{"id":85183,"date":"2025-05-01T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/?p=85183"},"modified":"2025-09-02T12:20:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T16:20:24","slug":"2025-cas-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/2025-cas-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 CAS Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are pleased to announce the many awards and prizes that faculty, staff, and students in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences have received this year.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

These awards acknowledge and celebrate the tremendous work and achievements that our faculty and staff have contributed this year.<\/p>\n

2025 Boston University Awards<\/h4>\n

These awards acknowledge and celebrate the work and achievements of our faculty and staff at the University level.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

2025 Undergraduate Academic Advising Award<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

John Celenza, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, was awarded a 2025 Undergraduate Academic Advising Award. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 John S. Perkins Award<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Lauren Consalvo, Department Administrator of the Department of Earth & Environment, was awarded the 2025 John S. Perkins Award. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

2025 CAS Faculty Teaching and Advising Awards<\/h4>\n

The following awards are for distinctive excellence, including but not limited to outstanding success in the classroom. They recognize and reward teaching in its broadest sense and in all of its aspects, from curriculum development and innovative pedagogies, to mentoring of individual students as scholars and\/or teachers.<\/p>\n

2025 Gitner Award for Distinguished Teaching<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Ana Villarreal, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"Professor Villareal\u2019s courses, including her popular seminar on Urban Inequalities in the Americas, are rigorous, intellectually rich, and deeply engaging. Students praise Professor Villareal for making complex theories accessible and relevant, often noting how she connects abstract ideas to real-world applications and social justice issues. Students also deeply appreciate her compassion and inclusivity. Her classroom is a space where students\u2014especially those from marginalized backgrounds\u2014feel valued and empowered. As one student put it, \u201cAna makes topics come alive, and she makes her students feel important and valued and special.\u201d Her passion, rigor, and deep humanity exemplify the very best of teaching at Boston University.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 Neu Family Award for Excellence in Teaching<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

J. Keith Vincent, Associate Professor, Department of World Languages & Literatures<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Professor Vincent connects his students to the voices of others across languages, space, and time. What\u2019s more, he inspires students to find their own voices. In his quest to deepen students\u2019 love of literature, Professor Vincent\u2019s pedagogical style blends the traditional with the experimental. His legendary The Tale of Genji database, for example, evolved from student-led translation comparisons into a robust digital humanities project. His students \u201cadore\u201d him and describe his classes as \u201ctransformative.\u201d As one student wrote, \u201cHe didn\u2019t just want us to write an excellent paper\u2014he wanted the novel to resonate with us as it resonated with him.\u201d His colleagues note that connecting with students is what matters most deeply to him; he is genuinely delighted and inspired by his students.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 Frank and Lynne Wisneski Award for Excellence in Teaching<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Carolyn Hodges-Simeon, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Professor Hodges-Simeon is a profoundly impactful teacher and mentor. After earning tenure, she expanded her teaching in an extraordinary way, launching several large-enrollment courses, such as Introduction to Evolutionary Medicine, that have become mainstays of the department\u2019s interdisciplinary major in Anthropology, Health and Medicine. Her course Evolutionary Psychology, which integrates pages of original material, interactive modules, and videos, has become one of BU\u2019s largest summer courses. Her students share how she changed their perspectives on scientific research and society at large. One student remarked, \u201cThis class has been a very good example of how STEM courses can be conscious of bias in the material.\u201d Another student wrote that Professor Hodges-Simeon helped them to look at the world \u201cwith more wonder and curiosity.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 CAS Award for Distinction in First-Year Undergraduate Education<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

The Distinction in First Year Undergraduate Education, reflects the crucial importance of supporting our students\u2019 transitions from high school, and enabling them to lay strong academic foundations for deeply engaged learning and high achievement throughout their college careers.<\/p>\n

Courtney Pina Miller, Lecturer in the Writing Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"A talented and dedicated teacher, a compassionate mentor, a generous citizen of the program, and a passionate advocate for first-generation and underrepresented students, Courtney Pina Miller has established herself as one of the CAS Writing Program\u2019s most respected and beloved faculty members. Students prize their seats in her courses, and she has earned a well-deserved reputation for offering inclusive, engaging, and intellectually rigorous courses that help first-year students transition confidently into college life. Beyond the Writing Program, Miller also serves as a mentor through programs such as the Newbury Center, Terrier Firsts, and IDEA Scholars, providing consistent guidance and advocacy for students learning to navigate college life. <\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 Dean\u2019s Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

