Dear Colleagues,

Each year the university recognizes the innovative scholarship, teaching and advising excellence, as well as the community citizenship of our faculty.

It is with great pride that I announce the recipients of the 2023 University of Vermont Faculty Awards.

I would also like to acknowledge all members of the faculty award review committees for volunteering their time and expertise to identify excellent nominees and outstanding recipients for each award.

My warmest congratulations to the recipients of the following awards!

Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize faculty members for their excellence in teaching, including creating an environment conducive to and encouraging learning. Each year, one faculty member in each of the four faculty ranks (Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor) receives this honor. The 2023 award recipients are:

  • Assistant Professor Daniel Tobin, Ph.D., Community Development and Applied Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 
  • Associate Professor Richard Single, Ph.D., Mathematics and Statistics, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences  
  • Professor Anthony (Tony) D’Amato, Ph.D., Director of Forestry Program, Director of UVM Research Forests, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Senior Lecturer Lisa Dion, M.S., Computer Science, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

More information about the Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Awards

Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award

The Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recognizes a faculty member who has achieved excellence in displaying and enacting responsiveness, availability, concern, respect, and depth of knowledge in undergraduate academic advising. This award is a collaboration of the Office of the Provost, the Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate, and the Student Government Association. The 2023 award recipient is:

  • Luis Vivanco, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences.

More information about the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award

President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award

Nominees for the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award are lecturers 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 and have demonstrated sustained and exceptional leadership and service to our community. This includes,  but is not limited to, service at the department, college or school, or university-wide level as a member of committees, governance groups, and advising student organizations or committees. The 2023 award recipient is:

More information about the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award

President’s Distinguished Senior Lecturer and Lecturer Awards

The President’s Distinguished Senior Lecturer and Lecturer Awards recognize Senior Lecturers or Lecturers for their outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service. The 2023 award recipient is:

  • Priyantha Wijesinghe, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer and Director of Curricular Enrichment, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.

More information about the President's Distinguished Senior Lecturer and Lecturer Awards

University Distinguished Professor Award

The University Distinguished Professor Award is the highest academic honor that UVM bestows upon a faculty member. Holders of this title are recognized for having achieved international eminence within their respective fields of study and for the truly transformative nature of their contributions to advancing knowledge. The 2023 award recipients are:

  • Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division; Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Larner College of Medicine
  • Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., Professor of Psychological Science, College of Arts and Sciences; Professor and Vice Chair of Psychiatry; and Director of Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, Larner College of Medicine
  • Gary Stein, Ph.D., Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry; Professor of the Department of Surgery; Larner College of Medicine

More information about the University Distinguished Professor Award

University Scholars Award

The University Scholars Award recognizes distinguished UVM faculty members for sustained excellence in research and creative and scholarly activities in the following two categories: Social Sciences, Humanities, Creative Arts; and Basic and Applied Sciences (including biological, medical, and physical sciences). The 2023 award recipients are: 

Social Science:

  • Terence Cuneo, Ph.D., Professor and Marsh Chair of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences 

Basic and Applied Science:

  • Sarah Heil, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Larner College of Medicine; Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychological Science, College of Arts and Sciences; and 
  • Rory Waterman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences  

More information about the University Scholars Award

Again, congratulations to all of the 2023 outstanding award recipients!

Warmly,

Patricia A. Prelock
Provost and Senior Vice President