University, has been widely recognized as a prolific and engaged author, editor and scholar. He has written many outstanding poems, edited numerous anthologies and created an international online journal of poetry and the arts. He is a tireless advocate for poetry and a performer of his work nationally and abroad.
• Dr. C. Michele Thompson
  Dr. Thompson, an associate professor in the Department of History at Southern Connecticut State University, has made significant contributions to the advancement of scholarship on the history of medicine in East Asia, studying the intersection of traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine in pre-modern Vietnam, and incorporating the study of culture, politics and the ancient forms of language, gaining recognition as a world authority in the N?m language.

Teaching Award Winners

• Dr. Kristine Anthis
  Dr. Anthis, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University, is recognized by the university community as an educational innovator able to blend the essential questions about student learning with the use of technology-assisted instruction, including experimentation with student response systems. She engages students through examination of research studies and active learning approaches, and promotes the adoption of proven tools and methodologies in a collegial fashion.
• Dr. Daniel W. Barrett
  Dr. Barrett, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Connecticut State University, is recognized by the university community as an engaging, committed and effective educator able to relate his content area expertise with the day-to-day learning process, promote the active participation of students in their own learning, advance the assessment of academic programs, build teaching mentorship relationships with colleagues, and lead and improve the university's advising system.
• Dr. Wendi J. Everton
  Dr. Everton, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University, is recognized by the university community for her teaching, innovation, effective instructional approaches and research supervision, and for her continuous participation in collegial work, including curriculum development and the enhancement of teaching including the areas of statistical research and industrial/organizational psychology.
• Dr. John Day Tully - System-Level Award Winner
  Dr. Tully, an assistant professor in the Department of History at Central Connecticut State University, has rapidly gained the admiration and respect of the university community for his effectiveness and enthusiastic commitment to improve the teaching of history at all levels, including the enhancement of history and social studies teacher preparation and the use of effective history instruction across Connecticut schools, for the design of courses that have gained national professional recognition, and for his leadership in sponsored projects.

Research Award Winners

• Troy Paddock - System-Level Award Winner
  associate professor of history at Southern is recognized for his work in the interplay between education, public discourse and the development of national identity resulting in the anti-Russian propaganda between 1890 and 1914 in Germany, his meticulous interdisciplinary emerging research work on the effect of geography on the construction of identity and historical events.
• Robert M. Dowling
  associate professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, recognized for his work in the field of American Literature, including publishing a book focusing on how literary works transformed moral threats into cultural treasures in New York City from 1880 to 1930, and a reference book and critical anthology on Eugene O'Neill, uncovering never before cited or published text by this author, as well as writing approximately 40 articles in journals, critical anthologies and reference texts, and presenting at prestigious conferences.
• Kenneth McNeil
  associate professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University, has been nationally and internationally recognized for his work in English literature and the British writers of the Romantic period, including writers of the Scottish Highlands such as Sir Walter Scott and women authors such as Ann Grant and Queen Victoria. He has enriched the notions of nation and ethnic coherence through original research and his conceptualizations of the interplay between cultures, extending to Mexican-American ballads.
• Shane M. Murphy
  associate professor of psychology at Western Connecticut State University, recognized for his work in the psychology of sports participation and achievement, including recognized assessment tools relating psychological skills to human performance, the contributions to the development of visualization techniques to the enhancement of human performance, and the contributions to the translation of research into accessible language to improve lifestyle behaviors and promote better health.

Teaching Award Winners

• Lisa Rowe Fraustino - System-Level Award Winner
  associate professor of English at Eastern is recognized for her work including award winning children and young adults literature, the creation of a high enrollment writing minor and courses for the new liberal arts curriculum at the university, her attentive and effective advising and mentoring of students, her support for learning beyond the classroom, her work with high schools and pedagogical contributions as a Fulbright Scholar.
• Robin C. Flanagan
  associate professor of psychology at Western Connecticut State University, recognized as an engaging and effective educator, inspiring and guiding students to produce and present original research, valued mentor for students considering advanced studies, key contributor to programmatic improvements in her department including the latest advances in the field, and a key member of numerous university-wide committees enhancing the educational process at the university.
• Nicole M. Henderson
  associate professor of English at Southern Connecticut State University, is recognized as a gifted pedagogue and mentor, a leader in the development, institutionalization, direction and assessment of the university's First Year Experience Program, a critical player in revamping of the academic advising system for first year students, and engaging collaborator able to contribute to create a coherent campus culture that promotes educational improvement.
• Cara Mulcahy
  assistant professor of Reading and Language Arts at Central Connecticut State University, recognized as a model teacher able to engage students in deep thinking, problem solving and creativity, effective in systematically building upon her students' previous learning, and successfully interweaving her research and teaching, resulting in exemplary work in critical literacy and the use of technology to resolve the challenges facing marginalized high school students.

