Skip to main content

President and Provost Faculty Awards

The President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

The President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity recognizes the achievements of senior faculty members. To qualify, one must be a current (not emeritus) associate professor or full professor. The selection committee will consider the nominees' research and creative activities throughout their careers, with a special emphasis on accomplishments while a CMU faculty member. No faculty member can receive this award more than once (a list of previous recipients can be found below).

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity recognizes the achievements of less experienced faculty members. To qualify, one must be a current assistant professor.  Although the nominee’s research and creative achievements prior to coming to CMU will be considered in the selection process, emphasis will be placed on accomplishments while a CMU faculty member.  No faculty member can receive this award more than once (a list of previous recipients can be found listed below the previous President's Award recipients below).

Selection and nomination process

The selection process begins during the fall semester.  Nominations are solicited from all sectors of the CMU community. Self-nominations are NOT permitted.

To nominate a faculty member, submit a signed letter (2 pages maximum), as one PDF, via email to Amy Courter at court1al@cmich.edu with the following information:

  1. Who is being nominated, including their department (bold font)
  2. Whether you are nominating the individual for the President’s or Provost’s award (bold font)
  3. A justification explaining why the individual should be selected for the award
  4. Your department and contact information, in case the selection committee has questions

Submit the nomination letter and return it to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, no later than Friday, Nov. 1st.  

Barring exceptional circumstances, there will be two recipients of each award.  Each award winner will receive an inscribed award, be added to the list on the permanent plaque in the Park Library, and will receive $5,000 for professional development.

The recipients of the awards will be selected by a committee, chaired by the Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation. Committee members represent the FRCE Committee, the Senate Executive Board, and the Office of Institutional Diversity. In addition, the Academic Senate elects a representative from each of the seven academic colleges. Members of the selection committee are not eligible for nomination for the awards.

President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity winners

    2023-2024
    Alice Tait - Journalism
    David Zanatta - Biology

    2022-2023
    Jennifer Schisa – Biology
    Kirsten M. Weber – Communication

    2021-2022
    Will Anderson – Broadcast and Cinematic Arts
    Thomas M. Gehring – Biology

    2020-2021
    En-Bing Lin – Mathematics
    Tanya Domina - Fashion Merchandising and Design

    2019-2020
    Bradley Swanson – Biology
    Jason Taylor – Economics


    2018-2019
    Ute Hochgeschwender- College of Medicine
    Guy Newland- Philosophy and Religion

    2017-2018
    Adam Epstein- Finance and Law
    Anna Monfils- Biology

    2016-2017
    Veronica Barone– Physics
    Joanne Dannenhoffer– Biology
    Michael Pisani– Management

    2015-2016
    Solomon Addis Getahun– History
    Juan Peralta– Physics

    2014-2015
    Rachel Caspari- Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
    Marco Fornari– Physics
    Sivaram Narayan– Mathematics

    2013-2014
    Larissa Niec– Psychology
    Thomas Weirich– Accounting

    2012-2013
    Donald Uzarski– Biology
    Jeffrey Weinstock- English Language and Literature

    2011-2012
    Koblar Alan Jackson– Physics
    Michael Papa- Communication and Dramatic Arts

    2010-2011
    Gary Dunbar– Psychology
    Mihai Horoi– Physics

    2009-2010
    Bryan Gibson– Psychology

    2008-2009
    Kathleen Counter Benison – Geography
    Timothy S. Hartshorne– Psychology


    2007-2008
    Brigitte Bechtold - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
    Valeri Petkov – Physics

    2006-2007
    Claudia Douglass – Biology
    Alexandra Mascolo-David – Music

    2005-2006
    Yury Ionin – Mathematics
    Carl Lee – Mathematics

    2004-2005
    Felix Famoye - Mathematics
    Peter Orlik - Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

    2003-2004
    Harry Mika - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
    John Wright - Philosophy and Religion

    2002-2003
    Carl Johnson - Psychology
    Ronnie Apter – English

    2001-2002
    Leonard Leiberman - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
    Debra Poole – Psychology

    2000-2001
    Eric Johnson - History
    Mohan Shrikhande – Mathematics

    1999-2000
    Thomas Benjamin - History
    Bobby Howell – Chemistry

    1998-1999
    Reed Wicander - Geology
    Robert Hohner – Music

    1997-1998
    David Gillingham – Music
    Robert Stecker – Philosophy

    1996-1997
    Terry Beehr - Psychology
    William Browne - Political Science

    1995-1996
    Daniel Wujek - Biology
    Karen Mohr Chavez - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

    Provost's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity winners

      2023-2024
      Jack Day - Human Development & Family Studies
      Samantha L. Hahn - College of Medicine

      2022-2023
      Chanseok Jeong - Engineering and Technology
      Heather Trommer Beardslee - Theatre and Dance

      2021-2022
      Michael J. Conway - College of Medicine
      Trevor Diehl - Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

      2020-2021
      James Gerhart – Psychology
      Abu Amin - Finance and Law

      2019-2020
      John Allen - Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
      Sarah Domoff - Psychology


      2018-2019
      Julien Rossignol - College of Medicine
      Alicia Valoti – Music

      2017-2018
      Xantha Karp – Biology
      Spenser Robinson - Entrepreneurship/Finance and Law

      2016-2017
      Kelly Murphy - Philosophy and Religion
      Linlin Zhao - Chemistry and Biochemistry

      2015-2016
      Prakash Adhikari - Political Science and Public Administration
      Benjamin Swarts - Chemistry and Biochemistry

      2014-2015
      Kevin Pangle - Biology
      Justin Smith - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

      2013-2014
      Crina Tarasi - Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration

      2012-2013
      Rebecca Hayes - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
      Andrew Mahon - Biology
      Zachary Williams - Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration

      2010-2011
      Troy Hicks - Teacher Education and Professional Development
      David Zanatta – Biology

      2009-2010
      Dawn Decker - Counseling and Special Education
      Christopher Tycner – Physics

      2008-2009
      Moataz Fattah - Political Science
      Juan Peralta - Physics

      2007-2008
      Soloman Addis Getahun – History

      2006-2007
      Pamela Eddy - Educational Leadership
      Bradley Swanson – Biology

      2005-2006
      Minghui Chai – Chemistry
      Thomas Gehring – Biology
      Jeffrey Weinstock – English

      2004-2005
      Brad Fahlman – Chemistry
      Michael Pisani – Management

      2003-2004
      Matthew Burns - Counseling and Special Education
      Yongil Jeon – Economics

      2002-2003
      Katherine Brown Rosier - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
      Carmen White - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

      2001-2002
      Marcy Taylor – English
      Robert Noggle - Philosophy and Religion

      2000-2001
      Kathleen Benison - Geology
      Orlando Perez - Political Science
      Alexandra Mascolo-David – Music

      1999-2000
      Joel Fetzer - Political Science
      Bin Li – Geography

      1998-1999
      Joy B. Doran – Biology
      Elizabeth A. Meadows – Psychology

      1997-1998
      Kristina English - Communication Disorders
      David Kinney - Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

      1996-1997
      Gail Scukanec - Communication Disorders
      Philip Squattrito – Chemistry

      1995-1996
      Eric Johnson – Geography
      Koblar Alan Jackson - Physics