The College of Sciences held its annual summer dinner on Aug. 23, 2016. The festive occasion welcomed new faculty members and recognized excellence in research, teaching, and service.

College of Sciences Dean Paul M. Goldbart welcomed colleagues joining the College in the 2016-17 academic year: Tamara Pearson and Lorna Rivera, in CEISMC; Will Gutekunst and Henry La Pierre, in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Liang Han, Colin Harrison, and Frank Rosenzweig, in the School of Biological Sciences; Jennifer Hom, Christopher Jankowski, Lutz Warnke, and Mayya Zhilova, in the School of Mathematics; and Elisabetta Matsumoto and Colin Parker, in the School of Physics.  

Goldbart also recognized J. Todd Streelman, the new chair of the School of Biological Sciences, which emerged on July 1, 2016, from the reorganization of the former School of Applied Physiology and School of Biology. Goldbart acknowledged T. Richard Nichols and Terry Snell, chairs of the former schools, for their efforts in launching the new school.

Celebrating excellence in research, teaching, and service was the evening’s center piece, beginning with the 2016 Faculty Mentor Awards to Luca Dieci, of the School of Mathematics; Facundo M. Fernandez, of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Rodney J. Weber, in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Carrie G. Shepler, of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, received the 2016 Eric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is made possible by School of Mathematics alumnus Charles J. Crawford.

The 2016 Cullen-Peck Faculty Fellowship Awards in the College of Sciences went to Tamara Bogdanovic, of the School of Physics; Andrew V. Newman, of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; and Frank J. Stewart and Lewis A. Wheaton, of the School of Biological Sciences. These awards are made possible by the generosity of School of Mathematics alumni couple Frank H. Cullen and Libby Peck. 

Daniel Margalit was celebrated as the inaugural 2016 Leddy Family Faculty Fellow. The award is made possible by the generosity of School of Physics alumnus Jeffrey Leddy and his wife, Pamela.

 “It is invigorating to start the school year by warmly welcoming new colleagues into our scholarly community and celebrating our outstanding teachers, researchers, and mentors,” Goldbart said. “We are proud to have so many exceptional faculty members, and I am especially grateful for the generosity of our thoughtful alumni, which makes it possible for the College to enable our colleagues to achieve the highest level of success in their teaching, research, and service.” 

More photos from the 2016 summer dinner can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2bz1Is8.