BOONE, N.C. — Each year, Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) recognizes several members of the faculty and staff for outstanding service, teaching, and scholarly work. The 2022-23 award nominees and recipients were recognized during a celebratory luncheon held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, in the Plemmons Student Union.
See the full lists of award recipients, nominees, and committee members below.
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Outstanding Staff Award
Anna Brown, Administrative Support Specialist | Department of Anthropology
In their nomination letter, a colleague wrote about Brown: “She is proactive about making sure that student and faculty needs are met, thoughtful about how she approaches complex situations, and follows through on all commitments, even when that involves working on nights and weekends.”
Jim Burniston, Administrative Support Specialist | Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
A colleague wrote about Burniston: “What is particularly notable about Jim’s service is the combination of his strong work ethic and positive attitude – there is no task he cannot complete or question he cannot find the answer to – with his caring, community-oriented approach.”
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Jimmy Smith Outstanding Service Award
Dr. Sandie Gravett, Professor | Department of Philosophy & Religion
In their nomination letter, a colleague highlighted Dr. Gravett's service to both the department and the university, including her 15 years of service on the department's curriculum committee and her work drafting the Faculty Constitution and updated Faculty Handbook as a member of Faculty Senate. “That Dr. Gravett does all this while maintaining a standard teaching load and research profile is astounding. Faculty members of such energy and devotion are exceptionally rare,” her nominator said.
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William C. Strickland Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
Dr. Marc Kissel, Assistant Professor | Department of Anthropology
A colleague wrote about Dr. Kissel: “By the numbers, Marc is an exceptional junior scholar. Since 2019, he has published two books and nine scholarly articles, has presented 13 invited talks and eight conference presentations around the country, and has received a major external grant. At the same time, he has mentored six undergraduate honors theses and maintained a heavy teaching load of eight distinct classes on rotation. Frankly, I’m not sure how he does it, nor how he manages to be such a thoughtful, generous, and enthusiastic colleague along the way.”
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Donald W. Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award
Dr. Jill Ehnenn, Professor | Department of English
A colleague wrote about Dr. Ehnenn: “The pseudonym 'Michael Field' utilized by Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper, stands as a pivotal representation in lesbian and women's literature. Professor Ehnenn's rigorous work on this subject showcases her commitment to spotlighting voices and narratives that have had transformative effects on literary landscapes. In focusing on 'Michael Field,' she not only highlights historically significant literary achievements but also underscores the broader narratives of gender, sexuality, and poetic innovation. Professor Ehnenn's dedication to excellence, her myriad achievements, and her pioneering work make her a distinguished candidate for the Donald W. Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award. By honoring her with this accolade, we are recognizing and celebrating a scholar whose scholarly productivity and the impact of her work mirror that of faculty at R1 institutions.”
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Non-Tenure Track Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. Pablo Chialvo, Lecturer | Department of Biology
A student wrote about Dr. Chialvo: “I suffer from academic anxiety, and I usually stress a lot, which causes me to ask too many questions at times. My professor never made me feel like I was being a nuisance to him when I asked questions since he was always very patient, calm, and kind to me. For students like me who have anxiety, having a patient professor who takes the time to assist his students is something that is important to me. Especially when I am the type of person that needs to get my questions answered to help put my anxiety at ease.”
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Excellence in Engagement Award
Tom Hansell, Professor | Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
A colleague wrote about Hansell: “Tom serves as a role model for successfully intertwining teaching, scholarly, and community work. Throughout his tenure as a faculty member at Appalachian State University, there has never been a moment when he wasn't actively collaborating with local groups to help share their stories in writing or in documentary form. His proficiency in facilitating networking among communities and students is noteworthy. Over the years, he has provided numerous opportunities for students to venture beyond the classroom and immerse themselves in a community, facilitating learning, engagement, and storytelling. This has included local trips in nearby counties, presentations in conferences and travel to other countries. Notably, he not only engages in community interaction, but as you will see in his publications, he also writes about the importance of doing so.”
