Outstanding Faculty Honored at Annual Excellence Awards

Award-winning professors from the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, from left, Angelo Gingerelli, Renee Robinson, and Rong Chen pose with Dean Bryan Crable. Photo credit: Joy Yagid

Some of Seton Hall University's most distinguished faculty members were recognized for their teaching and research contributions at the Faculty Excellence Awards on Monday evening.

The annual ceremony, organized by the Office of the Provost, took place April 22 at the Bishop Dougherty University Center. University faculty members from all eight schools and colleges received awards for Researcher of the Year, Core Scholar of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Adjunct of the Year, as well as special recognition for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st-Century Skills, Excellence in Service-Learning, Assessment Champions, and Outstanding Achievement in Assessment.

At Seton Hall, we have been consistently renewing our investments in academic excellence and student experience. These professors exemplify the impact of our investments with their dedicated work on campus.

Far-Reaching Impact

This year's winners were honored for inspiring students, supporting the University mission and making meaningful contributions to their respective academic fields.

Our award-winning teachers are passionate about the student experience. College of Human Development, Culture, and Media Teacher of the Year Renee Robinson, Ph.D., says, "My courses focus on learning how to better relate to one another, connectedness, community and what it is to care for one another. It's what we do here at Seton Hall."

And our researchers are equally passionate about contributing to their field and the ongoing academic excellence of our University. "Conducting research in the field is what feeds our teaching and the way that students benefit from this teaching is through fieldwork," explains Core Scholar of the Year Roger Alfani, Ph.D.

College of Nursing award winners Teresa Nwaneri (left) and Moira Kendra display their plaques with Interim Dean Kristi Stinson (second from left) and Associate Professor and Chair of the Graduate Department Mary Ellen Roberts. Photo credit: Joy Yagid

As College of Arts and Sciences Researcher of the Year Robert Mayhew, Ph.D., points out, research also supports Seton Hall's reputation in academic circles, even around the world. "At conferences in Europe I've often heard something like, 'oh, there's another university in New Jersey?,' because they've all seemed to have heard of Princeton and maybe Rutgers."

Instructors want their students to excel in the classroom and beyond. "I encourage them to be the best students they can be and work toward being the best nurses they can be," says College of Nursing Adjunct of the Year Teresa Nwaneri, M.S.N., R.N.

Stillman School of Business award winners, from left, Sina Shokoohyar, Elizabeth McCrea, Danielle Zanzalari, and Gregory Licciardi flank Dean Joyce Strawser(center). Photo credit: Joy Yagid

Staying a Step Ahead

Often times our instructors are teaching material that is so cutting-edge that it is seemingly evolving in real-time. Award-winning marketing Adjunct Professor Gregory Licciardi, M.B.A., faces this challenge by keeping his students excited and engaged. "We do a lot of improv," Licciardi says with a laugh. "We do brainstorming exercises, vision boards and interactive and group projects. I'm more of a facilitator really. I set up the agenda as far as what we are going to learn about, but then the students really help each other and work together."

Award winners, from left, biology professor Chintha Ranasinghe and psychology professor Kim Lamana-Finn share the spotlight with College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Jonathan Farina. Photo credit: Joy Yagid

This challenge is also present in science labs, where technology continues to push the envelope of what is possible. "I have developed different techniques with course videos, a Jeopardy quiz, an anatomy website, and I keep updating them," Biology professor Chintha Ranasinghe, M.D., shares. Ranasinghe was named one of the College of Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year award winners.

College of Arts and Sciences Adjunct Teacher of the Year Kim Lamana-Finn, Ph.D., also brings some unorthodox teaching techniques to her psychology classroom to keep her students engaged. "I have my students work on software called My Virtual Child," she explains. "The child is theirs from prenatal all the way through adolescence and they take notes throughout the process. I see students gaining insights about themselves and how they would be as a parent."

Taking Pride in Their Students

Watching their students grow is a tremendous source of pride for Seton Hall faculty members. University Core Teacher of the Year Chad Thralls, Ph.D., says, "I think the purpose of a university is for students to learn to think about big thoughts, get to the big, complex questions about life. They learn there is more to living a good life than going to college and getting a job."

