Edward A. Polloway Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching

Established in 2015-16 and named in honor of Edward A. Polloway, former dean of graduate studies, this award is given each year to a member of the graduate teaching faculty. It recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies the quality of the teaching faculty at the University of Lynchburg and the pride taken in that tradition.

Nomination

To be considered for the Polloway Award, a faculty member must be nominated by a graduate student currently enrolled at the University of Lynchburg.

To nominate a professor, please submit the following:

• Write at least one paragraph explaining why you think this professor deserves the award, so the selection committee has a clear idea of why your professor demonstrated excellence in teaching. Feel free to share stories about the nominee’s commitment to students, performance in the classroom, or influence on your personal educational experience.
• Include in your nomination the class in which you were enrolled with this professor and, of course, your name. All nominations are confidential unless you indicate you would like your submission shared with the professor you are nominating.

Send your nomination by email to the chair of the selection committee at pollowayaward@lynchburg.edu.

Selection

The selection committee consists of the last four Polloway Award recipients, each serving a four-year term. In selecting the award recipient, the committee considers student comments and supporting documentation submitted by nominees.

Past Recipients

• 2024: Nikki Delis
• 2023: W. Joseph Bowman
• 2022: Jennifer Hall
• 2021: Eric Schmidt
• 2020: Mark Archambault
• 2019: Elyse Watkins
• 2018: Laura Reid
• 2017: Karena Heyward
• 2016: Price Blair

Elsie Ervin Bock Award for Excellence in Citizenship

This award is given annually to honor a faculty colleague who exemplifies outstanding service to the University and/or the surrounding community. It was established in 1993 and renamed in 1996 for Elsie E. Bock, the first recipient and a longtime and respected member of the faculty. The award is presented at the Trustees Banquet in May.

Nomination

Nominations are welcome from all members of the University community. The nomination should describe the faculty member’s contributions to the University and/or surrounding community and include their current curriculum vitae.

Send your nomination by email to the chair of the selection committee at bockaward@lynchburg.edu.

Selection

The Bock Award committee, composed of the last four recipients of the award, is chaired by the faculty member who received the award at the earliest date. The committee reviews all materials it receives and selects the award winner.

Past Recipients

• 2024: Stefanie Copp
• 2023: Jeremy Bryant
• 2022: Ursula Bryant
• 2021: Laura Henry-Stone
• 2020: Alisha Marciano
• 2019: Cynthia B. Ramsey
• 2018: Merrill P. Tolbert
• 2017: Alan Chidsey Dickson
• 2016: Gabe Santos
• 2015: Thomas Shahady
• 2014: Jeanne Booth
• 2013: Ashley Thompson
• 2012: Kevin M. Peterson
• 2011: Todd L. Olsen
• 2010: Nina V. Salmon
• 2009: Peggy S. Pittas
• 2008: Neal G. Sumerlin
• 2007: Joseph H. Turek
• 2006: Woody Greenberg
• 2005: Constantine Roussos
• 2004: G. Kenneth West
• 2003: Lesley A. Friedman
• 2002: Clifton W. Potter, Jr.
• 2001: Richard Burke
• 1999: Glenn Buck
• 1998: Barry L. Lobb
• 1997: Thomas W. Seaman
• 1996: Thomas C. Tiller
• 1995: Julius A. Sigler
• 1994: Thomas A. Looney
• 1993: Elsie E. Bock

Faculty Award for Excellence in Research Mentoring

This award recognizes a full-time faculty member who mentors undergraduate and/or graduate students in research projects in a scholarly discipline. The successful candidate works with students to create a quality product; disseminate it on the local, regional, or national level; and seek peer review, if suitable. The mentor’s collaborative projects with students bring visibility to the University of Lynchburg and have a meaningful impact on the student experience. Faculty members are eligible to win this award once every five years.

• 2024: Ei Hlaing
• 2023: Marek Payerhin
• 2022: Cynthia B. Ramsey
• 2021: Brooke Haiar
• 2020: John Eric Goff
• 2019: David O. Freier
• 2018: Thomas Bowman

James A. Huston Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Established in 1979, this award is named for James A. Huston, a former dean. It is given annually to one or more members of the University of Lynchburg teaching faculty for making noteworthy scholarly contributions to their field(s).

