The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding professor in the College. The recipient of the award will present a College-wide lecture of a sufficiently general nature to appeal to the public at large and his or her name will be added to a plaque after the presentation. The additional purpose of the award is to highlight the efforts of the College within, as well as outside the university.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Carolyn Eastman, History, and William Newmann, Political Science
• 2021 – Andrew Murphy, Department of Political Science
• 2020 – Ryan Smith, History
• 2019 – Robert Godwin-Jones, School of World Studies
• 2018 – Faye Belgrave, Department of Psychology
• 2017 – Judyth Twigg, Department of Political Science
• 2016 – John Kneebone, Department of History
• 2015 – Marcel Cornis-Pope, Department of English
• 2014 – M. Samy El-Shall, Department of Chemistry
• 2013 – Robert M. Tombes, Department of Biology
• 2012 – Nelson Wikstrom, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2011 – Tom De Haven, Department of English
• 2010 – Nick Frankel, Department of English
• 2009 – A. Bryant Mangum, Department of English
• 2008 – John Accordino, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2007 – Laura Browder, Department of English
• 2006 – McKenna Brown, School of World Studies

The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding member of the adjunct faculty from the College who best represent the contribution of adjunct faculty to the mission of the College. All persons who have taught on adjunct contracts during the current academic year are eligible. There are three possible adjunct awards corresponding to the divisions within the College: social sciences, natural and mathematical sciences, and humanities.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Alyssa Darling, Department of Biology
• 2021 – Dingani Mthethwa, Department of Sociology
• 2020 – Wesley Childress, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
• 2019 – Math and Sciences: Kristina Reid Black, Department of Biology
• 2019 – Social Sciences: Chet Wade, Robertson School of Media and Culture
• 2018 – Hebing Liu, Department of Biology
• 2017 – Math and Sciences: Joshua Kruger, Department of Forensic Science
• 2017 – Social Sciences: Eric King, Department of Political Science
• 2016 – Math and Sciences: Jamie Brooks, Department of Biology
• 2016 – Humanities: Gabriella Valsecchi, Department of English
• 2016 – Social Sciences: William Seay, Political Science
• 2015 – Sylvia Buffington-Lester, Department of Forensic Science
• 2014 – Math and Sciences: Russ Chandler, Department of Forensic Science
• 2014 – Humanities: Leslie Shiel, Department of English
• 2014 – Social Sciences: Mary Ann Owens, Robertson School of Media & Culture
• 2013 – Math and Sciences: Henry Johnson, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
• 2013 – Humanities: Maria De Panbehchi, School of World Studies
• 2013 – Social Sciences: Julianne Guillard, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
• 2012 – Gay Cutchin, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2011 –
• 2010 – Henry Bartlett, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2009 – Carolyn M. White , Department of English
• 2009 – Peter Martin, Department of Physics
• 2008 – Kimberly Chen, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2007 – Cinzia Corubolo
• 2006 – Ursula Marfurt-Levy, School of World Studies; Joan Barnes, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research

The purpose of the award is to honor an outstanding contribution to mentoring by a faculty member in the College. The award is for mentoring activity by an individual faculty member who has helped to build a supportive academic environment through faculty-to-student mentoring and/or faculty-to-faculty mentoring. The award may be given for offering information and counsel that helps to advance and develop a mentee’s own path to academic and professional success; generously sharing time and expertise to guide a mentee’s work and progress; involving students in publications, grants, and conference presentations, in addition to sharing knowledge of such opportunities; and serving as a role model by maintaining high standards for ethics and excellence within their discipline and in the University community more widely. There must be evidence of a demonstrable effect on mentees, such as assisting scholars to build and manage their own independent research, teaching, and leadership, to become mentors in their own right.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Albert Farrell, Department of Psychology
• 2021 – Dace Svikis, Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynecology
• 2020 – Jeff South, Robertson School
• 2019 – Jesse Goldstein, Department of Sociology
• 2018 – Kathryn Murphy-Judy, School of World Studies/Liberal Studies for Early and Elementary Education
• 2017 – Wendy Kliewer, Department of Psychology

The purpose of this award is to honor an outstanding contribution by a faculty member to academic scholarship. The award is given for a product of scholarship that demonstrates significant depth and breadth of vision; creative and innovative development of theory, method or form; or extension of the frontiers of knowledge in a field that constitutes a substantial contribution to the intellectual community within or beyond the nominee’s field.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Carolyn Eastman, Department of History
• 2021 – Paul Perrin, Department of Psychology
• 2020 – Rosalie Corona, Department of Psychology
• 2019 – Massimo Bertino, Department of Physics
• 2018 – Andrew Chesnut, School of World Studies
• 2017 – Karen Rader, Department of History
• 2016 – Katherine Bassard, Department of English
• 2015 – John Ryan, Department of Biology
• 2014 – Claudia Emerson, Department of English
• 2013 – Jason R. W. Merrick, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research
• 2012 – Alenka Luzar, Department of Chemistry
• 2011 – Thomas E. Eissenberg, Department of Psychology
• 2010 – Maryanne Collinson, Department of Chemistry
• 2009 – Dace S. Svikis, Institute for Drug/Alcohol Studies
• 2008 – Shiv Khanna, Department of Physics
• 2007 – Everett Worthington, Department of Psychology
• 2006 – James P. McCullough Jr., Department of Psychology