With the Dean\u2019s Award for Excellence in Graduate Education, we recognize a member of our faculty whose commitment and contributions to graduate teaching, mentoring and\/or program development have significantly raised the quality and impact of post-baccalaureate training in their disciplinary or interdisciplinary fields.
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Jennifer Cazenave, Associate Professor, Department of Romance Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Because of her passion for her subjects and her wholehearted support of her students as both academics and human beings, Jennifer Cazenave\u2019s graduate students gain much more from her than specialized academic knowledge. They also develop research, communication, and critical thinking skills that are vital to their professional and personal growth and, more profoundly, cultivate an appreciation for the import and significance of humanistic scholarship at the highest levels. One of her students wrote, \u201cMost of all, this course taught me how to think… how to watch, listen, connect, consider, and debate.\u201d Another student shared that \u201cshe has reinvigorated my love and passion for film.”<\/p>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 Dean\u2019s Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching<\/h6>
\n

With the Dean\u2019s Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching, we honor the very important contributions of a part-time colleague to the educational mission of the College.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jill Walsh, Part-Time Lecturer, Department of Sociology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Jill Walsh is deeply committed to connecting classroom learning to the world beyond Boston University. In her course \u201cBoston\u2019s People and Neighborhoods\u201d, for example, students explore Boston\u2019s neighborhoods firsthand to deepen their understanding of urban sociology and local culture. Her students praise her courses as \u201ceye-opening\u201d, saying that their critical thinking and writing skills improved thanks to Walsh\u2019s rigorous and engaging curriculum. Walsh is an exemplary teacher who helps students recognize that the study of sociology offers not just an understanding of society, but also the power to improve it.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

2025 Outstanding Service Awards for Staff<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Abby Lutton, Department Manager, Department of Mathematics & Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Our nominator writes that Abby has proven herself to be an absolutely integral part of our department, from all of the large-scale operations to all of the nitty-gritty details. She helps us all do our jobs better\u2014making us better researchers, educators, and mentors\u2014by anticipating and supporting the needs of everyone in our department. Abby carefully listens to ideas of students and faculty and has been the backbone of implementing new initiatives, like a Department-wide Colloquium series. Abby effortlessly builds community: organizing department-wide lunches and enriching our yearly Pi Day celebration and start-and end-of-semester departmental parties. Abby further fosters connections between our department and the broader university, including the likes of Computer Science, the Hariri Institute, Data Science, Sponsored Research Program, and the International Students & Scholars Office. Abby does it all, and we could not imagine our department without Abby!<\/p>\n

Erin Reynolds, Assistant Director, Center for Space Physics and the Institute for Astrophysics Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Our nominators note that Erin spearheads the coordination of well over 100 federal funding proposals per year by over 50 PIs, the management of over 150 active grants and contracts with over $10M in annual expenditure, and the employment of over 70 students and 50 researchers. She supervises twice as many colleagues as she did just one year ago. Erin also organizes community- strengthening events like summer schools, workshops, and celebrations. Her contributions are cherished and valued by all in the BU astronomical community. Erin is greatly appreciated across CAS. She has been heavily involved in supporting the newly-created Office of Research Administration and serves on its advisory groups. She works tirelessly to ensure that all three of her research entities interfaces smoothly with the academic Department of Astronomy. And she is consistently willing to provide support, share her knowledge, and offer training across the College. She is a great asset and contributor to the College, and it is a privilege to partner with her and recognize her among her peers.<\/p>\n

Elise St. Esprit, Department Administrator, Department of Sociology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Our nominators state that Elise is incredibly organized, innovative, supportive of her colleagues and of our students and faculty, energetic, and brings a tremendous skillset to every facet of her job. She is an excellent planner, a skilled writer, and navigates delicate situations with unflagging sensitivity and thoughtfulness. This year has been an exceptionally challenging one and yet Elise routinely goes above and beyond, carefully supervising staff and student workers, and ensuring a seamless transition for our leadership. She has coordinated the hiring of new faculty and overseen several tenure and promotion cases. Having a person like Elise in an academic department is game-changing for faculty and students. She is always willing to go the extra mile to research the answer to difficult questions, whether pertaining to a graduate student\u2019s funding status, a faculty member\u2019s summer salary, or details regarding personnel issues such as hiring new faculty. She brings joy and good spirits into everything she does. She has been nothing short of phenomenal. In sum, Elise is an incredible asset, not just for Sociology, but for the College and the University.<\/p>\n

