Board of Regents Names 2020-21 Faculty Award Recipients

The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) — which governs the 17 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) — today named 19 CSCU faculty members as recipients of the annual 2020–21 Board of Regents Faculty Awards.

The awards— both campus-based and system-wide — recognize faculty for excellence in teaching or research. The awards are given to adjunct faculty members and assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers, promote instructional improvements for their departments, and are doing exceptional research, scholarly, and/or creative work.

Campus-Based Award categories include Teaching, Research, and Scholarly Excellence. Individual faculty in each Campus-Based Award category may also be recognized with System-Wide Awards in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Excellence.  Adjunct Faculty are recognized by two system-level awards, one for Community College faculty, the other for University and Charter Oak State College faculty.

“It is a pleasure to honor our faculty award recipients and recognize their outstanding scholarly work,” said Dr. Jane Gates, CSCU Interim President. “Our CSCU faculty are committed to their institutions and dedicated to mentoring our students, while engaging in teaching and state-of-the-art research. Their efforts contribute to student success and have a profound impact on the entire CSCU community.”

"The caliber of teaching and research award winners throughout the CSCU system is inspiring,” said Merle Harris, Regent and Chair of the Board of Regents Academic and Student Affairs Committee. “These exceptional faculty focus on student success and these awards provide a means of recognizing their outstanding work.”

Board of Regents Teaching Awards are presented to faculty from each of the four state universities and 12 community colleges. Two System-Wide Teaching Awards (one from the four universities and one from the 12 community colleges) are given to faculty who best exemplify high quality teaching.

Board of Regents Research Awards are presented to faculty among Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities. One System-Wide Research Award is given to the individual who best exemplifies high quality research among the four universities.

Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards recognizes community college faculty who conduct work befitting the community college mission. One System-Wide Award is given to the individual who exemplifies high quality scholarly work or creative activity throughout the 12 community colleges.

Two System-Wide Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards are given to recognize part-time faculty throughout the CSCU system who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers.

The 2020-21 Board of Regents Teaching and Research Award recipients are:

Board of Regents Teaching Award (System-Wide) (Connecticut State Universities)

• Dr. Maya Aloni
  Associate Professor, Psychology
  Western Connecticut State University, Danbury

Board of Regents Teaching Award (Campus-Based) (Connecticut State Universities)

• Dr. Maya Aloni
  Associate Professor, Psychology
  Western Connecticut State University
   
• Dr. Susan DeRosa
  Associate Professor, English
  Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
   
• Dr. Rachel Furey
  Assistant Professor, English
  Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
   
• Dr. Susan Koski
  Associate Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
  Central Connecticut State University

Board of Regents Teaching Award (System-Wide) (Connecticut Community Colleges) 

• Dr. Matthew Dunne
  Associate Professor, Behavioral & Social Sciences
  Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport

Board of Regents Teaching Awards (Campus-Based) (Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Dr. Vandana Basu
  Assistant Professor, Math and Science
  Three Rivers Community College, Norwich 
   
• Dr. Patrick Bryan
  Associate Professor, STEM
  Middlesex Community College, Middletown
   
• Amely Cross
  Associate Professor, STEM
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
   
• Dr. Matthew Dunne
  Associate Professor, Behavioral & Social Sciences
  Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport 
   
• Joshua Hummel
  Associate Professor, Humanities
  Capital Community College, Hartford 
   
• Tatiana Machado
  Associate Professor, Business Administration
  Tunxis Community College, Farmington 
   
• Jessica McLawhon
  Associate Professor, Social Sciences
  Gateway Community College, New Haven

Board of Regents Research Award (System-Wide) (Connecticut State Universities) 

• Dr. Thomas J. Balcerski
  Associate Professor, History
  Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic 

Board of Regents Research Awards (Campus-Based) (Connecticut State Universities)

• Dr. Thomas J. Balcerski
  Associate Professor, History
  Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
   
• Dr. Joshua Cordeira
  Associate Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences
  Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
   
• Dr. Rati Kumar
  Associate Professor, Communication
  Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
   
• Dr. Jason W.  Smith
  Assistant Professor, History
  Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven

Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Award (System-Wide) (Connecticut Community Colleges) 

• Dr. Kobie Stewart
  Assistant Professor, Careers
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield

Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards (Campus-Based)
(Connecticut Community Colleges)

• Dr. Kobie Stewart
  Assistant Professor, Careers
  Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield 
   
• Joyce Voisine
  Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education
  Tunxis Community College, Farmington

Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards (System-Wide)

• Dr. Regina Miller
  Adjunct Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences/Early Childhood Education
  Charter Oak State College
   
• Jessica V. Zolciak
  Adjunct Professor, Biology
  Manchester Community College, Manchester