The purpose of this award is to honor an outstanding contribution to service by a faculty member in the College. The award is given for superior service to the College, the university, the profession and/or the wider community. This superior service may be marked by activities that extend beyond normal expectations, make unique contributions and/or provide longstanding leadership and have a significant impact on the College or beyond.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Cristina Stanciu, Department of English
• 2021 – Rosalie Corona, Department of Psychology
• 2020 – Michael Southam-Gerow, Department of Psychology
• 2019 – Sally Hunnicutt, Department of Chemistry
• 2018 – Charlene Crawley, Department of Chemistry/Interdisciplinary Science
• 2017 – Christopher Saladino, Department of Political Science
• 2016 – Scott Street, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research
• 2015 – Peter Kirkpatrick, School of World Studies
• 2014 – Catherine Ingrassia, Department of English
• 2013 – Deirdre M. Condit, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2012 – Susan Gooden, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2011 – Linda E. Zyzniewski Department of Psychology
• 2010 – Charlotte Morse, Department of English
• 2009 – Helen Ruth Aspaas, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2008 – Gay Cutchin, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2007 – June Nicholson, School of Mass Communications
• 2006 – Kathryn Murphy-Judy, School of World Studies

The purpose of this award is to honor an outstanding contribution to the craft of teaching by a faculty member in the College. The award is for teaching-related activity and may be given either for specific initiatives that demonstrate significant innovativeness or creativity in teaching or for more general excellence in professing one’s discipline, as evidenced by an unusual ability to engage students and stimulate learning, personal investment and commitment, and an ongoing effort to improve teaching. In either case, there must be evidence of a demonstrable effect on the student learning experience.

Previous recipients:

• 2023 – Math and Sciences: Heather Jones, Department of Psychology
• 2023 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Brian Daugherity, History
• 2021 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Ryan K. Smith, Department of History
• 2021 – Math and Sciences: Jill Reid, Department of Biology
• 2020 – Math and Sciences: Richard Hammack, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics<
• 2020 – Humanities and Social Sciences: David Coogan, Department of English
• 2019 – Math and Sciences: Rebecca Durfee, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, and Aimee Ellington, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
• 2019 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Elizabeth Canfield, Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and Alexandra Reckendorf, Department of Political Science
• 2018 – Math and Sciences: Deborah Polo, Department of Chemistry
• 2018 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Susan Bodnar-Deren, Department of Sociology
• 2017 – Math and Sciences: Linda Zyzniewski, Department of Psychology
• 2017 – Humanities and Social Sciences:  William Newmann, Department of Political Science
• 2016 – Math and Sciences: Dianne Jennings, Department of Biology
• 2016 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Marcus Messner, Robertson School of Media and Culture
• 2015 – Math and Sciences: Karen Kester, Department of Biology
• 2015 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Leigh Ann Craig, Department of History
• 2014 – Math and Sciences: Darcy Mays, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research
• 2014 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Amy Rector Verrelli, School of World Studies
• 2013 – Math and Sciences: Craig E. Larson, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
• 2013 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Jay S. Albanese, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2012 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Daniel Perdue, School of World Studies
• 2012 – Math and Sciences: Sally Hunnicutt, Department of Chemistry
• 2011 – Jill Hardin Wilson, Department of Statistical Science & Operations Research
• 2010 – Alison Baski, Department of Physics
• 2009 – Suzanne Ruder, Department of Chemistry
• 2008 – Sachi Shimomura, Department of English
• 2007 – Constantin (Coz) Cotzias, VCU Brandcenter
• 2006 – Faye Belgrave, Department of Psychology

The purpose of this award is to honor individuals or groups of VCU administrators, faculty, staff or students who exemplify the importance and commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity. Group is defined as a VCU affiliated unit, organization or team of faculty, administrators or staff, undergraduate or graduate student(s) or any interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary collaboration. Groups and individuals may also submit self-nominations.

Nominees should exemplify or support inclusion, diversity and equity initiatives in the College by one or more of the following means:

• Develop and maintain a shared and inclusive understanding of diversity, multiculturalism, institutional bias and affirmative action through training and education in the College
• Actively work to identify and/or dismantle institutional bias or promote inclusion in the College
• Create a welcoming and inclusive climate through facilitation or creation of related initiatives, curriculum reform, research incentives, community-outreach, cross-campus and/or departmental initiatives
• Actively work to recruit, retain and support a diverse student body and/or workforce at all levels
• Actively work to enhance curricular, co-curricular, research, service, artistic or study abroad activities to engage the university community in affirming an inclusive, diverse and multicultural learning environment
• Develop and maintain consistent accountability measures to accurately assess progress toward institutionalizing diversity and multiculturalism

The IDEC awards are divided along the following four categories: (Groups and individuals may also submit self-nominations.)

