President Rob Manuel speaks at 2023 Convocation. (Photo by Diane M. Smutny/DePaul University)In recognition of their commitment to DePaul, many faculty and staff will be honored for their extraordinary work at Convocation on Thursday, August 29. Honorees will receive plaques for the following awards: The Via Sapientiae, the Spirit of DePaul Award, the Staff Quality Service Award, the Staff Council Diversity Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Provost’s Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Gerald Paetsch Academic Advising Award and the Spirit of Inquiry Award. The honorees are as follows:
Via Sapientiae
The highest award bestowed by DePaul, the Via Sapientiae award celebrates retired faculty and staff members with at least ten years of service at DePaul and the extraordinary contributions they have made during their time here.
- John Burton, associate professor of history, Department of History
- Jin Choi, professor of economics, Department of Economics
- Susan Lueders, clinical professor, School of Accountancy and MIS
- Kelly Tzoumis, professor of public policy studies, School of Public Service
The Spirit of DePaul Award
This award highlights institutional Vincentian Values and their connection to the achievement of DePaul’s mission. The Division of Mission and Ministry personally honors and recognizes members of DePaul’s community for their leadership and service in this regard.
- Carrie Don, business operations manager, College of Communication
- Valerie Johnson, associate professor, political science, Grace School of Applied Diplomacy, Critical Ethnic Studies, Academic Affairs
- Courtney James, director, Student Involvement
- Jacqueline Kelly-McHale, associate professor, director of music education, associate dean of academic affairs, School of Music
- Jack Magaw, adjunct professor, The Theatre School
- Yesenia Sanchez-Giancola, director, First-Year Academic Success
Staff Quality Service Award
This award recognizes staff whose service to the university reflects the utmost quality and effectiveness. Such honorees have made significant contributions to the university over several years through their exemplary work, dedication and embodiment of DePaul’s mission.
- Sarah Albert, director, Division of Advancement and External Relations
- Kyle Corrigan, senior associate director, Recruitment Marketing and Communications
- Jennifer McClelland, assistant dean of budget administration, Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
- Martha McGivern, director, Study Abroad
- Bridget Wagner, assistant director for instructional technology, Center for Teaching and Learning
Staff Council Diversity Award
This new award recognizes DePaul staff members who have upheld and dedicated themselves to promoting and embracing DePaul’s mission towards equity, diversity and inclusion whether it be through advocating for cultural diversity or civil rights.
- Kristin Lansdown, librarian and inclusion, diversity, equity & accessibility coordinator, University Library
Excellence in Teaching Award
The university’s most important values surround programs of instruction and learning. In support of this mission, the Quality of Instruction Council bestows annual Excellence in Teaching awards to recognize noteworthy teaching achievements and commitments to the university’s academic mission.
- Victoria Agunod, adjunct faculty, Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Program
- Megan Alderden, associate professor, Department of Criminology
- Corinne Benedetto, adjunct faculty, School of Continuing and Professional Studies
- Melissa Riley Bradford, senior professional lecturer, Department of Leadership, Language and Curriculum
- Michael Cadilhac, assistant professor, School of Computing
- Katherine Cooper, assistant professor, College of Communication
- Wendy Epstein, professor, College of Law
- Kirsten Fanning, associate professor, School of Accountancy and MIS
- Gre Gonzales, clinical assistant professor, School of Nursing
- Kyle Grice, professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Don Ingle, professional lecturer, College of Communication
- Caitlin Karver, associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Stephen Koernig, associate professor, Department of Marketing
- Jack Magaw, adjunct faculty, The Theatre School
- Rajit Mazumder, associate professor, Department of History
- Scott Ramsay, adjunct faculty, School of Music
- Liz Joynt Sandberg, assistant professor, The Theatre School
- Ellen Schaal, adjunct faculty, Department of Environmental Science and Studies
- Phillip Stalley, associate professor, Department of Political Science
- Jess Parriss Westbrook, associate professor, School of Design
Provost’s Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Established in 2020, the Provost’s Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion recognizes individual or group faculty members who demonstrate an exceptional dedication to promoting DePaul’s integral values of inclusive, diverse and equitable scholarship, curricula, programming and outreach, community-building and advocacy.
