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, March 28, in Presidents Hall at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. 

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

This 2024 faculty and staff award winners are as follows: 

Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards 

Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching 

• Lolita Paff, associate professor of business and economics at Penn State Berks 

• Scott Showalter, professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Eberly College of Science 

George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching 

• Sommar A. Chilton, associate teaching professor in the College of Health and Human Development 

• Linda Instanbulli, Caroline D. Eckhardt Early Career Professor of Comparative Literature and assistant professor of comparative literature and Arabic in the College of the Liberal Arts 

• Siu Ling “Pansy” Leung, associate teaching professor in the College of Engineering 

• Kuei-Nuan Lin, associate professor of mathematics at Penn State Greater Allegheny 

• Sarah E. Nilson, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver 

• Kara Stone, assistant teaching professor of English at Penn State Scranton 

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

• Juan Gil, professor of mathematics at Penn State Altoona 

• Sonia Molloy, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State York 

• Jacqueline O’Connor, professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering 

Penn State Excellence in Advising Award 

• Elizabeth Agler, academic adviser for the School of Visual Arts in the College of Arts and Architecture 

• Carol Putman, associate teaching professor in management at Penn State Behrend 

President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration 

• Kenan Ünlü, professor of nuclear engineering in the College of Engineering, and the director of the Radiation Science and Engineering Center 

President’s Award for Engagement with Students 

• John Simpkins, head of musical theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture 

Undergraduate Program Leadership Award 

• Catie Grant, assistant teaching professor and director of the CommAgency in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications 

Teaching and Learning with Technology Impact Award 

• Anna Divinsky, assistant teaching professor of art in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Office of Digital Learning 

Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award 

• Tina Chen, associate professor of English and Asian American studies and director of the Global Asias Initiative at Penn State 

Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards 

Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award 

• Michelle Vigeant-Haas, associate professor of acoustics and architectural engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering 

Graduate Faculty Teaching Award 

• Allison Henward, associate professor of education in the College of Education 

Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award 

• Jennifer Graham-Engeland, professor of biobehavioral health and professor-in-charge of the graduate program in the College of Health and Human Development  

Faculty Scholar Medals 

• Arts and Humanities: Bonnie Collura, professor of art and sculpture in the College of Arts and Architecture 

• Social and Behavioral Sciences: Shaun Gabbidon, Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg 

• Engineering: Enrique Gomez, professor of chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and by courtesy materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences 

• Life and Health Sciences: Katsu Murakami, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Eberly College of Science 

• Physical Sciences: Mikael Rechtsman, professor of physics in the Eberly College of Science 

• Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer and Economic Development: Tak-Sing Wong, professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering 

Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards 

McKay Donkin Award 

• Cyanne E. Loyle, associate professor of political science and international affairs in the College of the Liberal Arts 

Award for Administrative Excellence 

• Renata Shaw, administrative support assistant for the chancellor, director of campus development and director of campus relations at Penn State Beaver 

Staff Excellence Award 

• Jane McCandless, academic adviser in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences 

Support Staff Award 

• Amy Stover, financial coordinator in the Department of Mathematics in the Eberly College of Science 

Barash Award for Human Service 

• Peter Buck, affiliate faculty and associate director of climate and sustainability education, Penn State Sustainability 

Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award 

• Terry Watson, assistant director of academic advising and student disability services at Penn State World Campus 

W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award 

• David Hughes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security and professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and biology in the Eberly College of Science 

Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach 

• Edward Jenkins, professor of practice in accounting and professor-in-charge of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in the Smeal College of Business 

Shirley Hendrick Award 

• Michelle Wiley, director of academic development at Penn State World Campus 

Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award 

• Centre Film Festival, led by Pearl Gluck, Donald P. Bellisario Career Advancement Professor and associate professor of film production 

Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship 

• Lena Surzhko-Harned, associate teaching professor of political science and associate director of the Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend