By Brittany Lesar
Each year, the College of Liberal Arts recognizes faculty and staff in a variety of arenas. Due to stay-at-home orders because of the COVID19 global pandemic, we were unable to recognize and celebrate our recipients in person. This doesn’t diminish the impact or importance of their work and their achievements.
University Awards
Each year, Colorado State University celebrates the teaching, research and service achievements of CSU students, alumni and friends, academic faculty, administrative professionals and classified staff as part of the Celebrate! Colorado State Awards. Below are the College of Liberal Arts faculty and staff who were recognized in 2020.
For the full list of Celebrate! award winners, visit SOURCE.
University Distinguished Professor
Camille Dungy
Department of English
Camille Dungy has been named a University Distinguished Professor, Colorado State University’s highest honor. In addition to winning a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2019 and participating in the 1619 Project, a multidisciplinary initiative marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery, Dungy has received numerous honors. In 2018, she was the only person to be nominated for the Colorado Book Award in two categories, winning in poetry for Trophic Cascade. She also won a 2018 National Endowment for the Arts Award in prose for her debut collection of essays, Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History, which was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Monfort Professor
Thomas R. Dunn
Department of Communication Studies
Thomas R. Dunn, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, has been named a Monfort Professor, one of Colorado State University’s highest honors.
A leading scholar in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer activism and memory, Dunn also has primary responsibility for training and mentoring all of the department’s graduate teaching assistants in the art of public speaking. Dunn has supervised and worked with 94 GTAs to teach more than 13,000 undergraduate students over the past eight years. He also serves as Master Teacher Initiative coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts, in conjunction with The Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Margaret B. Hazaleus Award
Dr. María del Mar López-Cabrales
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Dr. Mica Glantz
Department of Anthropology and Geography
Multicultural Staff and Faculty Network Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Ricki Ginsberg
Department of English
Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Eric Aoki
Department of Communication Studies
Jack E. Cermak Outstanding Advisor Award
Ms. Ella Bowers
CLA Academic Support Center
Classified Personnel Council Outstanding Achievement Award
Ms. Elizabeth Sorensen
Department of Art and Art History
Exceptional Achievement in Service Learning Award
Dr. Blythe LaGasse and Dr. Lindsey Wilhelm
School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Dr. David Riep
Department of Art and Art History
Best Teacher Award
This award, sponsored by the Alumni Association, recognizes the University’s best teachers as nominated by students and alumni.
KuoRay Mao
Department of Sociology
Dr. KuoRay Mao is an assistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts. A native of Taiwan, Mao moved to the United States when he was 17 and, thanks to encouragement and support from undergraduate professors in California, he decided to become a researcher and teacher. He has won numerous honors for his research, especially for projects in China. He is an official consultant of Green Camel Bell, a grassroots environmental organization in the Gansu province helping residents deal with destructive environmental practices. He received the 2016 Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award from the Western Social Sciences Association and the Best Journal Article Award from the American Society of Criminology Division on Critical Criminology and Social Justice in 2019.
Andrea Rice Purdy
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Dr. Andrea Rice Purdy is an associate professor of Spanish and has been on faculty at CSU for 20 years. Encouraged by her mother to pursue a career in teaching, the Mexico native reluctantly walked into her first classroom-teaching experience while pursuing her master’s degree – and was immediately hooked. She teaches several Spanish courses, specializing in reading and writing skills, as well as translation and interpretation. Her background was instrumental in helping to establish a semester-long education abroad program at the CSU Todos Santos Center in Baja California Sur, Mexico, that gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Mexican culture. She has also been involved with the Rams Without Borders program, working on water projects with students in El Salvador.
College of Liberal Arts Awards
The following awards recognize the achievements of College of Liberal Arts faculty and staff.
Ann Gill Faculty Development Award
The Ann Gill Faculty Development Award is funded by generous donors to the College of Liberal Arts through the College’s Great Conversations program. This supports annual awards for outstanding research and creative activity by tenured and tenure-track faculty in the College.
Katherine Browne
Department of Anthropology & Geography
Dr. Browne received this award for her project titled, “Infographics as Social Arguments about Disaster,” which will focus on generating infographics based on her previous research with survivors of Hurricane Harvey.