Any full-time faculty member who has not received the award in the last five years is eligible. The award is presented at the Trustees Banquet in May.

Nomination

Nominations are welcome from any University faculty or staff member. The nomination should address the nominee’s scholarly work, collaborative work with students or other colleagues, and recognition of scholarship and/or awards given by their discipline or professional group. The nominee’s current curriculum vitae should accompany the nomination.

Send your nomination by email to the chair of the selection committee at hustonaward@lynchburg.edu.

Selection

The selection committee, composed of the last four recipients of the award, is chaired by the faculty member who received the award at the earliest date. The committee reviews all materials it receives and selects the award winner.

Past Recipients

• 2024: Siobhan Byrns
• 2023: Brooke Haiar
• 2022: Lindsay Michie
• 2021: John Eric Goff
• 2020: Laura Long
• 2019: Thomas G. Bowman
• 2018: Lindsay Pieper
• 2017: Tammy J. Hertel
• 2016: Laura Marello
• 2015: Brian Crim
• 2014: John Eric Goff
• 2013: Nichole Sanders
• 2012: Elza C. Tiner
• 2011: N. Scott Amos
• 2010: Maria L. Nathan
• 2009: John Eric Goff
• 2008: George Miaoulis Jr.
• 2007: Robert Harding
• 2005: Allison Jablonski
• 2004: Sally Selden
• 2003: Atul Gupta
• 2002: Keith P. Corodimas
• 2001: Patty Hale
• 2000: Karen McElmurray
• 1999: Thomas Brickhouse
• 1998: Cheryl Jorgensen-Earp and Gustavo C. Fares
• 1997: Daniel G. Lang
• 1996: Richard Pumphrey
• 1995: Phillip H. Stump
• 1994: Stewart W. Husted
• 1993: Edward A. Polloway
• 1992: Anne H. Bishop
• 1991: G. Kenneth West
• 1990: Thomas Brickhouse
• 1989: John David Smith
• 1988: Anne Marshall Huston and Gwynn W. Ramsey
• 1987: Albert J. E. Wilson
• 1986: Thomas A. Looney and John R. Scudder, Jr.
• 1985: Dora Jean Ashe and Edward A. Polloway
• 1984: Thomas Brickhouse and James A. Huston
• 1983: James E. Carico
• 1982: Kamal M. Abouzeid and J.R. Gamble
• 1980: John David Smith
• 1979: Wayne Thompson
• 1978: Sheldon Vanauken
• 1976: Harold H. Garreston
• 1974: John M. Turner
• 1971: Madeline D. Ingram
• 1964: Ruskin S. Freer

Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching

Established during the 1988-89 academic year, the University of Lynchburg’s top teaching honor is presented each year to a member of the teaching faculty in recognition of personal and inspirational teaching, consistency of course preparation, current study in one’s field, and encouraging students to be active and lifelong learners.

The award is named for Dr. Shirley E. Rosser, a physics professor at Lynchburg for 45 years. A 1940 Lynchburg graduate, he was loved and respected by generations of students and faculty.

To be considered for the Rosser Award, a faculty member must be nominated by a student currently enrolled at the University.

Nomination

To nominate a professor, please submit the following:

• Write at least one paragraph explaining why you think this professor deserves the award, so the selection committee has a clear idea of why your professor demonstrated excellence in teaching. Feel free to share stories about the nominee’s commitment to students, performance in the classroom, or influence on your personal educational experience.
• Include in your nomination the class in which you were enrolled with this professor and, of course, your name. All nominations are confidential unless you indicate you would like your submission shared with the professor you are nominating.

Send your nomination by email to the chair of the selection committee at rosseraward@lynchburg.edu.

Selection

The selection committee, which consists of previous Rosser Award recipients, considers student comments and supporting documentation submitted by nominees.

