Faculty Recognition

Our faculty are an important and vital part of all we do. We take great pride in recognizing their achievements in teaching, scholarship, research, creative activity, public service, and mentoring.

Congratulations to our 2026 Finalists for the USM Board of Regents Faculty Awards

  • Ms. Amanda Burnham - Art + Design, Art History, Art Education - Creative Activity
  • Dr. Seth Gitter - Economics - Mentoring 
  • Dr. Kelly Elkins - Chemistry and Forensic Science - Public Service 
  • Dr. Jeff Kukucka - Psychology - Public Service 
  • Dr. Erin Girio-Herrera - Psychology - Teaching 

University System of Maryland Board of Regent鈥檚 Faculty Awards

The Board of Regents' Faculty Awards are the highest honor presented by the Board of Regents to exemplary faculty members within the University System of Maryland (USM). These awards publicly recognize distinguished performance by faculty members in

  • Teaching
  • Scholarship or Research 
  • Creative Activity 
  • Public Service 
  • Mentoring

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation.

Towson University鈥檚 Institutional Faculty Nominating Committee submits its recommendations to university leadership for consideration. Final nominations of outstanding 91影视破解版 faculty whose efforts have fueled exceptional teaching, research, service and innovation were then forwarded to the USM Office of Academic Affairs for final selection.

Timeline for USM BOR Faculty Award

1

Call for Nominations 

  • The Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs sends the official Call for Nominations to USM Presidents (usually around mid-September).
  • The Office of the Provost then notifies Deans and Associate Deans who disseminate information to their colleges.
  • Resources:
    .
    .

2

Internal Application Submission

Faculty must: 
  • Consult with their dean before applying (self-nominations are not allowed).
  • After receiving dean approval, applicants submit the first five pages of the application to , usually the end of September. 
Submit:
  • 1. Summary resume 
  • 2. One-page essay describing contributions to excellence in the chosen category
  • 3. Recommendation letter from the department chair or dean
  • 4. Brief documentation summarizing exemplary achievements in the chosen category. 

The 91影视破解版 Selection Committee (with representatives from each college) reviews these materials to determine which applicants advance.

3

Internal Selection Process 

  • The 91影视破解版 Selection Committee meets to select 91影视破解版's nominees. (First Friday in October)
  • Selected faculty are notified by email with next steps. 
  • Resource: of materials required for the full application.

4

Department Chair and Deans

  • Department Chairs receive a to complete for each selected nominee.
  • Deans are asked to prepare a letter from the President supporting the nominee.

5

Final Application Packets

  • Final application packets (20 pages) are due to the Office of the Provost, usually around early-November (November 6th, 2025).
  • Office of the Provost submits final application packets to the USM, usually around mid-November (November 14, 2025). 

Email final packets to  

6

Award Announcement

  • Award recipients are announced by the USM in the spring.
    Resource: from across USM Institutions. 

 

Past USM BOR Faculty Award Winners 

Mariana Lebron, Ph.D. (2023) - CBE 
Emily Bailey, Ph.D. (2022) - CLA
Karen Day, M.S. (2021) - CHP
Katherine Holman, Ph.D. (2021) - COE
Sidd Kaza, Ph.D. (2018) - FCSM
Pamela Lottero-Perdue, Ph.D. (2018) - FCSM
Karen Fallon, Ph.D. (2017) - CHP
Rommel Miranda, Ed.D. (2016) - FCSM 
Judy Harris, Ph.D. (2014) - CBE

Paz Galupo, Ph.D. (2023) - CLA

Brian Fath, Ph.D. (2022) - FCSM
Joel Moore, Ph.D. (2021) - FCSM
Christoper Salice, Ph.D. (2020) - FCSM 
Vincent Thomas, M.F.A. (2019) - COFAC
Vera Smolyaninova, Ph.D. (2018) - FCSM
Bethany Brand, Ph.D. (2017) - CLA 
Johnathan Lazar, Ph.D. 2017) - FCSM
Wei Yu, Ph.D. (2015) - FCSM 

Amanda Burnham, M.F.A., (2026) - COFAC
Luis Engelke, D.M.A., (2025) - COFAC

Jeff Kukucka, Ph.D. (2026) - CLA
Natalie Scala, Ph.D. (2021) - CBE
Dana Kollman, Ph.D. (2020) - CLA
Clare Muhoro, Ph.D. (2018) - FCSM
Marlene Riley, M.M.S. (2018) - CHP 
Robert Rook, Ph.D. (2017) - CLA 
Jane Wolfson, Ph.D. (2016) - FCSM 
Sarah Haines, Ph.D. (2014) - FCSM

Seth Gitter, Ph.D. (2026) - CBE
Mary Sajini Devadas, Ph.D. (2025) - FCSM
Alexei Kolesnikov, Ph.D. (2025) FCSM
Jennifer Potter, Ph.D. (2024) - COFAC
Min Deng, Ph.D. (2023) - FCSM
Stella Tomasi, Ph.D. (2023) -CBE
Petra Tsuji, Ph.D. (2022) - FCSM
Elizabeth Crusse, D.N.P., M.S, (2021) - CHP
Josh Dehlinger, Ph.D. (2020) - FCSM 
Lisa Martinelli Beasley, M.P.S., ATR-BC (2020) - CLA
Katherine Broadwater, Ph.D. (2017) - COFAC
Iona Ringgold, Ph.D. (2017) - CHP
Matthew R. Hemm, Ph.D. (2016) - FCSM


Articles on Past Winners:


2026
/news/articles/2026/usm-board-of-regents-awards.html

2025 
/news/articles/2025/usm-board-or-regents-faculty-awards.html

2024
/news/2024/board-of-regents-jennifer-potter.html