Erik Johnson
School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Dr. Johnson’s award will be used to fund case studies on his current research, focusing on understanding the factors that influence career choice and commitment to teaching.
Jeffrey Nowacki
Department of Sociology
Dr. Nowacki’s project titled “De-escalation and Situational Outcomes Among Policewomen” will further his research of police-citizen interaction and the ability for policewomen to de-escalate potentially violent situations.
Elizabeth Parks
Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Park’s received this award for her project, “Listening Across Difference,” which seeks to understand how listening practices emphasizing diversity and difference can contribute to both individual and community well-being.
Dimitris Stevis
Department of Political Science
Dr. Stevis’ will utilize this award to fund his research project titled, “Just Transitions: Trajectory and Promise.” This project involves two manuscripts that will study Just Transition policies from the angle of unions.
Cyane Tornatzky
Department of Art & Art History
Dr. Tornatzky is using this award toward the publication of her book “Virtual Realities: Artistic Approaches to XR,” which addresses the history and current practices of virtual reality and XR technologies in artists’ practices.
Carl A. Bimson Humanities Seminar
A bequest from Mr. Bimson’s estate provides funding for an ongoing series of humanities seminars. Mr. Bimson envisioned seminars that would bring primary and secondary teachers to CSU’s campus to engage in advanced study of various topics of humanistic learning, facilitated by CLA faculty. In the liberal arts tradition, the College has extended the meaning of “humanities” to encompass the performing and creative arts, humanities, and social science disciplines.
Cyane Tornatzky, Mark Dineen, Patrick Fahey, and Guest Artist Aaron Jones
Department of Art & Art History
This seminar will focus on providing K-12 teachers methodologies on crafting innovative spaces through projects that blend landscape architecture, community development, architecture, and urban design.
Outstanding Engaged Scholarship Award
The Outstanding Engaged Scholarship Award is presented in recognition of a member of the College who has shown an exemplary commitment to engaged scholarship.
Martín Carcasson
Department of Communication Studies
According to his nomination, Dr. Carcasson “represents the epitome of the engaged scholar at a modern land-grant university” as his work “clearly brings together research, teaching, and service in seamless and synergic ways that directly impact the local community.”
Distinction in Curricular Innovation Award
This award is presented in recognition of a member of the College faculty who has made outstanding contributions to curricular innovation in the College. Curricular innovation may include, but is not limited to, such areas as program development, instructional methods, service learning, and technology integration.
Deanne Seitz
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Ms. Seitz is credited with designing and proposing the brand new interdisciplinary minor in American Sign Language. Her nominator notes that her “creativity, passion, and perseverance are truly exemplary, as is the innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum she has developed.”
Excellence in Teaching Awards
The CLA Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize one outstanding teacher in each of the following four categories: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Tenure-track Faculty, and Associate Professor. Full professors, who are eligible for the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award, are not eligible for this award.
Hailey Otis, Graduate Teaching Assistant Category
Department of Communication Studies
Hailey’s nomination detailed her accomplishments as a graduate student, noting particularly, “She is committed to teaching and learning which, for her, includes fostering inclusive learning environments, adapting to contemporary demands through innovative pedagogy, and shaping the culture of graduate student teaching throughout CSU’s campus through the TILT Graduate Teaching Certificate Program.”
Kevin Foskin, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Category
Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Program
Of Dr. Foskin’s teaching, one student writes, “By the end of the semester, not only did I complete a final paper that sparked more ambition and personal interest in me than nearly any college paper has, but I really felt like I could look at the world with fresh perspective. This might be the highest academic success and compliment to a professor I can think of.”
Lynn Badia, Tenure-Track Faculty Category
Department of English
Students in Dr. Badia’s classes have consistently offered positive comments. One student said, “Dr. Badia is one of the smartest, kindest professors I have ever had at CSU. It is clear that she cares deeply about both subject matter and her students.”
Gamze Çavdar, Tenured Faculty Category
Department of Political Science
Dr. Çavdar’s nominator writes, “Gamze is truly committed to a vibrant and caring learning environment in which students are asked to creatively and critically engage in the most important issues in politics and society.”
John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award
This award is presented annually by the College of Liberal Arts to honor faculty who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in all aspects of their professional responsibilities over an extended period of time. The awards are given in the name of John N. Stern, who has endowed the award as part of his donations to the College.