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CAS Inclusion Award
Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
The department's nominators highlighted several initiatives to promote inclusivity, including a study exploring how to make study away experiences more accessible to students with limited mobility and to those with financial need, curriculum updates highlighting women and minorities, and new events exposing students to diverse voices through extracurricular activities. The nominators also highlighted the department's efforts to foster inclusivity for non-native English speakers. “One important channel for this work has been the department’s development of 'Spanish for Healthcare' coursework, which progressed via the approval of a new minor in Spanish for Health and Helping Professions in Fall 2022,” a nominator shared.
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Richard N. Henson Outstanding Advisor Award
Dr. Jeff Holcomb, Professor | Department of Government & Justice Studies
Dr. Cathy Marcum, chair of the Department of Government & Justice Studies, wrote about Dr. Holcomb: “Dr. Holcomb’s dedication to his students is unparalleled. He has advised hundreds of students since he joined Appalachian State and has been nominated for the Outstanding Advisor Award many times. He spends countless hours working with students, offering advising hours during the day and evening hours to work with students’ schedules. As Criminal Justice Curriculum Coordinator, Dr. Holcomb always takes on an extra load of advisees to help lighten the burden on his colleagues. Further, Dr. Holcomb also works with the cadets in the Police Development Program to ensure their curricular needs are met to work with their training schedules.”
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Academy of Outstanding Teachers
Dr. Pablo Chialvo, Lecturer | Department of Biology
A student wrote about Dr. Chialvo: “Professor Chialvo is willing to help his students understand difficult concepts in biology and always demonstrated his desire to help students succeed. As a student who suffers from academic anxiety, he is always kind, calm, and patient with my questions, which helped to put me at ease. I have been extremely lucky to have wonderful professors while studying at Appalachian State University, but the best for me is due to the greatness of Professor Chialvo – due to his passion and excellence in instruction, his extensive knowledge of the subject, and his caring nature towards each of his students.”
Dr. Allison Fredette, Assistant Professor | Department of History
A colleague wrote about Dr. Fredette: “Dr. Fredette’s creativity, enthusiasm, engagement, skill, and easy-going personality combine for a genuinely pleasurable classroom experience, in which the students grasp concepts better than in more traditional formats. She is so skilled that she is frequently asked to teach any course the department needs help. The department asks many things from her because we know she will not only perform well, but that she will excel and teach the class better than anyone else in the department could. She is an asset to our department, App State, and the profession. She is exceedingly deserving of this recognition.”
Dr. Johnnie Lotesta, Assistant Professor | Department of Sociology
A student wrote about Dr. Lotesta: “Dr. Lotesta transformed my learning experience at Appalachian in more ways than I can recount. She provided me with invaluable guidance, and with a great deal of time and support. Subsequently, my reading, writing, and research skills improved exponentially as the result of these experiences. Dr. Lotesta always pushed me to be better and think more deeply - with gentleness, and from a place of genuine care and kindness. I am beyond grateful for all of the mentorship I received from her, both in the classroom and through projects outside of the classroom.”
Dr. Elizabeth Shay, Associate Professor | Department of Geography and Planning
A student wrote about Dr. Shay: “Dr. Shay is so much more than a professor to each of her students as she inspires everyone around her to be equally as passionate about planning. She is the reason I became a planner, has supported me through internships, as a research assistant, as a thesis advisor, and today – now that I am professional – as a friend. I know that if I had a question about planning, I could pick up the phone and she would find an answer for me. I truly believe that she is the heart of the planning program and department and is in the heart of every student she teaches and inspires.”
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Teacher of the Year Award
Dr. Elizabeth Shay, Associate Professor | Department of Geography and Planning
Another student wrote about Dr. Shay: “I joined Appalachian as a transfer student and this professor’s awareness of my situation and nimble familiarity with my academic background made me feel welcome and valued within the department. She continuously encouraged me to explore course topics through the lens of my own professional interests; in landscape architecture, through planning’s potential applications to urban and rural design, and pushed me to think about the ways my ideas could have real impact on the world. Her extensive knowledge, caring approach to student relationships, and constant engagement with the broader field of planning make her truly an outstanding teacher.”
