Download photos from this year’s Spring Sciences Celebration on the College of Sciences’ Flickr.
The College of Sciences hosted its Spring Sciences Celebration at Tech Harrison Square this week to recognize outstanding faculty and staff for the 2024-25 academic year. Four recent retirees were also among those honored during the annual event.
“Spring Sciences is one of my favorite traditions at the College, a special moment to celebrate and thank exemplary members of our community,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “While all our faculty and staff do incredible work every day, these honorees have gone above and beyond in their service and dedication to our mission.”
The 2025 awards and honorees are:
Faculty Development Awards
The Cullen-Peck Scholar Awards were established by Frank Cullen (Math 1973, M.S. ISyE 1976, Ph.D. ISyE 1984) and Elizabeth Peck (Math 1975, M.S. ISyE 1976) to encourage the development of especially promising mid-career faculty.
- Vinayak Agarwal, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Alex Blumenthal, Mathematics
- Wing ‘Winnie’ Chu, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
The Gretzinger Moving the School Forward Award, endowed by Ralph Gretzinger (Math 1970) and named to honor his late wife Jewel, recognizes the leadership of a school chair or senior faculty member who has played a pivotal role in advancing equal opportunity in the composition of tenure-track faculty, fostering a family-friendly work environment, and providing a supportive environment for early-career faculty.
- Tansu Celikel, Psychology
The Eric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching, endowed by Charles Crawford (Math 1971), recognizes exemplary teaching in foundational undergraduate courses.
- Emily Alicea-Munoz, Physics
The Leddy Family Dean’s Faculty Excellence Award was established by Jeff Leddy (Physics 1978) and Pam Leddy to support a faculty member at the associate professor level with proven accomplishments in research and teaching.
- James Wray, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
The CoS Faculty Mentor Awards, established jointly by the College of Sciences and its ADVANCE Professor, honors the efforts and achievements of faculty members engaged in mentoring fellow faculty.
- Randall ‘Randy’ Engle, Psychology
- Teresa Snow, Biological Sciences
- Hui Zhu, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Faculty Research Awards
The CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award and CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award recognize postdoctoral and non-tenure track research faculty who have made exceptional research contributions with significant impact on their field of study.
CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award
- Sarah Orr, Biological Sciences
CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award
- Matthew Liska, Physics
The CoS Research Faculty Community Trailblazer Award recognizes postdoctoral and non-tenure track research faculty who have demonstrated and sustained leadership that strengthens the sense of community among research faculty within the College.
- Avery Davis Bell, Biological Sciences
Staff Awards
The College of Sciences Staff Awards are made possible by funding from the Betsy Middleton and John Sutherland Dean’s Chair endowment.
The Leadership in Action Award is presented to a staff member who has made exceptional contributions to the College through innovative and strategic leadership, change management, business process improvement, special project leadership, and similar accomplishments.
- Arian Padron, Academic and Research Computing Services
The Exceptional Staff Award and Friend of the Sciences Award recognize and celebrate performance above and beyond the call of duty. The awardees demonstrate high levels of execution in their primary job duties, auxiliary roles, and citizenship — positively impacting the strategic goals of their department and the College.
Exceptional Staff Award
- Dexter Dean, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Friend of the Sciences Award
- Kay May, Office of Faculty Affairs
The Rising Star Award honors a newer staff member who has made a significant impact during their short tenure by contributing to the strategic goals and initiatives of the College, showing passion for their work, and embracing the Institute’s culture and values.
- Nadia Moore, Academic and Research Computing Services
2025 Retirees
- Ellery Ingall, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- James “Jim” Sowell, Physics
- Kurt Wiesenfeld, Physics
- Z. John Zhang, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Related Media
Spring Sciences Celebration Honorees
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Writer: Lindsay C. Vidal