Past Recipients

• 2024: Siobhan Byrns
• 2023: Daniel Murphy
• 2022: Holly Gould
• 2021: Robin Bates
• 2020: Kari Benson
• 2019: Virginia A. Cylke
• 2018: Alicia Carter
• 2017: Dorothy Bundy Potter
• 2016: John Styrsky
• 2015: Danny Cline
• 2014: Elza Tiner
• 2013: Timothy Meinke
• 2012: Lorna M. Dawson
• 2011: Lesley A. Friedman
• 2010: Sabita Manian
• 2009: Priscilla J. Gannicott
• 2008: Richard G. Pumphrey
• 2007: Phillip H. Stump
• 2006: Robert H. White
• 2005: Nancy W. Schneider
• 2004: Judith Smotrel
• 2003: Terese Hartman
• 2002: Joseph H. Turek
• 2001: Neal Sumerlin
• 2000: David Lipani
• 1999: Michael Santos
• 1998: Richard Burke
• 1997: Daniel G. Lang
• 1996: Julius A. Sigler
• 1995: Elsie E. Bock
• 1994: Clifton W. Potter, Jr.
• 1993: Thomas A. Allen
• 1992: Thomas Looney
• 1991: Thomas Brickhouse
• 1990: JoAnn P. Hunt
• 1989: G. Kenneth West

Thomas C. Allen and Heidi Koring Award for Excellence in Academic Advising

This award was established in 2002 to recognize outstanding achievement in student advising. At that time, it was called the University of Lynchburg Award for Excellence in Academic Advising. In 2007, the award was renamed to honor the memory of Thomas C. Allen, an English faculty member and chair and John M. Turner Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. The award was renamed again in 2019 to also honor Heidi Koring, director of academic advising, after 34 years of service.

Any full-time faculty or staff member who has not received the award within the last five years is eligible.

Nomination

Individuals may be nominated by currently enrolled students, faculty members, or administrative staff members at the University of Lynchburg.

Nominations should describe the advising activities of the faculty or staff member and clearly indicate why the nominee deserves this award. Feel free to share stories about your nominee’s commitment to student advising, their influence on your personal educational experience, and/or their effect on advising practices at the University. All nominations should be signed by the nominator and are confidential.

Make certain your nomination is at least one paragraph long, so the selection committee has a clear idea of why your nominee demonstrates excellence in advising. Also, please address the following criteria for outstanding advising as they relate to your experience with the nominee:

Standards of outstanding advising:

• Effective and proactive academic advising.
• Respect for advisees’ individuality, including sensitivity to advisees’ individual cultural, economic, personal, and social environment, as these affect their progress at the University.
• Knowledge, understanding, and effective use of referral sources within the University and the community.
• Evidence of leadership in the area of advisor development through active attendance at advisor development functions and assistance to other advisors.
• Active support of students’ career and life planning, as well as academic course planning.
• Effective and appropriate student advocacy.
• Mastery of policies and procedures for the institution as a whole, not only for the advisor’s own school or program.

Send your nomination by email to the chair of the selection committee at advisingaward@lynchburg.edu.

Selection

The academic advising award committee is composed of the last three recipients of the award, two members of the academic administration who work closely with advisors, and one student appointed by the Office of the Dean of Students. The committee selects a recipient after evaluating all submitted nominations. The recipient is announced at the Academic Awards Banquet in April.

Past Recipients

• 2024: Meg Dillon
• 2023: Debbie Bradney
• 2022: Holly Gould
• 2021: Katie Bowman
• 2020: DuAnn Kremer
• 2019: Nancy E. Reid
• 2018: John Walker
• 2017: Sharon B. Foreman
• 2016: Jennifer Lloyd-Fitzgerald
• 2015: Atul Gupta
• 2014: Sabita Manian
• 2013: Robin Bates
• 2012: Deanna B. Cash
• 2011: David O. Freier
• 2010: Virginia A. Cylke
• 2009: James J.H. Price
• 2008: Richard G. Pumphrey
• 2007: David R. Perault
• 2006: Priscilla Gannicott
• 2005: Thomas A. Allen
• 2004: Clifton W. Potter Jr.
• 2003: Terese Hartman
• 2002: Harvey Huiner