LSUA Recognizes Outstanding Faculty and Staff at Annual Awards Event

Apr 17, 2024, 15:26 PM

Louisiana State University of Alexandria held its annual Employee Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, April 16, to celebrate the hard work...

ALEXANDRIA - Louisiana State University of Alexandria held its annual Employee Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, April 16, to celebrate the hard work and dedication of faculty and staff.

The most prestigious recognition awarded each year is the Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence. Established in 1989, the estate of Mrs. James C. Bolton provides funds to the University for an award to recognize excellence in teaching at LSUA.

The Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence is presented annually to the full-time faculty member who best exemplifies the University's commitment to teaching, service, and professional development. The recipient of this honor is recognized with a cash award and a plaque for outstanding contributions to the University.

The Bolton Award recipient for 2023-2024 is Catherine Cormier, Ph.D., RN, CNE, Professor of Nursing, Student Success Coordinator, and Program Director of Nursing Grants. Cormier has been a nurse educator for 23 years. Before arriving at LSUA in 2009, she was an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. During her tenure at LSUA, Cormier has served as RN-to-BSN Coordinator and led efforts to transition the face-to-face program to 100% online. She has taught across the curriculum in the ASN program and is firmly committed to students' academic success.

LSUA also recognizes the recipients of seven endowed professorships. The professorships are established through private donations to the LSUA Foundation and matched through the Board of Regents Support Fund to establish a $100,000 professorship endowment.

The recipients of this year's endowed professorships are:

The Roy O. Martin Lumber Company Endowed Professorship in Nursing - Matthew Farley, MSN, RN, PCCN-CMC; Assistant Professor of Nursing.

The J.H. Johnson Endowed Professorship in Business Administration - Kent Lashney, D.B.A., CPA; Chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance.

The Mark Eugene Howard Endowed Professorship in Liberal Arts - Carli Smith, Instructor of English and Skills Badge Coordinator.

The Huie Dellmon Trust Endowed Professorship in Liberal Arts & Sciences - David Shanks, M.A.S., Instructor of Communications Studies and Assistant Director of Technovation Center.

The Roy and Vinita Martin Endowed Professorship in Math & Science - Purujit Gurjar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry.

The F. Hugh Coughlin Endowed Professorship - Christof Stumpf, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Sciences and Editor-in-Chief of the The Oak Leaf

The Vinita Johnson Martin Endowed Professorship - Susan Bowers, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.

Endowed professors receive a salary stipend as well as additional funds for professional development or travel activities. Professorships are usually awarded for a two-year term.

The Staff Senate Boss of the Year award is given by direct reports to a manager who demonstrates excellence in personnel management, leadership, responsibility, and professionalism. This year's winner is Shelly Kieffer Gill, Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Admissions.

The Staff Senate Scholarship is awarded to two full-time staff members to defray the costs of achieving a degree or continuing their education. This year's scholarship recipients are Bradon Wiggins from Facilities Services and Junetha Silas in Accounting.

Student Choice Awards are included in this year's program. Current LSUA students nominate the awardees. The winners are:

• Outstanding Staff Service recognizes a staff member who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting students - Michelle Ducote, Student Success Coordinator.
• Life-Changing Class recognizes an educator whose class has fundamentally altered a student's academic, professional, or life goals - Laurie Pittman, MSN, RN, CNE, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

The Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Innovation Award and Grant are given to showcase and reward innovative teaching in the classroom. The winners are:

• Teaching Innovation Award - Jennifer Wright, MBA, Instructor of Marketing.
• Teaching Innovation Grant - Jeremy Simmons, M.F.A., Associate Professor of Fine Arts.

The Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship is given to a full-time faculty member who exemplifies outstanding research and scholarship and whose work has been consistent, significant, and impactful. This year's winner is Christopher Stacey, Ph.D., Professor of History.

The Outstanding Staff Service Award program began in the 1970-71 academic year as a means of recognizing and rewarding superior performance and outstanding contributions to the University by non-teaching employees. The recipient of this honor receives a plaque and cash award for his or her service to LSUA.

This year's recipients of the Staff Outstanding Service Award are Linda Smith, Administrative Assistant 4 in the Department of English, History, and Humanities (classified) and Michelle Rozas, Nurse Practitioner at the LSUA Health Center (unclassified).

The Faculty Award for Outstanding Service is presented to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment by exceeding their everyday academic responsibilities. This year's recipient is Carol Corbat, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Sciences.

The Service Above Self Award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout the past year to ensure the well-being of LSUA students. The award is presented by LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. This year's recipient is Shelly Kieffer Gill, Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Admissions, who simultaneously served as Interim Registrar this year.

The Rising Star Award is presented annually to a staff member who has worked at LSUA for fewer than five years and who has made outstanding, novel contributions to institutional operations, campus culture, or programming. This year, the award goes to Ashlee Hatwig, Coordinator of New Students Programs in the Office of First Year Experience.

The Four-Star Service Award is presented annually to a staff member who has worked at LSUA for more than ten years and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the university by making long-lasting contributions to the institution's operations, student success, and campus culture. This year, the award goes to Georgia Fox, Lead Advisor.

The Social Justice Champion Award is presented by the LSUA Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Access to a full-time faculty and staff member who have exhibited excellence in social justice and promotes equality and the advancement of human rights. This prestigious award honors individuals who have embedded social justice in their work or teaching pedagogy and removed barriers to success for underrepresented populations.

• Social Justice Champion Staff Award - Daniel Manuel, Coordinator of Title IX and Disability Services.
• Social Justice Champion Faculty Award - Gary Baldwin, Adjunct Instructor of History.

LSUA also honored employees who retired in the past year as well as all employees who have 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to LSUA.

A special recognition was given this year to Mary "Boonie" Treuting, Ph.D., for being named Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus at her retirement and before her passing earlier this year. Treuting was a pillar of LSUA, tirelessly advocating for academic excellence and community engagement. Her vision and dedication helped create academic programs that continue to empower students and faculty alike. The recognition was graciously accepted by her husband, J.B. Treuting.

Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications
Image - Catherine Cormier, Winner of the Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence