The President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award, presented annually, acknowledges exceptional service by a University of Vermont faculty member who is recognized as a true university citizen for contributions to institutional building at the university. The award recipient receives a taxable cash award of $1,000. Names are displayed on a plaque on the third floor of the Waterman Building.
The AY 2025-2026 Award Recipient is:
Associate Professor Jacqueline (Jackie) Weinstock, Department of Counseling, Human Development and Family Science, College of Education and Social Services
Dr. Weinstock impressed reviewers with her significant and sustained service in supporting LGBTQIA+ students and faculty. Dr Weinstock’s contributions have been instrumental in the development of the Prism Center. As a class service project, Dr. Weinstock co-founded the Pride Center of Vermont, a statewide community center based in Burlington. The impact of Dr. Weinstock’s contribution is clear; as one example, the first ever award for LGBTQA Service from the LGBTQA Services Office was awarded to Dr. Weinstock in 2000. Further, in 2001, this award was named the Weinstock Service Award to honor her contributions to the UVM LGBTQA Community. The Committee noted that Dr. Weinstock’s service and leadership have been critical in UVM’s reputation for supporting LGBTQIA students, faculty, and staff. In addition, Dr. Weinstock has engaged in service work focused on the social climate at UVM (e.g., removing William Bailey’s name from the Howe Library), UVM’s campus climate (Primary Investigator for UVM’s Campus Climate Project), and critical thinking (e.g., administering critical thinking assessments). She has also been a leader and influential member of UVM’s faculty union, United Academics. As one member of the committee noted, Jackie has a “lifetime career of service for students and supporting our UVM community and LGBTQIA+ communities.”
Eligibility/Criteria
Nominees for the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award must be faculty members (lecturer or clinical faculty, full-time tenure or tenure-track faculty, research faculty, library faculty, or extension faculty) who have worked at the University of Vermont for at least five years. Faculty members serving in administrative roles are eligible for the award.
Nominees for the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award must have demonstrated sustained and exceptional leadership and service to the University of Vermont. This includes, but is not limited to, service at the department, college or school, or University-wide level, service on committees, governance groups, and advising student organizations or committees. The nature of the service must go beyond that expected of faculty for promotion and advancement at the University and should extend over multiple years. Evidence of transformative leadership and accomplishment as an institutional citizen must be demonstrated. Broadly defined, the service of the nominee must have “made a significant difference” at the University of Vermont. Service to the faculty member’s profession or to the external community is not a criteria for the award. Service awards will not be given to the same person more than once in a ten-year period.
Nomination Process
Faculty, staff and students may nominate faculty members for the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award. Faculty members may self-nominate. Nominations are due by February 1st every year (if this date falls on a weekend, the due date is the following Monday).
The Nominator should submit the following:
- Letter explaining the qualifications of the nominee and a description of the nominees’ exceptional service and accomplishments;
- Letter of support from the person to whom the nominee reports, demonstrating their support;
- Three additional letters of support from UVM faculty colleagues addressing the nominee’s qualifications; and
- At least one letter of support from outside the faculty member’s home college, school or unit.
Nominees will be notified of their nomination and asked to provide the following:
- Nominee’s current curriculum vitae; and
- Nominee’s detailed statement of service.
- Nominees may provide documents demonstrating their services as well as records of any citations or accommodations received for their service.
*Nominations that are not selected for the award in a given year will be included in the pool of nominations the following year. Nominators are welcome but not required to update their nomination materials for the new review.
Nomination material should be submitted with the "President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award Nomination" as the file name no later than 11:59 PM on February 1st (if this date falls on a weekend, the due date is the following Monday).
Award Committee
The Committee is made up of faculty members representing degree granting colleges or schools and the University Libraries, and former award recipients. The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs appoints the Chair of the Committee and its members. The Committee recommends candidates for the award to the President. The President makes the final decision regarding award recipients.
Award Review Committee 2025-2028
Review Committee Chair: Professor Dianna (Annie) Murray-Close, Department of Psychological Science, College of Arts and Science, and a recipient of the 2018 George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award and the AY2018-2019 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award.
Review Committee Members:
- Noah Barclay-Derman, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Karen Benway, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, College of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences; AY2021-2022 PD Senior Lecturer Award recipient
- Thomas Chittenden, Senior Lecturer, Grossman School of Business; AY2016-2017 PD Lecturer Award recipient
- Kelly Hamshaw, Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Development & Applied Economics, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences; AY2020-2021 PD Senior Lecturer Award recipient
- Laura May-Collado, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences; AY2019-2020 PD Lecturer Award recipient
- Kaitlin Northey, Associate Professor, Department of Education, College of Education and Social Services; AY2025 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award recipient
- Walter Poleman, Senior Lecturer, Natural Resources Program, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources; AY2017-2018 PD Senior Lecturer Award recipient
Selection Timeline
- December 1, annually: Call for nominations opens.
- February 1, annually: Nominations due. *(if February 1st falls on a weekend, the due date is the following Monday)
- February 1 - March 30: Nominations reviewed by Awards Committee
- April 1: Awards Committee submits list of finalists to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Jane Okech at Jokech@uvm.edu. Copy submissions to Faith Schumacher at Faith.Schumacher@uvm.edu.
- May 1: The President announces award recipient.
For more information, please contact Faith Schumacher at Faith.Schumacher@uvm.edu