College Announces 2015 Employee Award Recipients
The University of Maryland’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) hosted its annual academic festival May 1 to honor the college’s 2015 employee award recipients.
CMNS Board of Visitors Creative Educator Award
Adam Porter, Professor, Department of Computer Science and the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
Porter works to “flip the classroom.” Instead of the usual lecture-homework paradigm, Porter’s students work on problems in class and use multimedia to learn outside of class. Of special note, Porter’s course on programming mobile apps for Android devices is the fifth most popular course offered by Coursera. Porter also created a video production lab in computer science to catalyze the production of videos and multimedia by faculty members.
CMNS BOV Distinguished Faculty Award
David O'Brochta, Professor, Department of Entomology and the Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research (IBBR)
O’Brochta is cited for his excellent research, international reputation, and important contributions to understanding insect vector biology and applying this knowledge to real-world problems, such as malaria. He is editor-in-chief of the Royal Entomological Society’s journal Insect Molecular Biology. O’Brochta is director of the National Science Foundation-funded research coordination center on insect genetic technologies and head of IBBR’s insect transformation facility.
CMNS BOV Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Kaitlyn Crawford, Ph.D. Student, Chemistry
Crawford, who is advised by Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Larry Sita, was first author of a 2014 article published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Macro Letters and a 2013 article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is cited for her scholarly accomplishments and willingness to undertake leadership and mentoring roles within the research group and the department.
CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Faculty Award
Luis A. Orozco, Professor, Department of Physics, Fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), and Co-director of the Physics Frontier Center
Orozco is cited for his indispensable and incomparable leadership of the National Science Foundation-sponsored Physics Frontier Center at JQI. An internationally recognized scholar in fundamental quantum sciences, he is a dedicated mentor, educator and teacher.
CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award
Diane Canter, Program Management Specialist for the Biochemistry Graduate Program, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Canter is lauded for her dedication and willingness to help students, as well as her key role in keeping the biochemistry program running smoothly.
CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award
Mary Sutton, Program Management Specialist, Department of Physics
Sutton plays a critical role in ensuring the success of Professor Jim Gates’ many national and international activities and responsibilities. She is particularly noted for her efficient coordination and liaison efforts with the White House, federal government and state agencies.
CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award
B. Suzanne Martin, Program Coordinator, Department of Geology
An 18-year veteran of the geology department, Martin is a dedicated colleague often going above and beyond in response to the needs of the department. As the go-to staff person, she is a treasured resource by faculty, students and staff.
CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award
Bill Schildknecht, Academic Coordinator and Lecturer, Department of Mathematics
Schildknecht has given 17 years of dedicated and exceptional contributions to the entire undergraduate operations within the department, including the scheduling of more than 90 teaching assistants and lecturers, and managing the math placement examination.
CMNS Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
William Still, Biological Sciences major with a minor in Spanish Language and Culture
In the fall, Still will attend Georgetown University to earn a Master of Science degree in bio-hazardous threat agents and emerging infectious disease. Will has been a teaching assistant (TA) for genetics classes since Fall 2013 and has been a TA for Drs. Patty Shields, Tammatha O'Brien and Dave Straney. He currently tutors BSCI105 students, and he has worked as a peer mentor since Spring 2013 and a lead peer mentor since Spring 2014.
Dean’s Outstanding Lecturer Award
Joseph Houck, Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
An American Chemical Society Younger Chemist Leadership Development Awardee in 2014, Houck’s interests lie in K-12 and undergraduate science education. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Virginia in 2013.
Thelma M. Williams Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award
Nicole Horvath, Assistant Director, Integrated Life Sciences program in the Honors College
Horvath was involved in the development of co-curricular programming, teaching and managing an introductory seminar for life science students. She coordinated service-learning opportunities for students and advised students on personal and professional goals.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Denny Gulick, Professor and Associate Chair for course staffing, Department of Mathematics
Gulick is well known for his statewide activities regarding mathematics education in Maryland’s public schools and his involvement at the national level in issues related to mathematics and mathematics teaching. In 2000, he was awarded the Kirwan Undergraduate Prize, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the quality of undergraduate education at the university.
View photos from the awards ceremony.
Media Relations Contact: Abby Robinson, 301-405-5845, abbyr@umd.edu
Writer: Mary Kearney
University of Maryland
College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
2300 Symons Hall
College Park, MD 20742
www.cmns.umd.edu
@UMDscience
About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 7,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and more than a dozen interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $150 million.
