Faculty to be honored Wednesday at excellence exhibition

Eleven Central Michigan University faculty members will be honored Wednesday at the Faculty Excellence Exhibition.

The exhibition will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Park Library auditorium. The President’s and Provost’s Awards for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity, Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty Distinguished Service Award and the Lorrie Ryan Memorial Teaching Award will be given out.

The Provost’s Award, designed for peers to select less experienced faculty who have excelled in their field, will be awarded to  Assistant Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Rebecca Hayes, Assistant Professor of Biology Andrew Mahon, and Assistant Professor of Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration Zachary Williams.

Williams said he was shocked and humbled upon hearing that he was a recipient of the award.

“Honestly, I thought it was someone pranking me,” he said. “I know there are some phenomenal researchers here at CMU, so I really did not think I had a good chance.”

Williams’ research focuses on buyer and seller relationships, employee hiring and retention and sustainability efforts. According to a news release about the awards, he has received nine research awards for his efforts.

Hayes, who has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her published work concerning sexual violence among college students, said helping people succeed is what makes her career so rewarding.

“Every time one of my students gets into graduate school, I am proud,” she said. “Every time anyone I have contact with in my career perseveres, accomplishes, or finds their passion and I have had any small part in that, I am proud.”

The President’s Award was created for peers to select senior faculty members for scholarship of national and international merit. This year’s recipients are Associate Professor of Biology Donald Uzarski and Professor of English Jeffery Weinstock.

Uzarski said via email he was honored upon receiving the news that he was a recipient of the award. He has been a principal investigator on 15 funded external grants, which total $11.7 million.

Professor of Finance and Law John Mitchell is the recipient of the Faculty Distinguished Service Award, which was created in 2002 to acknowledge faculty who have a record of sustained and distinguished service.

“My service to CMU is mostly in assessment of learning,” Mitchell said. “My community service is the work I do for habitat conservation in the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy.”

Mitchell has a strong passion for teaching and plans to continue his work in the classroom for years to come.

“I’d like to do what I am doing for about 150 more years,” he said.

The Lorrie Ryan Memorial Excellence in Teaching Award is given each year to a faculty member who inspires students through their commitment to community service and demonstrates a profound mentorship and respect for others.

The recipient of the award this year is Assistant Professor of Journalism Elina Erzikova, who is also the recipient of an Excellence in Teaching Award for her efforts in the classroom regarding public relations.

The Excellence in Teaching Award is given to those faculty who exceed their normal roles and expectations.

Erzikova, Chemistry Instructor Kathy Blystone, Assistant Professor of Human Environmental Studies Chris Latty, Professor of Psychology Debra Poole and Instructor of Health Sciences Leslie Wallace are this year’s recipients.

Wallace, who is praised in the release for her open-door policy that “provides an outlet for students to receive advice and help on academics and real-life situations,” said she is honored to receive the award.

“I was extremely honored to know that my students thought I was deserving of such an award,” she said.

This is Blystone’s second time receiving the award.

“I would like to thank that person (who nominated me) personally and take them out to lunch, so call me,” she said.