Faculty and Staff Awards

Faculty and staff within the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in academics, in research, and in the community.

ADVANCE Faculty Fellows

Through a combination of research, programming, and practices, UMass ADVANCE seeks to understand and address systemic and intersectional inequalities to lay the groundwork for a fairer, more equitable, diverse and inclusive campus. Faculty Fellows provide recommendations and feedback to the team about ADVANCE programming and liaise with their departments to promote the ADVANCE program. They also inform ADVANCE about successful equity and inclusion initiatives in their units.

Sofiya Alhassan (Kinesiology) 2021-2022
Mary Andrianopoulos (Communication Disorders) 2021-2022
Raphael Arku (Environmental Health Sciences) 2021-2022
Lisa Troy (Nutrition) 2021-2022
Jennifer Whitehill (Health Promotion and Policy) 2021-2022
Katherine Boyer (Kinesiology) 2020-2021
Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) 2020-2021
Kimberley Geissler (Health Promotion and Policy) 2020-2021
Sarah Poissant (Communication Disorders) 2020-2021
Laura Vandenberg (Environmental Health Sciences) 2020-2021

ADVANCE Faculty Mentoring Award

The UMass ADVANCE Program disseminates resources, tools, and training on best practices for excellent faculty mentoring. The annual award was created this year for faculty in each school or college to recognize the vital role recipients serve in mentoring their colleagues. Their mentoring ensures that faculty members excel in their careers and helps develop a more inclusive environment at the university.

SPHHS recipients include:

Sofiya Alhassan (Kinesiology) 2021
Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) 2020

Center for Research on Families Scholars

Since 2003, the UMass Amherst Center for Research on Familiies (CRF) has offered its groundbreaking Family Research Scholars Program, which provides selected UMass Amherst and Five Colleges faculty with time and technical expertise, opportunities for peer mentorship, and national expert consultation to prepare a large grant proposal in support of their research.

Family Research Scholars participate in a year-long interdisciplinary faculty seminar that includes presentations and discussions of the Scholars’ developing proposals, concrete instruction on the details of successful proposal submission and the resources of the University, individualized methodology consultation, and information about relevant funding agencies.

SPHHS recipients include:

Raphael Arku (Environmental Health Sciences) 2021-2022
Laura Attanasio (Health Promotion and Policy) 2021-2022
Sarah Goff (Health Promotion and Policy) 2020-2021
Alicia Timme-Laragy (Environmental Health Sciences) 2020-2021
Airin Martinez (Health Promotion and Policy) 2019-2020
Nicole VanKim (Biostatistics & Epidemiology) 2019-2020
Jennifer Whitehill (Health Promotion and Policy) 2019-2020
Krishna Poudel (Health Promotion and Policy) 2018-2019
Aline Gubrium (Health Promotion and Policy) 2017-2018
Krystal Pollitt (Environmental Health Sciences) 2017-2018
Ning Zhang (Health Promotion and Policy) 2017-2018
Sofiya Alhassan (Kinesiology) 2016-2017
Louis Graham (Health Promotion and Policy) 2016-2017
J. Richard Pilsner (Environmental Health Sciences) 2015-2016
Lindiwe Sibeko (Nutrition) 2015-2016
Laura Vandenberg (Environmental Health Sciences) 2015-2016
Katherine Reeves (Biostatistics & Epidemiology) 2014-2015
Gwyneth Rost (Communication Disorders) 2013-2014
Lisa Troy (Nutrition) 2013-2014
Jerusha Nelson Peterman (Nutrition) 2012-2013
Yu-Kyong Choe (Communication Disorders) 2010-2011
Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) 2010-2011
Jacquie Kurland (Communication Disorders) 2009-2010
Lisa Marin Wexler (Health Promotion and Policy) 2007-2008

Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity

The chancellor created the Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity in 2005 for faculty members from across campus who have, within the past three years, demonstrated outstanding achievement that has received national and/or international recognition appropriate to the discipline. Each of the honorees receives a crystal award engraved with the Amherst campus seal at Convocation in the fall.

