Please join me in congratulating the 2021 University Faculty Award recipients. The individuals listed below have contributed immeasurably to the AU community, to their disciplines, and to the lives of their students and colleagues. They have demonstrated excellence in their teaching, scholarship, and service, as well as in their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Many thanks to the Faculty Senate’s Faculty Awards Review Committee for their conscientious review of this year’s nominations, with special thanks to Garret Martin for serving as chair.

I am also pleased to announce the faculty members who have reached milestone anniversaries ranging from 25 to 50 years of service, as well as those retiring during the 2020–2021 academic year. I know you join me in honoring these dedicated colleagues, who have shaped American University in so many significant ways.

Congratulations and thanks to all of our 2021 honorees for their exceptional contributions!

University Faculty Awards

Faculty Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Malini Ranganathan, School of International Service

Morton Bender Prize
Nina Yamanis, School of International Service 

Outstanding Community Engagement Award
Jayesh Rathod, Washington College of Law 

Outstanding Contribution to Fostering Collaborative Scholarship Award
Anastasia M. Snelling, Health Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Scholarship, Research, Creative Activity, and Other Professional Contributions Award
Caty Borum Chattoo, School of Communication
Zoë Charlton, Art, College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Service to the University Community in a Tenure-Line or Continuing Appointment Award
Elizabeth Anderson Worden, School of Education

Outstanding Service to the University Community in a Term-Line Appointment Award
Charles Cox, Literature, College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Tenure-Line Appointment Award
James A. Thurber, Government, School of Public Affairs

Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Term-Line Appointment Award
Michele P. Lansigan, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Appointment Award
Trace C. Lasley, Justice, Law and Criminology, School of Public Affairs
Sareeta Carter Schmitt, School of Education

Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award
Joe Young, Justice, Law and Criminology, School of Public Affairs

Years of Service Honorees 

Adjunct Faculty – 25+ Years of Service
Robin C. Barr, World Languages and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences
Patrick Griffin, Government, School of Public Affairs
Katherine L. Haldeman, Health Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Jane Moretz-Edmisten, Washington College of Law
Cecilia Capuzzi Simon, School of Communication
Viviana Cecilia Krsticevic, Washington College of Law

25 Years of Service
Kenneth Anderson, Washington College of Law
Melissa Becher, University Library
Angela J. Davis, Washington College of Law
David R. Fagelson, Justice, Law and Criminology, School of Public Affairs
Amos Golan, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences
Teresa L. Larkin, Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Anastasia M. Snelling, Health Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Steven J. Taylor, Government, School of Public Affairs

30 Years of Service
Ajay Adhikari, Accounting and Taxation, Kogod School of Business
Erran Carmel, Information Technology and Analytics, Kogod School of Business
Daniel L. Dreisbach, Justice, Law and Criminology, School of Public Affairs
Alina A. Israeli, World Languages and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences
Walter G. Park, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences
Richard J. Semiatin, School of Professional and Extended Studies
Diane Singerman, Government, School of Public Affairs
Paul Wapner, School of International Service

35 Years of Service
Thomas A. Husted, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences
Peter Kuznick, History, College of Arts and Sciences
Mohammad M. Owrang Ojaboni, Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences

45 Years of Service
Anthony L. Riley, Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences
Brian T. Yates, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

50 Years of Service
Robert K. Goldman, Washington College of Law
Jon D. Wisman, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences 

Retiring Faculty
Nancy S. Abramowitz, Washington College of Law
Susan D. Bennett, Washington College of Law
Barlow Burke, Washington College of Law
Nancy Davenport, University Library
Joe Dent, Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
John Douglass, School of Communication
Maria Floro, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences
Jeffrey Kaplan, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Sima Mirkin, Pence Law Library, Washington College of Law
Arturo C. Porzecanski, School of International Service
Maria K. Pospieszalska, Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences
Daniele Rodamar, World Languages and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences
Alan Silberberg, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Rodger Streitmatter, School of Communication