The 2025 CNS Recognition Ceremony

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On April 30, faculty and staff from the College of Natural Sciences assembled in the Campus Center for the 2025 CNS Recognition Ceremony. During the event, nominees and recipients of the 2025 CNS Outstanding Achievement Awards and Exceptional Internal Service Awards were celebrated for their work.

"The tripartite mission of the College of Natural Sciences, related to advancing research, teaching, and service excellence, would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff," said CNS Dean Michael A. Fox. "As we take time at the end of the semester to celebrate the success and graduation of our students, we also take time to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our faculty and staff, deserving of the Outstanding Achievement Awards given during the CNS Recognition Ceremony. This year faculty and staff were recognized for outstanding research contributions, outstanding teaching, outstanding staff performance, outstanding peer and student mentorship, and outstanding contributions to service." 

Below is a complete list of the 2025 CNS Outstanding Achievement Award and Exceptional Internal Service Award recipients.

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Alissa Nolden, Food Science (second from left), receiving the Excellence in Student Undergraduate Mentoring Award

Excellence in Student Mentoring Awards: 

• Undergraduate student mentoring: assistant professor Alissa Nolden, Food Science 

• Graduate student mentoring: Distinguished Professor Thai Thayumanavan, Chemistry 

Inclusive Excellence: 

• assistant professor Maryclare Griffin, Mathematics and Statistics 

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Hannah Hollister, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (left), receiving an Outstanding Staff award

Outstanding Staff: 

• communications and curriculum manager Hannah Hollister, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 

• grants and accounting manager Cheryl Kehoe, Polymer Science and Engineering 

• Accountant Sarah Czerwonka, Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences 

Excellence in Faculty Peer Mentoring: 

• professor Richard Vachet, Chemistry 

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John Gibbons, Food Science (right), receiving an Outstanding Teaching award

Outstanding Teaching: 

• senior lecturer II Lori Astheimer, Psychological and Brain Sciences 

• senior lecturer II Jeff Beaulieu, Mathematics and Statistics 

• associate professor John Gibbons, Food Science 

Outstanding Outreach & Engagement: 

• extension professor Amanda Kinchla, Food Science 

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Maria Santore, Polymer Science and Engineering (left), receiving the Mid-to-Late Career Outstanding Research award

Outstanding Research: 

• Early Career Awardee: associate professor Margaret Stratton, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 

• Mid-to-Late Career Awardee: professor Maria Santore, Polymer Science and Engineering

Exceptional Internal Service Awards

In recognition of the outstanding contributions made by many faculty members to departmental, college, and/or university service, each department within CNS selected a faculty member or group of faculty members to receive an Exceptional Internal Service Award.

• Michael Barnes (Chemistry)
• Jeff Beaulieu (Mathematics and Statistics)
• Katherine Beltaire (Veterinary and Animal Sciences)
• Jeff Blanchard (Biology)
• Donald Candela (Physics)
• Peter Chien (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
• Andrew Cohen (Psychological and Brain Sciences)
• Tim Cook (Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences)
• Michelle DaCosta (Stockbridge School of Agriculture)
• Greg Grason (Polymer Science and Engineering)
• Michele Klingbeil (Microbiology)
• Alexandra Pope (Astronomy)
• Alex Schreyer (Environmental Conservation)
• Hang Xiao (Food Science)