CAS Interim Dean Dr. Mike Madritch with award recipients Dr. Elizabeth Shay, Dr. Paul Worley, Cindy Trivette, Dr. Johnnie Lotesta, Dr. Pablo Chialvo, Dr. Jill Ehnenn, Dr. Jeff Holcomb, Dr. Allison Fredette, Tom Hansell, Jim Burniston, Dr. Marc Kissel, and Anna Brown.
Award Nominees
Outstanding Staff Award
- Dief Alexander (Philosophy & Religion)
- Anna Brown (Anthropology)
- Jim Burniston (Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Renee Gamble (History)
- Lauren Andersen Gibbs (CAS)
- Michelle Holcombe (Psychology)
- Megan Hutton (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Christina May (Government & Justice Studies)
- Jen McGuinn (Biology)
- Shane Miller (Computer Science)
- Rebecca Newman (Rural Resilience & Innovation - Veterinary Technology)
- Andie Pabón Thomas (English)
- Alicia Roberts (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Cindy Trivette (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
Jimmy Smith Outstanding Service Award
- Gabe Casale (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Sandie Gravett (Philosophy & Religion)
- Jamie Levine (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Brad Nash (Sociology)
- Xiaofei Tu (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
William C. Strickland Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
- William Armstrong (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Clare Scott Chialvo (Biology)
- Michael Eng (Philosophy & Religion)
- Allison Fredette (History)
- Kinji Ito (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
- Marc Kissel (Anthropology)
- Christopher Marier (Government & Justice Studies)
- Jessica Martell (Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Bethany Mannon (English)
- Elizabeth Perego (History)
- Michael Reddish (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Song Shu (Geography & Planning)
- Roshani Silwal (Physics & Astronomy)
- Belinda Walzer (English)
- Juhee Woo (Sociology)
Donald W. Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award
- Christopher Bartel (Philosophy & Religion)
- Will Canu (Psychology)
- Jeffery Carter (Government & Justice Studies)
- Jon Davenport (Biology)
- Jill Ehnenn (English)
- David Nieman (Biology)
- Bruce Stewart (History)
Non-Tenure Track Teaching Excellence Award
- Pablo Chialvo (Biology)
- Peaches Hash (English)
- Joyce Hill-Powers (Sociology)
- Joseph Jakubek (Sociology)
- Liz Kunkel (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
- Sarah Marshburn (Biology)
- Lynn McNeil (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
- Matt Ruble (Philosophy & Religion)
- Christopher Stone (History)
- Joel Swanson (Computer Science)
- Laura Switkowski (Rural Resilience & Innovation - Veterinary Technology)
- Ann Wortinger (Rural Resilience & Innovation - Veterinary Technology)
Excellence in Engagement Award
- Andrea Burns (History)
- Tom Hansell (Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Jacqueline Hersh (Psychology)
- Renee Scherlen (Government & Justice Studies)
- Susan Weinberg (English)
CAS Inclusion Award
- Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures
- Dr. Leonardo Flores (English)
Richard N. Henson Outstanding Advisor Award
- Maryam Ahmed (Biology)
- Holly Ambler (Interdisciplinary Studies)
- François Amet (Physics & Astronomy)
- Carol Babyak (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Mary Ballard (Psychology)
- A.J. Barghothi (Government & Justice Studies)
- Andrew Bellemer (Biology)
- Rachel Bleich (Biology)
- Reagan Breitenstein (Psychology)
- Jennifer Cecile (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Brooke Christian (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Lisa Curtin (Psychology)
- Bruce Dick (English)
- Carl Eby (English)
- Sarah Evans (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Darci Gardner (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
- Cameron Gokee (Anthropology)
- Alison Gulley (English)
- Michael Hambourger (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- William Hicks (Government & Justice Studies)
- Jeff Holcomb (Government & Justice Studies)
- Amy Hudnall (History)
- Yong Hur (Government & Justice Studies)