María del Mar López-Cabrales
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Along with Professor López-Cabrales’ twenty-three years of service at CSU, her nomination also highlights her “dedication to create an intellectual atmosphere of equality, discussion, and creativity” for her students. Her scholarly work has been recognized in the United States and across the world, and she continues to remain innovative through her creation of new courses and an experimental program.
Outstanding Service Award
This award recognizes a member of the College who has made outstanding service contributions to a CLA department, the College, University, profession, and/or community.
Denise Apodaca
School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Ms. Apodaca is not only recognized in her nomination for her positivity, but her exemplary service is also noted. “She not only contributes to service in unique and sustained ways, she brings joy to those she works with…Denise’s service spans her department, the College and the University, and encompasses work within her discipline,” her nominator explains.
Louann Reid
Department of English
As Chair of the English Department, Professor Reid “has given even more of herself in promoting the wellbeing of Colorado State University, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of English” her nomination states. Likewise, her nominator commends her ability to make the exceptionally large English Department “remarkably inclusive and welcoming” as well as her prioritization for the wellbeing of students.
Distinction in Outreach Award
This award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding outreach efforts as a member of the College. Outreach is integrated scholarship which engages the College’s academic missions of research, creativity, teaching, and service outside the University. The recipients strengthen relationships and collaborative efforts for the College of Liberal Arts by enhancing its image, sharing their talent, and creating and sustaining substantive and valuable connections among the College’s many constituencies.
Thomas Cauvin
Department of History
Dr. Cauvin is recognized for the interdisciplinary approach he uses in his courses as well as how he encourages students to engage with historical projects within the larger Fort Collins community. His collaborations with institutions such as the Berthoud Historical Society and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery “contribute to making the Department and College very active members of local and regional communities,” his nominators describe.
Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award
The College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award honors faculty who contribute to an engaging, supportive, inclusive academic environment through their mentorship of students.
Allison White
Department of Political Science and International Studies Program
Dr. White’s commitment to her undergraduate students is clearly demonstrated in her letter of nomination, which states that she “spearheaded an innovative and ambitious mentorship program for International Studies majors.” She has done this through connecting students in “academic families” and providing a “positive, nurturing community within the major.”
State Classified Award
The College of Liberal Arts State Classified Award recognizes meritorious and outstanding achievement in job skills and/or service to the College by State Classified employees. This may include excellent job skills and workplace achievements that are above what is normally expected.
Kathleen Chynoweth
Department of Art and Art History
Kathleen is recognized for her “warmth, good humor, conscientiousness, punctuality, and general can-do spirit.” Likewise, her nomination describes her ability to support students, especially graduate students, in a kind manner, as well as her “exceptional work…creating an atmosphere of trust and support.”
Administrative Professional Award
The College of Liberal Arts Administrative Professional Award recognizes meritorious and outstanding achievement in job skills and/or service to the college by Administrative Professional employees. This may include excellent job skills and workplace achievements above what is normally expected.
Tonya Malik-Carson
College of Liberal Arts, Office of Development
Tonya’s nomination speaks to her leadership ability, fundraising and relationship building skills, as well as her commitment to the College and University. The nominator writes, “Tonya works hard to ensure that her team is supported in their work, is able to grow their knowledge and skill set, and is working collaboratively across the College.” In addition, she has “secured some very meaningful and impactful gifts…which have yielded the largest fundraising year in the College’s history.”
School of Global Environmental Sustainability
CLA would also like to recognize two individuals who have become part of a research initiative in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Dr. Anders Fremstad (Economics) will be serving on a Global Research Team and Dr. Johnny Plastini (Art and Art History) has been named a Resident Fellow. You can read more about these accomplishments here.
Giving
The College of Liberal Arts recognizes the outstanding number of gifts and donors to College programs, scholarships, and university-wide funds such as Rams Against Hunger and Ram Aid. This year alone, 305 CSU faculty, staff, and retired/emeriti individuals have donated more than nine million dollars for the College this year.
In addition, throughout the University’s 2020 State Your Purpose campaign, 864 CLA faculty, staff, and retired/emeriti individuals have raised over 17.8 million dollars. To all of the faculty, staff, and retired/emeriti members of our community, we express our sincerest gratitude for your amazing contributions to the College and University.
