SUBJECT: 2026 Faculty Award Recipients

Dear Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to announce the 2026 Faculty Award recipients! Please join me in congratulating each of them for their dedication and commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and service. Their contributions strengthen our institution both inside and outside the classroom and play a vital role in advancing student success.

Collegiate Lectureship Awards

• Joseph Musial, Department of Behavioral Science, Teaching Professor of Psychology (CASL)
• Patricia Graybeal, Department of Accounting and Finance, Lecturer IV (COB)

Distinguished Academic Citizenship Award

• Ivy Forsythe-Brown, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor of Sociology (CASL)

Distinguished Research Award

• Zhi (Elena) Zhang, Department of Natural Science, Associate Professor of Neurobiology (CASL)

Distinguished Research Team Award

• The Human Factors Faculty Group: Shan Bao, Areen Alsaid, Sang-Hwan Kim, Fred Feng, Bochen Jia, and Carmel Price (CECS  & CASL)

Distinguished Teaching Award

• Anne Danielson-Francois, Department of Natural Science, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences (CASL)
• Adam Sekuler, Department of Language, Culture, and Arts, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Production (CASL)  

Lecturer Excellence in Inclusive Teaching Award

• Samantha Hallman, Department of Health & Human Services, Lecturer II (CEHHS)

Once again, congratulations to all of our award recipients, and sincere thanks to the faculty members who took the time to nominate a colleague and/or serve on a review committee!

Respectfully,
Ghassan Kridli
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs