{"681872":{"#nid":"681872","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Faculty and Staff Honored at 2025 Spring Sciences Celebration","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDownload photos from this year\u2019s Spring Sciences Celebration on the College of Sciences\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gtsciences\/albums\/72177720325153495\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFlickr\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences hosted its Spring Sciences Celebration at Tech Harrison Square this week to recognize outstanding faculty and staff for the 2024-25 academic year. Four recent retirees were also among those honored during the annual event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cSpring Sciences is one of my favorite traditions at the College, a special moment to celebrate and thank exemplary members of our community,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lozier.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/a\u003E, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWhile all our faculty and staff do incredible work every day, these honorees have gone above and beyond in their service and dedication to our mission.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe 2025 awards and honorees are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Development Awards\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECullen-Peck Scholar Awards\u003C\/strong\u003E were established by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrank Cullen\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math 1973, M.S. ISyE 1976, Ph.D. ISyE 1984) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EElizabeth Peck\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math 1975, M.S. ISyE 1976) to encourage the development of especially promising mid-career faculty.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVinayak Agarwal\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Blumenthal\u003C\/strong\u003E, Mathematics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWing \u2018Winnie\u2019 Chu\u003C\/strong\u003E, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EGretzinger Moving the School Forward Award\u003C\/strong\u003E, endowed by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERalph Gretzinger\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math 1970) and named to honor his late wife\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJewel\u003C\/strong\u003E, recognizes the leadership of a school chair or senior faculty member who has played a pivotal role in advancing equal opportunity in the composition of tenure-track faculty, fostering a family-friendly work environment, and providing a supportive environment for early-career faculty.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETansu Celikel\u003C\/strong\u003E, Psychology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching\u003C\/strong\u003E, endowed by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECharles Crawford\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math 1971), recognizes exemplary teaching in foundational undergraduate courses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmily Alicea-Munoz\u003C\/strong\u003E, Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeddy Family Dean\u2019s Faculty Excellence Award\u003C\/strong\u003E was established by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff Leddy\u003C\/strong\u003E (Physics 1978) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPam Leddy\u003C\/strong\u003E to support a faculty member at the associate professor level with proven accomplishments in research and teaching.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Wray\u003C\/strong\u003E, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Faculty Mentor Awards\u003C\/strong\u003E, established jointly by the College of Sciences and its ADVANCE Professor, honors the efforts and achievements of faculty members engaged in mentoring fellow faculty.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERandall \u2018Randy\u2019 Engle\u003C\/strong\u003E, Psychology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeresa Snow\u003C\/strong\u003E, Biological Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHui Zhu\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Research Awards\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award\u003C\/strong\u003E recognize postdoctoral and non-tenure track research faculty who have made exceptional research contributions with significant impact on their field of study.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESarah Orr\u003C\/strong\u003E, Biological Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Liska\u003C\/strong\u003E, Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECoS Research Faculty Community Trailblazer Award\u003C\/strong\u003E recognizes postdoctoral and non-tenure track research faculty who have demonstrated and sustained leadership that strengthens the sense of community among research faculty within the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAvery Davis Bell\u003C\/strong\u003E, Biological Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStaff Awards\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences Staff Awards are made possible by funding from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBetsy Middleton and John Sutherland Dean\u2019s Chair\u003C\/strong\u003E endowment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeadership in Action Award\u003C\/strong\u003E is presented to a staff member who has made exceptional contributions to the College through innovative and strategic leadership, change management, business process improvement, special project leadership, and similar accomplishments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArian Padron\u003C\/strong\u003E, Academic and Research Computing Services\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EExceptional Staff Award\u003C\/strong\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFriend of the Sciences Award\u003C\/strong\u003E recognize and celebrate performance above and beyond the call of duty. The awardees demonstrate high levels of execution in their primary job duties, auxiliary roles, and citizenship\u0026nbsp;\u2014 positively impacting the strategic goals of their department and the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExceptional Staff Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDexter Dean\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFriend of the Sciences Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKay May\u003C\/strong\u003E, Office of Faculty Affairs\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERising Star Award\u003C\/strong\u003E honors a newer staff member who has made a significant impact during their short tenure by contributing to the strategic goals and initiatives of the College, showing passion for their work, and embracing the Institute\u2019s culture and values.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENadia Moore\u003C\/strong\u003E, Academic and Research Computing Services\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Retirees\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEllery Ingall\u003C\/strong\u003E, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames \u201cJim\u201d Sowell\u003C\/strong\u003E, Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKurt Wiesenfeld\u003C\/strong\u003E, Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZ. John Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Sciences recognized outstanding faculty and staff for the 2024-25 academic year as well as recent retirees.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Sciences recognized outstanding faculty and staff for the 2024-25 academic year as well as recent retirees."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2025-04-17 15:16:35","changed_gmt":"2025-04-24 12:52:58","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676876":{"id":"676876","type":"image","title":"Spring Sciences Celebration Honorees","body":null,"created":"1744979760","gmt_created":"2025-04-18 12:36:00","changed":"1744979760","gmt_changed":"2025-04-18 12:36:00","alt":"Spring Sciences Celebration Honorees","file":{"fid":"260723","name":"54458812826_2edc53ccc0_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/18\/54458812826_2edc53ccc0_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/18\/54458812826_2edc53ccc0_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":9016171,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/18\/54458812826_2edc53ccc0_o.jpg?itok=gBwfXdaA"}}},"media_ids":["676876"],"groups":[{"id":"1279","name":"School of Mathematics"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"190386","name":"spring sciences celebration"},{"id":"18441","name":"faculty and staff awards"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"173647","name":"_for_math_site_"},{"id":"193733","name":"_for_math_site_manual_feed_"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter: \u003C\/strong\u003ELindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}