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 on April 17.
Additional information about each of these University-wide awards is available here.
This 2025 faculty and staff award winners are as follows:
Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards
Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching
- Jacqueline O’Connor, professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
- Ihab Ragai, professor of engineering at Penn State Behrend
George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching
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Griselda Conejo-Lopez, assistant teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering
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Lori Gravish Hurtack, associate teaching professor of kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Development
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John Craig Hammond, associate professor of history at Penn State New Kensington
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Kevin Maxwell, associate teaching professor of mathematics at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus
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Megan Schall, associate professor of biology at Penn State Hazleton
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Maria Yoder, assistant teaching professor of nursing in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Penn State Teaching Fellows: The Penn State Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Beth Montemurro, distinguished professor of sociology at Penn State Abington
- Carlos Rosas, professor of art and digital arts and media design in the College of Arts and Architecture
- Noel Sloboda, professor of English and creative writing at Penn State York
Penn State Excellence in Advising Award
- Robert Morehead, associate teaching professor of astronomy and astrophysics in the Eberly College of Science
- Gretchen Samchuck, academic affairs advising coordinator, advising programs manager in the Division of Undergraduate Studies at Penn State Beaver
President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration
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Brent Ambrose, professor of real estate in the Smeal College of Business
President’s Award for Engagement with Students
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Mahsa Kazempour, associate professor of science education at Penn State Berks
Undergraduate Program Leadership Award
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Jon Nese, teaching professor and associate head of the undergraduate program in meteorology and atmospheric science in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Teaching and Learning with Technology Impact Award
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Larry Musolino, assistant teaching professor of mathematics at Penn State Lehigh Valley
Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award
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Charlotte Eubanks, professor of comparative literature, Japanese, and Asian studies in the College of the Liberal Arts
Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards
Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award
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Ram Narayanan, professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering
Graduate Faculty Teaching Award
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Swaroop Ghosh, professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering
Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award
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Ephraim Hanks, associate professor of statistics in the Eberly College of Science
Faculty Scholar Medals
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Allison Beese, professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
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David Almeida, professor of human development and family studies in the College of Health and Human Development
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Joseph Cotruvo Jr., professor of chemistry in the Eberly College of Science
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Lauren Zarzar, professor of chemistry in the Eberly College of Science and materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
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Nicolas de Warren, professor of philosophy and Jewish studies in the College of the Liberal Arts
Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards
McKay Donkin Award
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Bill Goffe, teaching professor of economics in the College of the Liberal Arts
Award for Administrative Excellence
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Dawn Nelson, office manager and assistant to the head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Development
Staff Excellence Award
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Fawn Hosterman, director of graduate records in the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School
Support Staff Award
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Rebecca “Becky” Cross, academic program coordinator and undergraduate student services supervisor in the School of Global Languages Literatures and Cultures, College of the Liberal Arts
Barash Award for Human Service
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Katie O’Toole, assistant teaching professor of journalism in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award
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Erica Smithwick, distinguished professor of geography and ecology in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach
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Matt Jordan, professor and head of the Department of Film Production and Media Studies in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
Shirley Hendrick Award
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William Diehl, associate teaching professor of education in the College of Education
Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award
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Brandi Robinson, associate teaching professor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Emerging Faculty Outreach Award
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Carmen Vanderhoof, assistant teaching professor of education in the College of Education