CCAS Faculty & Staff Recognition

The faculty and staff of the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS) are the backbone of the college’s learning and research mission. CCAS students thrive thanks to the depth and breadth of our faculty expertise and the operational and professional guidance of our staff. 

Every year, CCAS leadership recognizes the exceptional work of the CCAS team through awards and other forms of recognition, as outlined on this page. Congratulations!

Image

CCAS Staff Appreciation Award

Every year, CCAS recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond their job description to create a positive, productive and caring work environment. These individuals act as role models, team leaders, problem-solvers and mentors and are empathic and compassionate in carrying out their responsibilities.

2024 Recipient:

Anna Marie Siegel, Senior Associate Director of Graduate Student Services

Past Staff Appreciation Awardees

• 2023: Tiara Jenkins, Academic Department Lab Coordinator, Department of Anthropology
• 2022: Trey Johnston, Associate Director, Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute

The Robert W. Kenny Prize for Innovation in Teaching of Introductory Courses

The Kenny Prize is awarded annually to a CCAS faculty member who has shown innovation, creativity, and originality in teaching an introductory course in the Arts and Sciences. The recipient, who is among the most talented of our teachers, teaches an introductory or basic course during the academic year in a novel and innovative way. Professors receiving this award have encouraged their students to think differently, allowing them to take advantage of their academic experience. The Kenny Prize honors former Dean Robert Kenny and his special dedication to stimulating experiences for GW students and his emphasis on the importance of introductory courses as students undertake their studies in the liberal arts and sciences.

2024 Recipients:

Nicole Bartels

Teaching Assistant Professor of Political Science

Danika Myers

Teaching Assistant Professor of Writing

Past Kenny Prize Awardees

• 2023: Michelle Kelso, Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Affairs; Director, Human Services and Social Justice Program
• 2022: Phillip Troutman, Affiliated Faculty, Director of Writing in the Disciplines; Sara Matthiesen, Associate Professor of History and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Xiaoke Zhang, Associate Professor of Statistics (Honorable Mention)

The Columbian Prize for Teaching and Mentoring Advanced Undergraduate Students

The Columbian Prize is awarded annually to a regular, full- time CCAS faculty member who demonstrates excellence in the teaching and mentoring of advanced undergraduate students. With this prize, CCAS recognizes exceptional achievement in one or more of the following areas of work: teaching an advanced undergraduate course, advising students, directing undergraduate research, designing a capstone experience, or mentoring students who achieve departmental honors and other distinctions.

2024 Recipients:

Jameta Barlow

Assistant Director of Writing, Health Policy and Management, and WGSS

Axel Schmidt

Assistant Professor of Physics

Past Columbian Prize Awardees

• 2023: Hosam M. Mahmoud, Professor of Statistics
• 2022: Randi Gray Kristensen, Assistant Professor of Writing

The Award for Excellence in Graduate Faculty Mentoring

The Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award is given annually to a faculty member nominated by CCAS graduate student. Mentoring and advising are crucial to the intellectual life and career trajectories of graduate students across the arts, sciences and professions. A good mentor is a source of wisdom and expertise, an inspiring role model, a compassionate critic, a sounding board, an advocate and a career counselor.

2024 Recipient:

Suse Anderson
Associate Professor of Museum Studies
 

Past Graduate Faculty Mentor Awardees

• 2023: Fran Buntman, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
• 2022: Kavita Daiya, Associate Dean of Academic Innovation; Professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

The Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Doctoral Students

This award is given annually to a faculty member nominated by students in the PhD and PsyD programs of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Mentoring and advising are crucial to the intellectual life and career trajectories of doctoral students across the arts, sciences and professions. A good mentor is a source of wisdom and expertise, an inspiring role model, a compassionate critic, a sounding board, an advocate and a career counselor.

2024 Recipient:

Ellen Yeung
Assistant Professor of Applied Social Psychology
 

Past Doctoral Mentor Awardees

• 2023: Ilana Feldman, Professor of Anthropology, History, and International Affairs
• 2022: Sandy Kawano, Assistant Professor of Biology

Dr. Cynthia Deitch DEI Faculty Trailblazer Award

The CCAS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Faculty Award was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Cynthia Deitch, a dedicated trailblazer in the Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program who championed DEI. Nominees demonstrate their commitment to DEI through their research, publications, presentations, community service, campus engagement and leadership roles.

2024 Recipient:

Valentina Harizanov
Professor of Mathematics

CCAS DEI Staff Trailblazer Award

The CCAS DEI Staff Award was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Cynthia Deitch, a dedicated trailblazer in the Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program who championed DEI. Nominees demonstrate their commitment to DEI through their research, publications, presentations, community service, campus engagement and leadership roles.

2024 Recipient:

Tiara Jenkins
Academic Department Lab Coordinator, Department of Anthropology

Additional Accolades