For the 31st year, outstanding faculty members were recognized at the 2016 King/Haggar Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Ruth May, Ph.D., professor in the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business, was named the 2016 King Fellow, and Matthew D. Walz, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy and director of philosophy and letters and pre-theologian programs, was named the 2016 Haggar Fellow.

The King Fellow Award goes to a faculty member who has taught in a full-time capacity for more than eight years. The recipient of what is considered to be the highest faculty honor must have also made a significant contribution to the university through scholarly work, excellence in teaching and as an exemplary colleague.

2016 King Fellow Ruth May teaches courses in global business, management policy and practice, options and futures trading, and securities analysis. She regularly addresses such diverse issues as international business and global strategies in Russia, India, China and the United Kingdom; designs award-winning pedagogy and best practices in online teaching; and tackles diversity issues at work in a book titled “Bridging Diversity Barriers: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.”

“Ruth May is known as a tough but fair teacher and is consistently seen as one of the best teachers by students in the college of business,” said Provost C.W. Eaker.

The Michael A. Haggar Fellow Award is given to an outstanding junior faculty member who has served the university full-time for no more than eight years.

2016 Haggar Fellow Matthew Walz has published articles ranging over Anselm, Aquinas, Aristotle, Augustine, Boethius and Bonaventure, as well as a translation of the “Proslogion” by Anselm of Canterbury. Each year, he advises between 50 and 60 students in the philosophy and letters program, which provides the intellectual formation for young men preparing for the Catholic priesthood.  

“He is a gifted teacher, devoted to liberal learning,” said Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Senate Chair William A. Frank.

Haggerty Teaching Excellence Awards

Votes of students and alumni determined the recipients of the 2016 Haggerty Teaching Excellence Awards, which recognize faculty for dedication and excellence in teaching:

• Assistant Professor of Business Fernando Arellano, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Politics Daniel Burns, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of History Susan Hanssen, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor and Chair of History Charles Sullivan, Ph.D.
• Professor of English Gerard Wegemer, Ph.D.

King/Haggar Scholar Awards

This year, 15 King/Haggar Scholars received funding to support research and scholarly development:

• Assistant Professor of Spanish Amy Borja, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of Politics Jonathan Culp, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Classics Teresa Danze, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of History Susan Hanssen, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of English Theresa Kenney, Ph.D.
• Professor of Psychology Robert Kugelmann, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of French Jason Lewallen, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of Politics Tiffany Miller, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of English Andrew Moran, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Education Carmen Newstreet, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Philosophy Cynthia Nielsen, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of Drama Stefan Novinksi, M.F.A.
• Assistant Professor of History Mark Petersen, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Biology Nicole Phillips, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of Art Phillip Shore, M.F.A.

2014-15 Sabbatical Awards

Sabbatical leaves were granted to the following full-time, tenure-track faculty members to pursue their work on various projects:

• Professor and Chair of Theology Mark Goodwin, Ph.D.
• Professor of HIstory Tom Jodziewicz, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor and Chair of Drama and Director of University Theater  Kyle Lemieux, M.F.A.
• Associate Professor of Politics and Graduate Program Director Tiffany Miller, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor and Chair of Mathematics John Osoinach, Ph.D.
• Professor and Chair of Philosophy Philipp Rosemann, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor of English and President of Eta Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa, Bernadette Waterman Ward, Ph.D.