UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Each spring, Penn State recognizes outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence. These awards highlight many of the University's faculty and staff who go above and beyond in their work at Penn State. 

This year's honorees will be recognized at an invitation-only awards ceremony at noon on Thursday, April 13, in Presidents Hall of the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.

Additional information about each of these University-wide awards is available here.

This 2023 faculty and staff award winners are as follows:

Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards

Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching

• Patrick Cusatis, associate professor of finance, Penn State Harrisburg
• Gary L. Gray, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, College of Engineering

George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Kevin Bell, associate professor of English, College of the Liberal Arts
• Joseph Cuiffi, assistant teaching professor of electro-mechanical engineering technology, Penn State New Kensington
• Peter Heaney, professor of geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Desiree Lim, assistant professor of philosophy, College of the Liberal Arts
• Megan Lorenz, lecturer in business administration, Penn State York
• Brenna Traver, associate professor of biology, Penn State Schuylkill

Penn State Teaching Fellows: The Penn State Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Pamela Black, professor of criminal justice, Penn State Hazleton
• Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber, professor of music, Penn State Altoona
• Nan Zhu, associate professor of risk management, Smeal College of Business

Penn State Excellence in Advising Award

• Garrett Huck, associate professor of rehabilitation and human services, Penn State Hazleton
• Mary Sergeant, lead academic adviser, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration

• Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences

President’s Award for Engagement with Students

• Burt Staniar, associate professor of animal science, College of Agricultural Sciences

Undergraduate Program Leadership Award

• Jessica Clontz, assistant teaching professor and program coordinator of human development and family studies, Penn State DuBois

Teaching and Learning with Technology Impact Award

• Ryan Solnosky, associate teaching professor of architectural engineering, College of Engineering

Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards

Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award

• Richard Ordway, professor of molecular neuroscience and genetics, Eberly College of Science

Graduate Faculty Teaching Award

• Richard Mistrick, associate professor of architectural engineering, College of Engineering

Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award

• Kenneth Keiler, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and associate department head for graduate education, Eberly College of Science

Faculty Scholar Medals

• Maciej Boni, associate professor of biology, Eberly College of Science (Life and Health Sciences)
• Steve Broadnax, professor of theatre, College of Arts and Architecture (Arts and Humanities)
• Sy-Miin Chow, professor of human development and family studies, College of Health and Human Development (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
• Jon-Paul Maria, professor of materials science and engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (Engineering)
• Miguel Alejandro Mostafá, professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics, Eberly College of Science (Physical Sciences)

Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards

McKay Donkin Award

• Gary Abdullah, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Award for Administrative Excellence

• Paula Hamaty, associate registrar, degree audits, athletic eligibility, systems and web, Office of the University Registrar

Staff Excellence Award

• Rachel Zughaib, registrar, Penn State Beaver

Support Staff Award

• Colleen Monismith, administrative support assistant in the John Crain Kunkel Career Center, Penn State Harrisburg

Barash Award for Human Service

• Jill M. Wood, teaching professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies, College of the Liberal Arts

Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award

• John Sanchez, associate professor, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award

• Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion; Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar; and clinical professor of law, Penn State Law, University Park

Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach

• Chris Fowler, associate professor of geography and demography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Shirley Hendrick Award

• Shannon Corkery, director of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) World Campus Programs and associate teaching professor of HDFS, College of Health and Human Development

Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award

• The RAISE Lab, College of Information Sciences and Technology

Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award

• Tiffany Mathews, education strategy and planning manager, Eberly College of Science

Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship

• Glenn Sterner III, assistant professor of criminal justice, Penn State Abington