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Faculty Awards for AS&E
This year's honors were given out on May 14
Faculty and staff members from the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering were honored with awards for their teaching, scholarship and service to the university community at the final faculty meeting of the year, on May 14. Among those receiving awards were:
The Faculty Research Awards Committee Distinguished Scholar Award. This award is given for research and scholarship during the past five years.
Ina Baghdiantz McCabe, the Darakjian Jafarian Professor of Armenian History. Her latest publication is Orientalism in Early Modern France: Eurasian Trade, Exoticism, and the Ancien Régime (Berg, 2008).
George Smith, professor of philosophy. With a background in the engineering of aircraft and jet engines, Smith specializes in the philosophy of science, engineering and medicine. He is one of the leading scholars on the work of Isaac Newton.
The Henry and Madeline Fischer Award. For Engineering Teacher of the Year, as judged by graduating seniors of the School of Engineering.
Brian Brenner, professor of practice in the department of civil and environmental engineering.
The Gerald R. Gill Distinguished Service Award. Presented every other year to honor faculty or staff whose achievements exemplify a commitment to enriching the lives of all in the Tufts community. The award recognizes "an effort to create a collegiate environment where the contributions of people of African descent are not only recognized, but also celebrated."
Denise Phillips, interim director, Africana Center. In addition to her wide-ranging work for many years at the Africana Center, Phillips was a dear friend and colleague of the late Gerald R. Gill, professor of history, for whom the award is named. Phillips coordinated the university's several memorial events for Gill, who passed away last summer.
Lillian & Joseph Leibner Award. Given each year to a faculty member recommended by faculty colleagues and students in acknowledgment of outstanding teaching and advising of students. The award rotates annually among four different areas: arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.
Diane Souvaine, professor of computer science. Souvaine has been chair of computer science since it was established as an independent department in 2002.
Lerman-Neubauer Prize. Awarded annually to a faculty member judged by graduating seniors as having had a profound impact on them intellectually in and out of the classroom. As part of a new Tufts tradition, the recipient will deliver the Lerman-Neubauer Lecture next year.
Calvin "Chip" Gidney, associate professor of child development. At the faculty meeting, A&S Dean Robert Sternberg read aloud from several glowing student reviews of Gidney, including one that offered this: "I don't know who reads these things, but if you're in the payroll department, give this man a raise!"
The Arts & Sciences Faculty/Staff Multicultural Service Award. Given to Arts & Sciences faculty or staff who have made significant efforts to define Tufts as a multicultural environment.
Jean Herbert, associate dean of undergraduate education and director of the Resumed Education for Adult Learners (REAL) program.
Keith Maddox, associate professor of psychology, and Sam Sommers, assistant professor of psychology, who have worked collaboratively to help educate the campus community about the psychological dimensions of stereotyping, perception and bias.
The Seymour Simches Award for Distinguished Teaching and Advising. Presented to a senior member of the Arts, Sciences and Engineering faculty in acknowledgement of a lifetime of outstanding teaching and advising.
Robert "Bert" Reuss, associate professor of geology. Reuss, who retired at the end of this academic year, was well-loved by decades of Tufts students and was particularly known for capturing students' interest in the introductory geology class.
Linfield Brown, professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering. Brown retired at the end of the 2006-07 academic year, but returned this year to continue his research. He founded the master's program in hazardous materials management; his introductory course in probability and statistics was appreciated by engineering students for 35 years.
UNITE (The Undergraduate Initiative in Teaching) Award. Given to a junior faculty member who has displayed exceptional teaching.
Heather Urry, assistant professor of psychology. Her work focuses on emotion, the brain and behavior. She has been teaching at Tufts since September 2005.