Liz Zoraian, Financial Analyst, CAS Business Office<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Several nominators came forward to share that Liz is always very helpful and responsive to departmental needs while maintaining the financial controls that are essential to the success of CAS and all of its departments and centers. However, what distinguishes her this year is the amount of responsibility that suddenly landed in her lap when BU unleashed JobX on an unsuspecting and unprepared University community. As Fiscal Year 2025 was commencing, she became the sole supervisor for all graduate and undergraduate students within CAS\/GRS in this new system. Because people\u2019s paychecks were involved, the consequences for students\u2014especially grad students\u2014were tremendous, and the pain caused by empty bank accounts was enormous. Liz found herself at the center of it all. Yet, she handled all the chaos and upheaval with patience and grace. Without her competence and support, things would have been much, much worse, and we are deeply grateful to have her collaborating with us to find solutions and help our students.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

2025 Templeton Awards for Excellence in Student Advising and Mentoring<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

The Templeton Awards showcase CAS advising at its best. Steve Jarvi\u2019s annual call for nominations from graduating seniors helps identify what students need, what they value, and how skilled and dedicated faculty advisors have made a positive difference in their lives. Recognizing that effective \u201cadvising\u201d is not limited to just the formal role of an academic advisor, the College emphasized the value of mentorship when soliciting nominations for the advising awards from the class of 2023.<\/p>\n

Marcus Walton, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"One of Marcus\u2019 nominators described him as \u201can incredible mentor supportive in my plans for post-grad, aiding in connecting me with past students and faculty members related to my research interests and career aspirations. We share various ideas about past, present, and future political conditions, contributing to my continuous exploration and questioning of political theories and policy.\u201d That nominator went on to add \u201chis teaching style is one that I think all professors of academia should follow: he is quite involved with his students and wants to see them do the best they can at all times.\u201d Well, if this group is any indication of our faculty in CAS, and I think that it is, that student has nothing to worry about.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Alexis Courtney, Lecturer, Department of Chemistry<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"A theme from Alexis\u2019 nominations was the clear connection between her teaching and her advising and mentoring. She encouraged one of her nominators to be an undergraduate teaching assistant and the result, well according to the student and I quote, \u201cWhen Professor Courtney asked me to be an undergraduate teaching assistant for organic chemistry, that instantly turned my life around. I went from being the most introverted, closed off student on campus to the most extroverted, and confident student all because she believed in me.\u201d Another student commented that \u201cI have heard numerous testimonies from students who have changed their career paths as a result of her mentorship\u2014myself included. Her innovative teaching techniques and openness to student feedback shift the focus from assigning grades to prioritizing student learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Susan K. Jackson Awards<\/h4>\n

The Susan K. Jackson Award honors the late Susan K. Jackson, who served as a professor and administrator in the College for over 30 years. The awardees embody her spirit in their dedication to helping others and nurturing community in CAS.<\/p>\n

2025 Susan K. Jackson Award Recipients<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Kyna Hamill, Master Lecturer and Director of the CAS Core Curriculum<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Kyna consistently recruits outstanding instructors from across CAS to teach in Core, many of whom request to come back and teach Core courses regularly. Students find community in her many initiatives and events, from the annual experiential learning trip to Florence to her legendary weekly tea. Core alumni remain highly engaged with the program, and Core staff describe Kyna\u2019s nurturing mentorship as \u201ctransformative\u201d. This welcoming and supportive environment does not happen by chance. Rather, it is a result of what Kyna\u2019s nominators describe as her \u201ccommitment to the beating heart of the Core mission: our sense of fellowship.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lauren Delp, PhD candidate in Biostatistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Lauren is a \u201cdouble Terrier\u201d and a first-gen college student who goes out of her way to make others feel included and understood. While navigating the demands of a rigorous doctoral program, she also actively engages with the BU chapter of the American Statistical Association, the SPH Doctoral Student Organization, and the Biostatistics Student Association, connecting and energizing her peers. In addition, she has transformed the environment of her first-year cohort into one of warmth, collaborative learning, and both personal and academic support.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Erin Salius, the Director of the CAS Experiential Learning Connector<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As the inaugural director of the EL Connector, Erin has created and empowered an increasingly complex community of students, staff, and faculty. She has designed programming that removes obstacles to experiential learning, such as securing financial support for students with unpaid internships and facilitating work authorization pathways for international students. Erin is also dedicated to staff and faculty community and growth, leading projects with the CAS Staff Institute and the Experiential Learning Practitioners Group. Erin\u2019s students and colleagues alike are thankful for her compassion, energy, and genuine care for those around her.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bontu Ankit Patro (CAS\u201925), Economics & Mathematics, International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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 <\/p>\n