1. Leadership in Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (LSIDE) Staff and Administrator Award
2. Rising Star in Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (RSIDE) Student Award
3. Trailblazer in Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (TBIDE) Faculty Award
4. Collaborative Work in Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (CWIDE) Group Award

Nominations should include a brief narrative, no more than one page in length, that address specific examples of how the individual or group demonstrates any of the aforementioned goals. The nomination may include letters of support, articles of support and other documents that support the nomination.

Previous Recipients

LSIDE

• 2021 – N/A
• 2020 – Geron Scott, Biology

RSIDE

• 2021 – N/A
• 2020 – Amanda Parks, Psychology (graduate), Rebecca Alema, Biology (undergraduate)

TBIDE

• 2023 – Anita Nadal, School of World Studies
• 2021 – Christopher Brooks, School of World Studies
• 2020 – Clarence Thomas, Robertson School

CWIDE

• 2023 – Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• 2021 – Committee for Racial Equity Student Advisory Group
• 2020 – Committee for the Promotion of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Psychology

The purpose of this award is to honor outstanding contributions to academic scholarship by faculty at the assistant or associate level who have produced remarkable work but do not yet have the quantity and full range of scholarship we associate with their more senior colleagues. The award is given for products of scholarship that demonstrate significant depth and breadth of vision; creative and innovative development of theory, method or form; or extension of the frontiers of knowledge in a field that constitutes a substantial contribution to the intellectual community within or beyond the nominees’ fields.

Previous recipients:

• 2022-23 – Math and Science: Nao Hagiwara, Psychology
• 2022-23 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Rocio Gomez, History
• 2021 – Humanities and Social Sciences: madison moore, Department Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies
• 2021 – Catherine Hulshof, Depatment of Biology
• 2020 – Andrew Eckert, Department of Biology
• 2019 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Duanel Infante-Diaz, School of World Studies
• 2019 – Math and Science: Katharine Tibbetts, Department of Chemistry
• 2018 – Rivka Swenson, Department of English
• 2017 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Tressie Cottom, Department of Sociology
• 2017 – Math and Science: Indika Arachchige, Department of Chemistry
• 2016 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Victor Chen,Sociology
• 2016 – Math and Science: Joshua Langberg, Department of Psychology
• 2015 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Oliver Speck, School of World Studies
• 2015 – Math and Sciences: Terri Sullivan, Department of Psychology
• 2014 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Marcus Messner, Robertson School of Media & Culture
• 2014 – Math and Sciences: Hani El-Kaderi, Department of Chemistry
• 2013 – Humanities and Social Sciences: David A. Golumbia, Department of English
• 2013 – Math and Sciences: J. Paul Brooks, Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research
• 2012 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Andrew Crislip, Department of History
• 2012 – Math and Sciences: Laura McLay, Statistical Sciences & Operations Research
• 2011 – Kathleen Graber, Department of English
• 2010 – Rodney Dyer, Department of Biology
• 2009 – Kristin M. Swenson, School of World Studies
• 2009 – Suzanne E. Mazzeo, Department of Psychology
• 2008 – Yan Jin, School of Mass Communications
• 2007 – Julio Alverez, Department of Chemistry
• 2007 – Wendy Kliewer, Department of Psychology
• 2006 – Bernard Moitt, Department of History
• 2006 – Tracy Ryan, School of Mass Communications

The purpose of this award was to honor individuals who made significant contributions to student advising. The award recognized effective advising qualities and practices that distinguished the recipient as an outstanding adviser. Professional advisers of the College are eligible for the Staff Excellence in Advising Awards described on the Staff Awards page.

Previous recipients:

• 2021 – Math and Sciences: LaChelle Waller, Department of Chemistry
• 2021 – Humanities and Social Sciences: LaToya Davis, Department of Psychology
• 2020 – Alvin Bryant, Biology
• 2019 – Nathan Bickett, Department of Political Science
• 2018 – Rachel Hill, Department of Biology
• 2017 – Lyndsay Durham, Department of Forensic Science
• 2016 – R. Dale Smith, Department of English
• 2015 – Math and Sciences:  Alaina Campbell, Department of Biology
• 2015 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Jessica Lonnes, School of World Studies
• 2014 – Katharine Stoddard, Department of Psychology
• 2013 – Lisa M. Fleming, Liberal Studies in Early and Elementary Education
• 2012 – Natasha Long, School of Mass Communications
• 2011 – Carolyn M. White, Department of English
• 2010 – Thom Didato, Department of English
• 2009 – Eugene Mills, Department of Philosophy
• 2008 – Margaret Altonen, Department of English
• 2007 – John Mahoney, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• 2006 – Mark Wood, School of World Studies