Board of Regents Names 2021-22 Faculty Award Recipients

The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) — which governs the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system — today named 17 CSCU faculty members as recipients of the annual 2021–22 Board of Regents Faculty Awards.

The awards— both campus-based and system-wide — recognize faculty for excellence in teaching or research and are given to adjunct faculty members and assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions. These faculty have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers who promote instructional improvements for their departments, or who are doing research, scholarly, and/or creative work that informs what they do in the classroom.

Campus-based award categories include teaching, research, and scholarly excellence. Individual faculty in each campus-based award category may also be recognized with system-wide awards in teaching, research, and scholarly excellence.

Adjunct faculty are recognized by two system-level awards, one for community college faculty, the other for university and Charter Oak State College faculty.

“CSCU faculty have gone above and beyond to serve our students over the past two years,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said. “In particular, the 16 award recipients recognized by the BOR today have been exceptional educators, researchers, and scholars. Our colleges and universities are better places to learn because of their work, and I congratulate each recipient on this well-deserved recognition.”

“It is a pleasure to honor these outstanding faculty award recipients and recognize their outstanding scholarly work and contributions to student success throughout the CSCU system,” said Dr. Kenneth Klucznik, CSCU interim provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs. “Our CSCU faculty are committed to their institutions, and their dedication to teaching, state-of-the-art research and mentoring have a profound impact on our students and entire CSCU community.”

"The caliber of the teaching and research award winners throughout the CSCU system is inspiring, as these dedicated faulty members bring out the best in CSCU students and make significant contributions to their academic disciplines and institutions,” said Regent Ira Bloom, who chairs the BOR’s Academic and Student Affairs committee. “These awards provide a means of recognizing the work of outstanding faculty, as they continue to focus on student success.”

Board of Regents Teaching Awards are presented to faculty from each of the four state universities and 12 community colleges. Two system-wide teaching awards (one from the four universities and one from the 12 community colleges) are given to faculty who best exemplify high quality teaching.

Board of Regents Research Awards are presented to faculty among Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities. One system-wide research award is given to the individual who best exemplifies high quality research among the four universities.

Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards recognize community college faculty who conduct work befitting the community college mission. One system-wide award is given to the individual who exemplifies high quality scholarly work or exemplary creative activity throughout the 12 community colleges.

Two system-wide Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards are given to recognize part-time faculty throughout the CSCU system who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers.

The 2021-22 Board of Regents award recipients:

System-wide Board of Regents Teaching Award
(Connecticut State Universities)

• Ms. Sabrina Marques
  Associate Professor, Art
  Western Connecticut State University, Danbury

Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Award (Connecticut State Universities)

• Ms. Sabrina Marques
  Associate Professor, Art
  Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
• Dr. Heather Rodriguez
  Associate Professor, Sociology
  Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
• Dr. Jason W. Smith
  Associate Professor, History
  Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
• Dr. Nicholas Smith
  Assistant Professor Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, and Social Work
  Eastern Connecticut State University

System-Wide Board of Regents Teaching Award (Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Dr. Nikki McGary
  Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
  Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury

Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Awards (Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Ms. Rachel Cain
  Associate Professor, Math and Science
  Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport
• Ms. Teuta Dalip
  Associate Professor, Mathematics
  Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
• Dr. Heather D’Orlando
  Associate Professor, Psychology
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
• Dr. Nikki McGary
  Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
  Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
• Ms. Kelly O’Brien Mann
  Associate Professor, Psychology and Social Science
  Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• Ms. Norma Rosado-Javier
  Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education
  Middlesex Community College, Middletown

System-wide Board of Regents Research Award (Connecticut State Universities)

• Dr. Ivan Small
  Associate Professor, Anthropology
  Central Connecticut State University, New Britain

Campus-based Board of Regents Research Awards (Connecticut State Universities)

• Dr. Stephen Axon
  Assistant Professor, Environment, Geology and Marine Sciences
  Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
• Dr. Ivan Small
  Associate Professor, Anthropology
  Central Connecticut State University, New Britain

System-wide Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Award (Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Mrs. MaryBeth Rajczewski
  Assistant Professor, Mathematics
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield

Campus-based Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards (Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Dr. Todd Barry
  Associate Professor, English
  Three Rivers Community College, Norwich
• Mr. Alva Hanson, Jr.
  Instructor, English and Humanities
  Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• Mrs. MaryBeth Rajczewski
  Assistant Professor, Mathematics
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield

System-wide Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards

• Yumi McCarthy
  Humanities
  Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
• Lisa Rioux
  Nursing
  Charter Oak State College

System-wide Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award Nominees

• Adam Bernard
  Art
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
• William Cone
  Theater
  Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
• Kelly Falvey
  History
  Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
• Angela Lauretano
  Biology, Chemistry, Allied Health & Medical
  Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• Yumi McCarthy
  Humanities
  Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
• Lisa Rioux
  Nursing
  Charter Oak State College