2025 I.D.E.A.L. Awards<\/h4>\n

We are thrilled to announce the 2024-2025 recipients of the CAS Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Leadership (IDEAL) awards. These awards celebrate the impactful efforts of individuals and groups whose contributions exemplify recognizing and responding to inequity, exclusion, and marginalization through thoughtful and innovative approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

2025 I.D.E.A.L. Award Recipients<\/h6>
<\/p>\n
Paula Austin, Associate Professor of History and African American and Black Diaspora Studies<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Citing her generosity and initiative one of her nominators noted how Paula \u201chas brought unmatched, special energy to forging connections between History, AABDS, American Studies, and WGS and the students, staff, and faculty they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Campbell, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/div>\n
Both at BU and within a range of communities Professor Campbell has made a significant impact. Especially for what his nominators cited as his \u201cdedication to advancing Indigenous representation in academia, fostering inclusive learning environments, and advocating for Native communities.\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Allison McCarthy, doctoral student in Astronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"A few examples of Allison’s advocacy include developing custom ASL signs for scientific concepts and coding languages, which have been incorporated into an ASL dictionary for broader use; multiple invitations to discuss Astronomical occurrences and host Open Nights by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and UVA, among others; and co-authoring a paper highlighting efforts to integrate the DHH community into astronomy in the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Undergraduate Senior in Anthropology, Ruofei Shang\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2025 College Prize Awards<\/h4>\n

The College Prizes recognize members of the Class of 2025 who have made extraordinary contributions to their departments and programs.<\/p>\n

2025 College Prize Awards<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Anthropology \u2014 Katrina Adriene Tronco<\/p>\n

Archaeology \u2014 Hallie Baker<\/p>\n

Astronomy \u2014 Yi-Ting Chen<\/p>\n

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology \u2014 Elena Green<\/p>\n

Biology \u2014 Carly Shea McDermott<\/p>\n

Chemistry \u2014 Longxiao Wei<\/p>\n

Cinema & Media Studies Program \u2014 Xinting Chen<\/p>\n

Classical Studies \u2014 John Griffin<\/p>\n

Computer Science \u2014 Truc Duong<\/p>\n

Earth & Environment \u2014 Kelly Schisa<\/p>\n

Economics \u2014 Sofia Padilla Sousa Neves<\/p>\n

English \u2014 Katherine Emily Bourlakas<\/p>\n

History \u2014 Kaitlin Danielle Howlett<\/p>\n

History of Art & Architecture \u2014 Megan Caroline Hinckley<\/p>\n

Linguistics \u2014 Grace Louise Rohde<\/p>\n

Marine Program \u2014 Matthew Benjamin Giess<\/p>\n

Mathematics & Statistics \u2014 Caiwei Zhang<\/p>\n

Medical Science \u2014 Rohith Kameshwara Ryali<\/p>\n

Neuroscience\u2014 Adora SaroPhilosophy \u2014 Ryan Xavier Servaites<\/p>\n

Physics \u2014 Robert Vincent Vitale II<\/p>\n

Political Science \u2014 Ryan Xavier Servaites<\/p>\n

Psychological & Brain Sciences \u2014 Eve Olivia Kleiber<\/p>\n

Religion \u2014 Jonah Michael Causin<\/p>\n

Romance Studies \u2014 Elias Poretta DiMatties<\/p>\n

Sociology \u2014 Ramona Leung<\/p>\n

World Languages and Literatures \u2014 Lila Baltaxe<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Alumni Awards for Writing Excellence<\/h4>\n

The College recognizes the following winners of the Alumni Awards for Writing Excellence.<\/p>\n

Alumni Awards for Writing Excellence<\/h6>
<\/p>\n

Award for Writing Excellence in the Humanities in Honor of Robert E. Charm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Jonah Michael Causin<\/p>\n

Gregory Hudson Award for Writing Excellence in the Humanities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Giovanna Rose Rudis<\/p>\n

Michael and Theo Sassano Award for Writing Excellence in the Social Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Tia Sky Perkins<\/p>\n

Francis Bacon Award for Writing Excellence in the Natural Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Jana Al-Husayni<\/p>\n

Alumni Award for Writing Excellence in Mathematical & Computational Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Hunter Jackson Golemon<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are pleased to announce the many awards and prizes that faculty, staff, and students in the College and Graduate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21329,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85183"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21329"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85183"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86503,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85183\/revisions\/86503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}