SPHHS recipients include:

Susan Hankinson (Biostatistics & Epidemiology) 2017
Patty S. Freedson (Kinesiology) 2007
Priscilla M. Clarkson (Kinesiology) 2005

Chancellor's Citation for Excellence

The Chancellor’s Citation Award recognizes outstanding work performance by university staff. Any staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in helping the university achieve its goals and objectives may be nominated. Specifically sought are examples of original contributions to the university, attainment of high-priority university objectives, performance “beyond the call of duty,” and achievement of significant improvements in productivity or savings in university operations.

Staff recipients include:

Aimee Gilbert Loinaz (Office of Career Planning) 2020-2021
Lori Peterson (Professional Programs) 2020-2021
Lisa Sullivan-Werner (Nutrition Extension) 2012–2013
Linda Downs-Bembury (SPHHS Research Administration Office) 2011–2012

College Outstanding Teaching Award

The College Outstanding Teaching Award was instituted in 1995 to augment the University Distinguished Teaching Award in an effort to recognize a larger number of talented teachers. The award is sponsored by the UMass Amherst Provost’s Office and the Center for Teaching & Faculty Development, and given annually to honor individual faculty members for their teaching accomplishments.

SPHHS recipients include:

Krishna Poudel (Health Promotion and Policy) 2020-2021
Claire Norton (Nutrition) 2019-2020
Jill Hoover (Communication Disorders) 2018-2019
Zhenhua Liu (Nutrition) 2017-2018
Eliza Frechette (Kinesiology) 2016-2017
Gwyneth Rost (Communication Disorders) 2015–2016
Judi LaBranche (Kinesiology) 2014–2015
Jerusha Peterman (Nutrition) 2013–2014
Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) 2012–2013
Frank Rife (Kinesiology) 2011–2012
Christine Rogers (Environmental Health Sciences) 2010–2011
Brian Umberger (Kinesiology) 2009–2010
Sarah Poissant (Communication Disorders) 2008–2009
Alayne Ronnenberg (Nutrition) 2007–2008
Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson (Epidemiology) 2006–2007
Gary Kamen (Kinesiology) 2005–2006
Daniel Gerber (Community Health Education) 2004–2005
Elena Carbone (Nutrition) 2003–2004
Barry Braun (Kinesiology) 2002–2003
Shelley Velleman (Communication Disorders) 2001–2002
Lisa Chasan-Taber (Epidemiology) 2000–2001
Mary Andrianopoulos (Communication Disorders) 1999–2000
Stella Volpe (Nutrition) 1998–1999
Graham Caldwell (Kinesiology) 1997–1998
Jane Baran (Communication Disorders) 1996–1997

Distinguished Community Engagement Award for Research

This award recognizes individuals within our campus community as well as community partner organizations for their outstanding contributions to community-engaged scholarship and teaching, and campus/community partnerships, with impacts at the local, regional, national, or international level.

SPHHS recipients include:

Lindiwe Sibeko (Nutrition) 2019-2020
Elizabeth Evans (Health Promotion and Policy) 2018-2019
Lisa Wexler (Health Promotion and Policy) 2015-2016
Elena Carbone (Nutrition) 2012-2013

Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series/Chancellor's Medal

This lecture series celebrates the value of academic excellence and recognizes the distinguished achievements of faculty. Those chosen for the series also receive the Chancellor's Medal, the highest honor bestowed to faculty by the campus.

SPHHS recipients include:

Nicholas Reich (Biostatistics) 2021-2022
Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson (Epidemiology) 2020-2021
Lisa Chasan-Taber (Epidemiology) 2013–2014
Patty S. Freedson (Kinesiology) 2003–2004
Priscilla M. Clarkson (Kinesiology) 1997–1998
Robert Tuthill (Public Health) 1995–1996
Kenneth Mundt (Public Health) 1994–1995
E. Harris Nober (Communication Disorders) 1993–1994
Nancy Sheard (Nutrition) 1993–1994
David Buchanan (Community Health Education) 1992–1993
William Darity (Public Health) 1988–1989
Virginia Beal (Nutrition) 1985–1986
Peter Pellett (Nutrition) 1981–1982

Distinguished Professor

The title Distinguished Professor is conferred on select, highly accomplished faculty who have already achieved the rank of professor and who meet a demanding set of qualifications.