Research Award Winners

• Dr.Matthew Warshauer - System-Level Award Winner
  Central Connecticut State University Associate Professor of History Dr. Matthew Warshauer received the system-wide award for research, in addition to his universitylevel research award. Widely published and highly sought after as a commentator in his field of study, Warshauer is one of the nation's preeminent experts on the presidency of Andrew Jackson, and of General Jackson's imposition of martial law during the War of 1812.
• Dr. Eric C. Martin
  Assistant Professor of Management in the Department of Business Administration at Eastern Connecticut State University, Dr. Martin was recognized for his work in management issues in international development assistance and the evolution of inter-organizational relationships of media development and deployment, as well as privatization of state-owned enterprises, and refugee return.
• Ms. Mia Brownell
  Associate Professor of Art in the Department of Art at Southern Connecticut State University, Ms. Brownell was acknowledged for her creative research in the art and tradition of still life painting, combing Old Master realism and Modern Master abstraction techniques, including numerous solo and group exhibits, and widespread recognition.
• Dr. Shouhua Qi
  Associate Professor of English in the Department of English Language, Comparative Literature and Writing at Western Connecticut State University, Dr. Qi was recognized for research and writing, especially his work building a bridge of cross-cultural understanding by means of books of fiction and non-fiction, particularly contributions to publications in the U.S. and China and numerous scholarly papers and presentations in the two languages.

Teaching Award Winners

• Dr. Ruth Gyure - System-Level Award Winner
  Western Connecticut State University Assistant Professor Dr. Ruth A. Gyure, in the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, received the system-wide teaching award, in addition to her university level teaching award for her innovative approach incorporating the strength of content knowledge with the latest pedagogical knowledge. She is highly regarded as an inspiring educator known for stressing inquiry-based learning methods, advocating the introduction of highest level courses, inspiring students in their independent research, and exerting leadership in assessment of student learning.
• Dr. Victoria S. Morley
  Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance at Central Connecticut State University, Dr. Morley is a driving force in the improvement of university programs and dynamic force as an engaging teacher, effective mentor and energetic leader.
• Dr. Elizabeth A. Cowles
  Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Eastern Connecticut State University, Dr. Cowles is a model teacher drawing on impressive research credentials, an educator able to integrate biology with her knowledge of physical sciences and society to engage and motivate students, a thoughtful implementer of technologies in teaching and learning and an inspiring force for students to engage in independent research.
• Dr. Mary H. Purdy
  Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Purdy was praised as a ?model teacher able to bridge theory and practice by integrating her extensive clinical experiences in neurogenic communication disorders with daily teaching. She is also a leader in the use of an interdisciplinary group of students to enhance engagement and learning and as a promoter of scholarship among colleagues.

Research Award Winners

• Dr. Ronald Casella
  Ronald Casella, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Central Connecticut State University, has been recognized for his work in the field of societal effects on school systems with particular emphasis on violence and conflict resolution, including four books, five book chapters and more than 12 research articles in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at professional association meetings.
• Dr. Michele Boskovic
  Michele Boskovic, Associate Professor of French in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Eastern Connecticut State University, has been recognized for her work in the field of French literature and criticism, including two books, four original works, numerous peer-reviewed and commissioned journal articles, book reviews, and presentations and colloquia at professional association meetings.
• Dr. Thomas Fleming - System-Level Award Winner
  Thomas Fleming, Associate Professor of Earth Science at Southern Connecticut State University, has been recognized for his work in the field of volcanism and magnetism in Antarctica, including 14 research articles in peer-reviewed publications, 10 technical reports, 58 peer-reviewed abstracts, and presentations at professional association meetings.
• Dr. Christine Unson
  Christine Unson, Assistant Professor of Communication at Western Connecticut State University, has been recognized for her work in the field of health communication as it pertains to older minority women with particular emphasis on successful aging behaviors, medication adherence, recruitment and retention of research volunteers in clinical trials, and self-identity of the older person, including 11 original peer-reviewed publications, 11 research awards, three fellowships and numerous presentations at professional association meetings.