The University of Central Arkansas honored exceptional faculty during the 2019 Faculty Excellence Awards on Aug. 21 at the 2019 Faculty Convocation. The event was held in UCA’s Ida Waldran Auditorium.
The university presented three awards to outstanding faculty in the following areas:
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Tammy Benson, College of Education, received the Public Service Award.
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Kenith Sobel, Department of Psychology and Counseling, received the Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award.
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Danny Arrigo, Department of Mathematics, received the Teaching Excellence Award.
Patricia Poulter, UCA provost and executive vice president, Tammy Benson, professor, and UCA President Houston Davis
Patricia Poulter, UCA provost and executive vice president, Kenith Sobel, professor, and UCA President Houston Davis
Patricia Poulter, UCA provost and executive vice president, Danny Arrigo, professor, and UCA President Houston Davis
Patricia Poulter, UCA provost and executive vice president, Angela Webster, associate vice president for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, Nancy Gallavan, professor, and UCA President Houston Davis
Patricia Poulter, UCA provost and executive vice president, Angela Barlow, director of sponsored programs and dean of the Graduate School, Arijit Mukherjee, associate professor, and UCA President Houston Davis
In addition, Nancy Gallavan, College of Education, received the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award and Arijit Mukherjee, Department of Biology, received the External Funding Impact Award.
“The Faculty Excellence Awards represent an opportunity to celebrate exceptional contributions by our faculty through teaching, scholarship and service,” said Patricia Poulter, provost and executive vice president. “The awards reflect the university’s deep and abiding valuing of these vital aspects of the faculty experience.”
The Public Service Award recognizes individuals whose service contributions to the UCA community, professional community and other communities outside the university have been outstanding. It is expected that individuals will have contributed both within and outside the university. Through service work such as volunteering for charitable organizations, serving on advisory boards, donating professional expertise, serving on committees and conducting outreach programs, these individuals have improved conditions within the community and enhanced the quality of life for all citizens.
The Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award recognizes individuals whose contributions to their disciplines have been exemplary. Through original work in research, scholarship or creative activities (such as performances and artistic productions), they have expanded human knowledge, interpreted the human experience, or enhanced the quality of our lives.
Faculty who have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in teaching are eligible for the Teaching Excellence Award. Recipients of this award strive to enhance student learning as they continually seek ways to improve their teaching.
The Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence on and/or off campus has made a significant impact on various ethnic groups and diverse populations in a positive way. These individuals have improved conditions at UCA and within the community that have enhanced society.
Established in November 2018, the External Funding Impact Award recognizes a faculty or staff member for excellence in obtaining external funding. The award promotes a culture of grant writing among faculty and staff and encourages grant recipients to track the impact of their grant work on individuals, the university, the community and their disciplines or fields of study.
For more information about any of the awards or recipients, contact Amanda Hoelzeman at (501) 852-2659 or email ahoelzeman@uca.edu.