School of Health and Medical Sciences Adjunct of the Year Anna Folckomer displays her plaque with Interim Provost Erik Lillquist, Interim Dean Vikram Dayalu and Interim President Katia Passerini. Photo credit: Joy Yagid

For many instructors, like Adjunct of the Year Anna Folckomer, L.Ac., DAOM, seeing students expand their minds and bond with one another is what is most rewarding. Folckomer teaches three professional programs in the School of Health and Medical Sciences and is continually amazed at how different her students are after taking her classes compared to their first day. "I get these students very early on in their careers and they're scared to death because there's a room full of cadavers, she says. "But, it's okay to be nervous and afraid. It's part of the human experience and part of their learning experience."

Teachers and researchers at Seton Hall don't just pour their rich minds into their work, classrooms and students; they pour their heart and soul into it too. And that was why it is our great pleasure to honor them each year.

Following is a complete list of this year's award winners:

Researcher of the Year

Gaia Bernstein, J.D., LL.M.
School of Law

Rong Chen, Ph.D.
College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
Education Leadership, Management, and Policy

Anne Giblin Gedacht, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
History

Benjamin Goldfrank. Ph.D.
School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Sharon Ince, Ph.D.
University Libraries

Beth Jameson, Ph.D., RN, CNL, CSN-NJ, FASN
College of Nursing

Fanli Jia, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
Psychology

Robert Mayhew, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
Philosophy

Leslie Rippon, Ph.D., ATC
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Athletic Training

Ellen Scully, Ph.D.
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology

Sina Shokoohyar, Ph.D. (University-Wide Winner)
Stillman School of Business
Computing and Decision Sciences

Core Scholar of the Year

Roger Alfani, Ph.D.
University Core

Teacher of the Year

Megan Baumley, M.S., CCC-SLP
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Speech-Language Pathology

R. Joseph Huddleston, Ph.D. (University-Wide Winner)
School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Greg, Iannarella, M.A.
College of Arts and Sciences
English

Moira Kendra, D.N.P., ACNP-BC, M.A., RN
College of Nursing

Denis McLaughlin, J.D.
School of Law

Chintha, Ranasinghe, M.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
Biology

Golbarg Rekabtalaei, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
History

Renee Robinson, Ph.D.
College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
Communication Media and the Arts

Chad Thralls, Ph.D.
University Core

Danielle Zanzalari, Ph.D.
Stillman School of Business
Economics and Legal Studies

Rev. Msgr. C. Anthony Ziccardi, S.T.D., S.S.L.
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology
Biblical Studies

Adjunct of the Year

Anna Folckomer, L.Ac., DAOM
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Physical Therapy

Angelo Gingerelli, M.B.A., M.Ed. (University-Wide Winner)
College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
Educational Studies

Henry Karwowski, J.D.
School of Law

Kim Lamana-Finn, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences
Psychology

Gregory Licciardi, M.B.A.
Stillman School of Business
Marketing

Teresa Nwaneri, M.S.N., RN
College of Nursing

Rev. Roberto Ortiz, S.T.L.
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology
Systematic Theology

Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st-Century Skills

Karla Foy, J.D. (University-Wide Winner)
School of Law

Katherine Hinic, Ph.D., RN, CNE, CNL
College of Nursing

Elizabeth McCrea, Ph.D.
Stillman School of Business
Management

Ann Marie Murphy, Ph.D.
School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Leslie Rippon, Ph.D., ATC
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Athletic Training

Rachel, Warmington, M.F.A.
College of Arts and Sciences
English

Excellence in Service-Learning

Katherine Connolly, D.N.P., RN, APN-C
College of Nursing

Isis Misdary, J.D.
School of Law

Meryl Picard, Ph.D. (University-Wide Winner)
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Occupational Therapy

Assessment Champions

Randall Clemens, Ph.D.
College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
Education Leadership, Management, and Policy

Amy Kline, Ed.D.
College of Human Development, Culture, and Media
College Effectiveness

Outstanding Achievement in Assessment

Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology

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