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The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) has announced the inaugural winners of the UMass Amherst Delphi Leadership Award for innovative contributions and exceptional leadership as non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty members.

OFD announced the new award in January after UMass Amherst was selected as a winner of the 2024 Delphi Award. The funds from this prize established the Delphi Leadership Award to recognize the excellence of NTT faculty members.

The selection committee for the 2025 award was co-led by Michelle Budig, senior vice provost for faculty and academic affairs, and Eve Weinbaum, professor of sociology and labor studies, and included Jaime Dávila, senior teaching faculty in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and Tammy Rahhal, associate chair for teaching and advising in the department of psychological and brain sciences.

“Along with the other selection committee members, I was deeply impressed and humbled by the extraordinary leadership NTT faculty provide to support, develop, and improve the working conditions of their peers on campus,” Budig says. “Too often the achievements of NTT faculty go unrecognized, and I am delighted that this award shines a light on some of their many exceptional accomplishments. The leadership of the four inaugural recipients of this award has profoundly contributed to making UMass Amherst a more inclusive and supportive place for NTT faculty.” 

“Congratulations to our award winners,” Weinbaum expressed. “Among a truly outstanding group of faculty nominees, we are delighted to recognize these campus-wide leaders and advocates. Each has worked tirelessly on behalf of their colleagues, their programs, and their students; and each has focused on making UMass Amherst a more just and equitable campus, a place where all faculty can build long and rewarding careers.” 

Each of the award winners will receive an honorary plaque and a $1,500 award. Learn more about the UMass Amherst Delphi Leadership Award on OFD’s website.
 

Inaugural UMass Amherst Delphi Leadership Award Winners:
 

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Steven D. Brewer – Senior Lecturer II, College of Natural Sciences Department of Biology

Brewer is recognized for his sustained leadership in the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) and in the Faculty Senate in improving working conditions for NTT faculty. In MSP, Steven has served as an officer, on the executive board, as the only NTT member on the MSP bargaining team, and multiple bargaining subcommittees to establish NTT promotion ladders, continuing appointment status, and the professional development fellowship. He was the first NTT member of the Senate Rules committee and now serves as presiding officer of the Faculty Senate.
 

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Christiane Healey – Senior Lecturer II, College of Natural Sciences Department of Biology

Haley is recognized for her leadership in assessing, through an independent qualitative study and analysis of COACHE data, NTT faculty development needs, and creating a broad array of NTT faculty professional development workshops and mentoring programs. She led the campus application for the national Delphi Award. She is the first NTT faculty member to chair the Faculty Senate’s Undergraduate Education Council and was the first NTT faculty member to be selected as a Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow.
 

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Kate Hudson – Director of Academic and Organizational Innovation, Senior Lecturer II, College of Education

Hudson is recognized for her leadership in advocating for NTT faculty in the College of Education and across the university. She created an onboarding and mentoring program for NTT faculty in her college and led several cohorts through the program. Hudson has served on the MSP executive board for a decade and as secretary of the MSP since 2017. Kate has worked to support many NTT faculty members as an MSP faculty advocate, as an MSP contract bargaining team member, and as a member of the Faculty Senate.
 

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Marc Liberatore – Senior Teaching Faculty, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Liberatore is recognized for his sustained work in effectively advocating for NTT faculty working conditions as an MSP executive board member, MSP faculty advocate, member of the MSP bargaining team, MSP vice president, and currently as co-president of MSP. In these roles, he has advocated for NTT faculty parental leave parity, professional development leaves and workload accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liberatore further serves on the Academic Honesty Board and the Faculty Senate Academic Matters Council.