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President and Provost Faculty Awards

The President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

The President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity recognizes the achievements of senior faculty members. To qualify for the award, one must be a current (not emeritus) associate professor or full professor. The selection committee will consider the nominees' research and creative activities throughout their careers, with a special emphasis on accomplishments while a CMU faculty member. No faculty member can receive this award more than once (a list of previous recipients can be found below).

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity recognizes the achievements of less experienced faculty members. To qualify, one must be a current assistant professor.  Although the nominee’s research and creative achievements prior to coming to CMU will be considered in the selection process, emphasis will be placed on accomplishments while a CMU faculty member.  No faculty member can receive this award more than once (a list of previous recipients can be found listed below the previous President's Award recipients below).


The selection and nomination process

The selection process begins during the fall semester.  Nominations are solicited from all sectors of the CMU community. Self-nominations are NOT permitted.

To nominate a faculty member, submit a signed letter (2 pages maximum), as one PDF, via email to Amy Courter at court1al@cmich.edu with the following information:

  1. Who is being nominated, including their department (bold font)
  2. Whether you are nominating the individual for the President’s or Provost’s award (bold font)
  3. A justification explaining why the individual should be selected for the award
  4. Your department and contact information, in case the selection committee has questions

Submit the nomination form and return it to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, no later than Friday, Nov. 3rd.  

Barring exceptional circumstances, there will be two recipients of each award.  Each award winner will receive an inscribed award, be added to the list on the permanent plaque in the Park Library, and will receive $1,200 for professional development. The recipient’s college will be granted funds (In the amount of the current fiscal year full-time faculty replacement rate.) to provide for partial release from teaching duties, equivalent to a 3-credit course release from the normal teaching load for one semester. The details of the reduced teaching assignment are determined in consultation with the recipient’s department and dean. Other arrangements must be discussed and approved by the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

The recipients of the awards will be selected by a committee, chaired by the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Committee members represent the FRCE Committee, the Senate Executive Board, and the Office of Institutional Diversity. In addition, the Academic Senate elects a representative from each of the seven academic colleges. Members of the selection committee are not eligible for nomination for the awards.

President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity winners

2022-2023
Jennifer Schisa – Biology

Kirsten M. Weber – Communication

2021-2022
Will Anderson – Broadcast and Cinematic Arts
Thomas M. Gehring – Biology

2020-2021
En-Bing Lin – Mathematics
Tanya Domina - Fashion Merchandising and Design


2019-2020
Bradley Swanson – Biology
Jason Taylor – Economics

2018-2019
Ute Hochgeschwender- College of Medicine

Guy Newland- Philosophy and Religion

2017-2018
Adam Epstein- Finance and Law
Anna Monfils- Biology

2016-2017
Veronica Barone– Physics
Joanne Dannenhoffer– Biology
Michael Pisani– Management

2015-2016
Solomon Addis Getahun– History
Juan Peralta– Physics

2014-2015
Rachel Caspari- Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Marco Fornari– Physics
Sivaram Narayan– Mathematics

2013-2014
Larissa Niec– Psychology
Thomas Weirich– Accounting

2012-2013
Donald Uzarski– Biology
Jeffrey Weinstock- English Language and Literature

2011-2012
Koblar Alan Jackson– Physics
Michael Papa- Communication and Dramatic Arts

2010-2011
Gary Dunbar– Psychology
Mihai Horoi– Physics

2009-2010
Bryan Gibson– Psychology

2008-2009
Kathleen Counter Benison – Geography
Timothy S. Hartshorne– Psychology

2007-2008
Brigitte Bechtold - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

Valeri Petkov – Physics

2006-2007
Claudia Douglass – Biology
Alexandra Mascolo-David – Music

2005-2006
Yury Ionin – Mathematics
Carl Lee – Mathematics

2004-2005
Felix Famoye - Mathematics
Peter Orlik - Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

2003-2004
Harry Mika - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
John Wright - Philosophy and Religion

2002-2003
Carl Johnson - Psychology
Ronnie Apter – English

2001-2002
Leonard Leiberman - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Debra Poole – Psychology

2000-2001
Eric Johnson - History
Mohan Shrikhande – Mathematics

1999-2000
Thomas Benjamin - History
Bobby Howell – Chemistry

1998-1999
Reed Wicander - Geology
Robert Hohner – Music

1997-1998
David Gilingham – Music
Robert Stecker – Philosophy

1996-1997
Terry Beehr - Psychology
William Browne - Political Science

1995-1996
Daniel Wujek - Biology
Karen Mohr Chavez - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity winners

2022-2023
Chanseok Jeong - Engineering and Technology
Heather Trommer Beardslee - Theatre and Dance 

2021-2022
Michael J. Conway - College of Medicine
Trevor Diehl - Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

2020-2021
James Gerhart – Psychology
Abu Amin - Finance and Law

2019-2020
John Allen - Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Sarah Domoff - Psychology


2018-2019
Julien Rossignol - College of Medicine

Alicia Valoti – Music

2017-2018
Xantha Karp – Biology
Spenser Robinson - Entrepreneurship/Finance and Law

2016-2017
Kelly Murphy - Philosophy and Religion
Linlin Zhao - Chemistry and Biochemistry

2015-2016
Prakash Adhikari - Political Science and Public Administration
Benjamin Swarts - Chemistry and Biochemistry

2014-2015
Kevin Pangle - Biology
Justin Smith - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

2013-2014
Crina Tarasi - Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration

2012-2013
Rebecca Hayes - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Andrew Mahon - Biology
Zachary Williams - Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration

2010-2011
Troy Hicks - Teacher Education and Professional Development
David Zanatta – Biology

2009-2010
Dawn Decker - Counseling and Special Education
Christopher Tycner – Physics

2008-2009
Moataz Fattah - Political Science
Juan Peralta - Physics

2007-2008
Soloman Addis Getahun – History


2006-2007
Pamela Eddy - Educational Leadership
Bradley Swanson – Biology

2005-2006
Minghui Chai – Chemistry
Thomas Gehring – Biology
Jeffrey Weinstock – English

2004-2005
Brad Fahlman – Chemistry
Michael Pisani – Management

2003-2004
Matthew Burns - Counseling and Special Education
Yongil Jeon – Economics

2002-2003
Katherine Brown Rosier - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Carmen White - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

2001-2002
Marcy Taylor – English
Robert Noggle - Philosophy and Religion

2000-2001
Kathleen Benison - Geology
Orlando Perez - Political Science
Alexandra Mascolo-David – Music

1999-2000
Joel Fetzer - Political Science
Bin Li – Geography

1998-1999
Joy B. Doran – Biology
Elizabeth A. Meadows – Psychology

1997-1998
Kristina English - Communication Disorders
David Kinney - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

1996-1997
Gail Scukanec - Communication Disorders
Philip Squattrito – Chemistry

1995-1996
Eric Johnson – Geography
Koblar Alan Jackson - Physics