SPHHS recipients include:

Susan Hankinson (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) 2020

Distinguished Teaching Award

Honoring individual excellence, the campus-wide Distinguished Teaching Award is highly competitive and prestigious. Only current students and alumni may nominate faculty for this award. Each year faculty, graduate, and undergraduate student committees review more than 100 nominations in a two-step process of data collection and analysis prior to selecting three faculty and two teaching assistant awardees. Recipients receive a monetary prize and are recognized at both the undergraduate and graduate commencements.

SPHHS recipients include:

Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson (Biostatistics & Epidemiology) 2018-2019
Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) 2014–2015
Shelley Velleman (Communication Disorders) 2009–2010
Barry Braun (Kinesiology) 2006–2007
Stella Volpe (Nutrition) 1998–1999
Paula Stamps (Health Policy and Management) 1993–1994
Howard Peters (Public Health) 1987–1988
Esther Wallace (Kinesiology) 1978–1979

Lilly Teaching Fellows

Fellows are tenure-track faculty selected by the Center for Teaching at UMass Amherst “for their promise in teaching and research, their interest in undergraduate teaching and in developing innovative teaching skills, and their potential for making a positive impact on the teaching culture in their department, college, and broader campus community.”

SPHHS recipients include:

Young-Cheul Kim (Nutrition) 2010–2011
Christine Rogers (Environmental Health Sciences) 2008–2009
William Bartosch (Public Health) 2006–2007
Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson (Epidemiology) 2003–2004
Barry Braun (Kinesiology) 2001–2002

Research Leadership in Action

Research Leadership in Action is an internal grant competition sponsored by the Vice Provost for Research for full-time UMass Amherst tenure-track and research faculty to showcase leadership in research and scholarly activity. The program's inaugural year was 2005.

SPHHS recipients include:

David Buchanan & Lisa Wexler (Community Health Education) 2007–2008

Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship Award

A University of Massachusetts Amherst Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship provides faculty members with a unique opportunity to focus on their research or creative activities. These Fellowships are managed by the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement (VCRE) and provide a one-year release from teaching and service duties in addition to a $3,500 cash award.

Fellows are chosen based on their record of outstanding accomplishments in research and creative activity and on their potential for continued excellence, particularly with regard to the project that would be undertaken during the Fellowship period and as proposed in their nomination materials. Accomplishments in research and creative activity as a UMass Amherst faculty member are paramount.

SPHHS recipients include:

Jane Kent (Kinesiology) 2021-2022
Susan Hankinson (Biostatistics & Epidemiology) 2018-2019
Richard van Emmerik (Kinesiology) 2017-2018

SPHHS Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award

The SPHHS Graduate Student Teacher Award was instituted by the school in 2020 to recognize excellence in graduate student instruction. Recipients include:

Brittany Ranchoff (Health Promotion and Policy) 2020-2021
Joshua Nugent (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) 2019-2020

SPHHS UWW Outstanding Teaching Award

The SPHHS UWW Outstanding Teaching Award was instituted by the school in 2010 to recognize excellence in online instruction. Recipients include:

Carol Bigelow (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) 2020-2021
Sofija Zagarins (Nutrition) 2019-2020
Thomas St. Laurent (Kinesiology) 2018-2019
Daniel Gerber (Public Health Practice) 2017-2018
Amber Hromi-Fiedler (Nutrition) 2016-2017
Melissa Brown (Nutrition) 2015–2016
Daniel Goldstein (Public Health Practice) 2014–2015
Renee Turzanski-Fortner (Public Health Practice) 2013–2014
Anne Hewitt (Public Health Practice) 2012–2013
Carol Bigelow (Public Health Practice) 2011–2012
Patsy Beffa-Negrini (Nutrition) 2010–2011

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