The University of Delaware College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) held its 2013 awards ceremony on May 15 in the Roselle Center for the Arts to recognize its alumni award winners and college award recipients, and celebrate the notable faculty accomplishments of the past academic year, which included a psychology professor earning the Francis Alison Award, six named professors, and 20 promotion and tenure appointments.
At the Celebrating Achievement and Success ceremony, held annually near the end of the academic year, Dean George Watson recognized scores of individual faculty members and students for receiving prominent national and state awards, including two faculty Fulbright Awards, a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award, Truman Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, and numerous other accolades from the past year.
College award recipients
Watson stated that this year saw an "exceptionally talented" candidate pool for the college's awards, making this year's list of recipients a bit larger due to "such high levels of faculty excellence."
This year's faculty recipients were:
- Florence Schmieg, associate professor of biological sciences, Outstanding Advising Award;
- Anne Boylan, professor of history, Outstanding Service Award;
- Richard Braun, professor of mathematical sciences, Outstanding Scholar Award;
- Marianna Safronova, associate professor of physics and astronomy, Outstanding Scholar Award;
- David Meyer, associate professor of art, Outstanding Teaching Award;
- Audrey Helfman, associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration, Outstanding Teaching Award; and
- David Smith, professor of biological sciences, Lifetime Service Award.
Florence Schmieg — Advising
As associate professor of biological sciences and chair of the Health Sciences Advisory and Evaluation Committee for the past 15 years, Schmieg has provided sound support for students seeking careers in medicine, dentistry and other health professions.
Her efforts have included the development of a detailed website guiding students through the four-year process of preparing for medical school, as well as organizing and overseeing the efficient operation of the HSAEC evaluation process.
In her nomination for the award, one student wrote, "This is how an adviser should make you feel — to not only be happy with where you are, but to also push to be something more."
Anne Boylan — Service
Boylan is professor of history. She has held numerous appointments across campus, from chairing the Undergraduate Studies Committee, to serving on the CAS Strategic Planning Committee, Women's Studies Program Executive Committee and search committee for numerous faculty appointments.
At the University level, she practices mock interviews with potential Truman, Goldwater and Marshall scholars and has worked with UD-ADVANCE to implement an NSF grant to improve recruitment and retention for female faculty in the sciences, engineering and math.
Her department chair John Hurt writes, "The broad range and frequency of her appointments testifies to Anne's reputation as a valuable colleague whose inherent competencies and abilities make it possible for her to serve effectively in almost any role throughout the University."
Richard Braun — Scholarship
Braun is professor of mathematical sciences whose major research contribution is using math to address questions in tear-film dynamics, which is required for overall eye health.
He frequently and extensively collaborates with scientists outside his field and has authored or co-authored 60 publications, with some of his articles cited more than 700 times.
He has presented his work at seminars and lectures across the world and received 12 scientific awards for his scholarship.
Marianna Safronova — Scholarship
Safronova is associate professor of physics and astronomy whose research is in the field of high-precision theoretical and computational studies of atomic properties.
Her work has been supported by more than $1 million in external funding, and she has been called "one of the brightest stars among the new generation of atomic theorists."
Since her promotion to the rank of associate professor in 2008, she has published 39 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, with a citation record exceeding 100 per year. She has given over 100 talks and was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2011. In 2012, Safronova received the Woman Physicist of the Month Award and she was most recently elected Fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute.
David Meyer — Teaching
Meyer teaches and oversees the sculpture program in the art department.
His work explores various concepts associated with experience and ranges from site-specific installation art, to large-scale outdoor commissions, to simple objects that compel a second look.
"He brings a personal yet professional touch to the studio, patiently sharing his time, knowledge, wit, and creativity with his classes across the sculpture curriculum," his nominators write. "He listens to his students, provides support, and challenges them at the same time."
Audrey Helfman — Teaching
Helfman is associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and leadership director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative program.
She has led numerous study abroad programs across the world, exposing students to "small, out-of-the-way villages" in countries such as Ethiopia, Morocco, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
"These lucky UD students return as better people, as global citizens aware of global realities, and much more eager to volunteer and to help lead others to do the same," write colleague and political science professor James Magee.
Helfman will retire from the University this year.
David Smith — Lifetime Service Award
Smith is professor of biological sciences. He came to UD in 1975 and has since chaired most of the departmental committees at some point. He has served on the College and University senates in many capacities and was elected vice president of the College Senate and past president of the University Senate.
Smith has guided numerous faculty in teaching and research mentorship and instituted a model for undergraduate student advisement that has become recognized across campus as a model for the University.
"His service to the University has increased the educational experience of students, strengthened the faculty's role in the University and helped educate the citizens of the Delaware Valley," wrote his department chair Randall Duncan.
Smith will retire from the University this year.
