Board of Regents Names 2021-22 Faculty Award Recipients
CSCU Faculty Recognized for Excellence in Teaching and Research
The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) — which governs the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system — today named 17 CSCU faculty members as recipients of the annual 2021–22 Board of Regents Faculty Awards.
The awards— both campus-based and system-wide — recognize faculty for excellence in teaching or research and are given to adjunct faculty members and assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions. These faculty have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers who promote instructional improvements for their departments, or who are doing research, scholarly, and/or creative work that informs what they do in the classroom.
Campus-based award categories include teaching, research, and scholarly excellence. Individual faculty in each campus-based award category may also be recognized with system-wide awards in teaching, research, and scholarly excellence.
Adjunct faculty are recognized by two system-level awards, one for community college faculty, the other for university and Charter Oak State College faculty.
“CSCU faculty have gone above and beyond to serve our students over the past two years,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said. “In particular, the 16 award recipients recognized by the BOR today have been exceptional educators, researchers, and scholars. Our colleges and universities are better places to learn because of their work, and I congratulate each recipient on this well-deserved recognition.”
“It is a pleasure to honor these outstanding faculty award recipients and recognize their outstanding scholarly work and contributions to student success throughout the CSCU system,” said Dr. Kenneth Klucznik, CSCU interim provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs. “Our CSCU faculty are committed to their institutions, and their dedication to teaching, state-of-the-art research and mentoring have a profound impact on our students and entire CSCU community.”
"The caliber of the teaching and research award winners throughout the CSCU system is inspiring, as these dedicated faulty members bring out the best in CSCU students and make significant contributions to their academic disciplines and institutions,” said Regent Ira Bloom, who chairs the BOR’s Academic and Student Affairs committee. “These awards provide a means of recognizing the work of outstanding faculty, as they continue to focus on student success.”
Board of Regents Teaching Awards are presented to faculty from each of the four state universities and 12 community colleges. Two system-wide teaching awards (one from the four universities and one from the 12 community colleges) are given to faculty who best exemplify high quality teaching.
Board of Regents Research Awards are presented to faculty among Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities. One system-wide research award is given to the individual who best exemplifies high quality research among the four universities.
Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards recognize community college faculty who conduct work befitting the community college mission. One system-wide award is given to the individual who exemplifies high quality scholarly work or exemplary creative activity throughout the 12 community colleges.
Two system-wide Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards are given to recognize part-time faculty throughout the CSCU system who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers.
The 2021-22 Board of Regents award recipients:
System-wide Board of Regents Teaching Award
(Connecticut State Universities)
- Ms. Sabrina Marques
Associate Professor, Art
Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Award (Connecticut State Universities)
- Ms. Sabrina Marques
Associate Professor, Art
Western Connecticut State University, Danbury - Dr. Heather Rodriguez
Associate Professor, Sociology
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain - Dr. Jason W. Smith
Associate Professor, History
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven - Dr. Nicholas Smith
Assistant Professor Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, and Social Work
Eastern Connecticut State University
System-Wide Board of Regents Teaching Award (Connecticut Community Colleges)
- Dr. Nikki McGary
Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Awards (Connecticut Community Colleges)
- Ms. Rachel Cain
Associate Professor, Math and Science
Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport - Ms. Teuta Dalip
Associate Professor, Mathematics
Norwalk Community College, Norwalk - Dr. Heather D’Orlando
Associate Professor, Psychology
Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield - Dr. Nikki McGary
Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury - Ms. Kelly O’Brien Mann
Associate Professor, Psychology and Social Science
Tunxis Community College, Farmington - Ms. Norma Rosado-Javier
Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education
Middlesex Community College, Middletown
System-wide Board of Regents Research Award (Connecticut State Universities)
- Dr. Ivan Small
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
Campus-based Board of Regents Research Awards (Connecticut State Universities)
- Dr. Stephen Axon
Assistant Professor, Environment, Geology and Marine Sciences
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven - Dr. Ivan Small
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
System-wide Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Award (Connecticut Community Colleges)
- Mrs. MaryBeth Rajczewski
Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
Campus-based Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards (Connecticut Community Colleges)
- Dr. Todd Barry
Associate Professor, English
Three Rivers Community College, Norwich - Mr. Alva Hanson, Jr.
Instructor, English and Humanities
Tunxis Community College, Farmington - Mrs. MaryBeth Rajczewski
Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
System-wide Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards
- Yumi McCarthy
Humanities
Norwalk Community College, Norwalk - Lisa Rioux
Nursing
Charter Oak State College
System-wide Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award Nominees
- Adam Bernard
Art
Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield - William Cone
Theater
Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury - Kelly Falvey
History
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven - Angela Lauretano
Biology, Chemistry, Allied Health & Medical
Tunxis Community College, Farmington - Yumi McCarthy
Humanities
Norwalk Community College, Norwalk - Lisa Rioux
Nursing
Charter Oak State College