Individual Award- Sydney Dillard, associate professor, Department of Public Relations and Advertising
Group Award- Windsor Aguirre, professor, Department of Biological Sciences
- Gabriela Gonzalez-Aviles, associate professor, Department of Physics and Astrophysics
- Sarah Bockting-Conrad, associate professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Timothy French, associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Jessica Jerome, associate professor, Department of Health Sciences
- Christie Klimas, professor, Department of Environmental Science and Studies
- Cricel Molina de Mesa, teaching associate professor, Department of Health Sciences
- Michele Morgan, senior professional lecturer, Department of Psychology
- Elia Olivares, assistant professor, Speech Language Pathology
- Mark Potosnak, professor, Department of Environmental Science and Studies
- Roxanne Spurlark, assistant professor, School of Nursing
- Wendy Wolbach, professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The Gerald Paetsch Academic Advising Award
The DePaul Academic Advising Network bestows this recognition to academic advisors of the university who demonstrate excellence in advising undergraduate and graduate students.
- Christie Klimas, professor, Department of Environmental Science and Studies
- Jason Majchrzak, assistant director of advising, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- Maggie O'Brien, assistant director of advising, awarded as a Kellstadt Graduate School of Business advisor (now LAS)
- John Rogers, associate professor, School of Computing
Spirit of Inquiry Awards
The University Research Council awards these honors to highlight specific research, scholarly or creative achievements that exhibit dedication to the spirit of creative inquiry which we inspire in our students.
- Nezih Altay, professor, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
- Jess King, professional lecturer, School of Cinematic Arts
- Shiera Malik, associate professor, Department of International Studies
- David Sher, associate professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Roselyne Tchoua, assistant professor, School of Computing
Society of Vincent DePaul Professors
This organization of professors includes those with a distinguished commitment to service projects that support the university’s Vincentian mission.
- Nezih Atlay, professor of management and entrepreneurship, Driehaus College of Business
- Wendy Epstein, professor of law, College of Law
- Li Jin, professor of Chinese studies, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Promotion and Tenure
- Jane Baxter, professor, Department of Anthropology
- Ann Marie Brink, associate professor with tenure, School of Music
- Katherine Brucher, professor, School of Music
- Jason Bystriansky, professor, Department of Biological Sciences
- Chuck Chandler, associate professor with tenure, School of Music
- Jennifer Conary, professor, Department of English
- Shayna Connelly, professor, School of Cinematic Arts
- Katherine Cooper, associate professor with tenure, College of Communication
- Naghmeh Farzaneh, associate professor with tenure, School of Cinematic Arts
- Regina Garcia, tenure, The Theatre School
- Kyle Grice, professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Peter Hastings, professor, School of Computing
- Stephen Haymes, professor, Department of Teacher Education, Kinesiology and Educational Studies
- Max Helveston, professor, College of Law
- Robin Hoecker, associate professor with tenure, College of Communication
- Sara Jones, associate professor with tenure, School of Music
- Christie Klimas, professor, Department of Environmental Science and Studies
- Amor Kohli, professor, Department of African and Black Diaspora Studies
- Hung-Chih Ku, associate professor with tenure, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Julia Lippert associate professor with tenure, Department of Health Sciences
- Jason Martin, professor, College Communication
- Heather Montes-Ireland, associate professor with tenure, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies
- Melissa Ockerman, professor, Department of Counseling and Special Education
- Charles Rubert-Perez, associate professor with tenure, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Cynthia Putnam, professor, School of Computing
- Anuradha Rana, professor, School of Cinematic Arts
- Alexander Rasin, professor, School of Computing
- Joel Reynolds, associate professor with tenure, School of Hospitality and Sports Business
- Brad Riddell, professor, School of Cinematic Arts
- Anuj Sarma, professor, Department of Physics and Astrophysics
- Dan Schober, associate professor with tenure, Department of Health Sciences
- Matthew Stern, associate professor with tenure, School of Accountancy and MIS
- Carolina Sternberg, professor, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies
- Allison Tirres, professor, College of Law
- Lien Tran, associate professor with tenure, School of Design
- Michaela Winchatz, professor, College of Communication