- James Ivory (English)
- Mary Kinkel (Biology)
- Vicky Klima (Mathematical Sciences)
- Eric Marland (Mathematical Sciences)
- Jenny Morris (History)
- Lynn Mosteller (Psychology)
- Howard Neufeld (Biology)
- Heather Ondercin (Government & Justice Studies)
- Michael Reddish (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Steven Seagle (Biology)
- Darren Seals (Biology)
- Elizabeth Shay (Geography & Planning)
- Timothy Smith (Anthropology)
- Elicka Sparks (Government & Justice Studies)
- Susan Staub (English)
- Rahman Tashakkori (Computer Science)
- Brett Taubman (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Xiaofei Tu (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)
- Shea Tuberty (Biology)
- John Walker (Biology)
- Henry Wansker (Government & Justice Studies)
- Marian Williams (Government & Justice Studies)
Academy of Outstanding Teachers and Teacher of the Year Award
- Judkin Browning (History)
- Pablo Chialvo (Biology)
- Allison Fredette (History)
- Jamie Levine (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Sarah Beth Long (English)
- Johnnie Lotesta (Sociology)
- Patricia Mitchell (Government & Justice Studies)
- David Russell (Sociology)
- Kathleen Schroeder (Geography & Planning)
- Elizabeth Shay (Geography & Planning)
- Mary Valante (History)
- Jason White (History)
Selection Committees
* denotes the committee chair.
Outstanding Staff Award
- Diana Nelson (CASSH)*
- Anthony Love (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
- Vivid Oguntoyinbo (CAS)
- Ryan Kennedy (Psychology)
Jimmy Smith Outstanding Service Award
- Zack Murrell (Biology)*
- Jacob Babb (English)
- Hye-Sung Kim (Government & Justice Studies)
- Trina Palmer (Mathematical Sciences)
William C. Strickland Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
- James Sherman (Physics & Astronomy)*
- Kim Q. Hall (Philosophy & Religion)
- Pavel Osinski (Sociology)
- Rene Salinas (Mathematical Sciences)
Donald W. Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award
- Joel Sanqui (Mathematical Sciences)*
- Mike Hambourger (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Nancy Love (Government & Justice Studies)
- Bhuwan Thapa (Geography & Planning)
- Wendy Xie (Languages, Literatures & Cultures)
Non-Tenure Track Teaching Excellence Award
- Kendra Souza (Languages, Literatures, & Cultures)*
- Katie Adams (English)
- Michael Dale (Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Amanda Howell (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Elicka Sparks (Government & Justice Studies)
Excellence in Engagement Award
- Marta Toran (Geological & Environmental Sciences)*
- Courtney Dixon (Computer Science)
- Jennifer Geib (Biology)
- Peter Thompson (Government & Justice Studies)
CAS Inclusion Award
- Cameron Lippard (Sociology)*
- Donna Lillian (CAS)
Richard N. Henson Outstanding Advisor Award
- Diana Nelson (CASSH)*
- Megen Culpepper (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences)
- Cameron Lippard (Sociology)
- Rose Mary Webb (Psychology)
Academy of Outstanding Teachers and Teacher of the Year Award
- Kara Dempsey (Geography & Planning)*
- Bekah Ballard (English)
- Ben Brewer (Biology)
- Cindy Norris (Computer Science)
During the luncheon, three recipients of 2023 University of North Carolina Board of Governors Awards were also recognized. Dr. Maryam Ahmed (Biology) received the Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Kara Dempsey (Geography & Planning) and Dr. Nicholas Nam Shaw (Chemistry & Fermentation Sciences) received Appalachian State University School/College Awards.
CAS congratulates all of the award nominees and recipients and thanks the committee members for their willingness to serve. To learn more about the CAS Faculty and Staff Awards, visit cas.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/awards.
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About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,400 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Andersen
November 2, 2023
BOONE, N.C.
The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University
The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University