Honors Faculty Member of the Year Award

Each year a member of UConn’s Honors faculty is named the Honors Faculty Member of the Year by the Honors Program, in association with the Honors Council.

Award Purpose

This honor serves to recognize and thank a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the Honors Program. Nominees for this distinction have had meaningful impact on the quality of Honors instruction, provided exceptional advising to Honors students, and have significantly exceeded expectations through their support of the Honors Program. The award recipient will be formally recognized at the Honors Medals Ceremony held at the end of the academic year.

2023-2024 Awardee

Dr. Beth Ginsberg is Associate Professor in Residence in the Department of Political Science, affiliate faculty in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies and El Instituto, and a core faculty member in the Indigeneity, Intersectionality, Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Program. Dr. Ginsberg has over 10 years of experience teaching courses at UConn, advised 6 student clubs, and supervised 16 Bennett Research Assistants, multiple internships, Honors course conversions, and Honors theses. Recently, Dr. Ginsberg received a grant to take students to New Hampshire to observe and engage in the first presidential primary activities. Students know that Dr. Ginsberg’s office door is always open, and she is happy to support them and their endeavors.

Past Recipients of the Honors Faculty Member of the Year Award

2022-2023: Dr. Jane Pryma (Sociology)
2021-2022: Dr. Alexia Smith (Anthropology)
2020-2021: Dr. Jason Courtmanche (English)
2019-2020: Dr. Judy Brown (Allied Health Sciences and Nursing)
2018-2019: Dr. Jennifer Sterling-Folker (Political Science)
2017-2018: Dr. Brian Aneskievich (Pharmaceutical Sciences) & Dr. Kimberly Bergendahl (Political Science)
2016-2017: Dr. Blair T. Johnson (Psychological Sciences)
2015-2016: Dr. Alaina Brenick (Human Development and Family Studies)
2014-2015: Dr. Mark Boyer (Political Science)
2013-2014: Dr. Patrick Dragon (Mathematics)
2013-2014: Dr. Annamaria Csizmadia (Human Development and Family Studies)
2012-2013: Dr. Patricia J. Neafsey (Nursing)
2012-2013: Ms. Rebecca Flanagan (Pre-Law)
2011-2012: Dr. Virginia Hettinger (Political Science)
2010-2011: Dr. William F. Bailey (Chemistry)
2009-2010: Dr. Lawrence Gramling (Accounting)
2009-2010: Dr. Robert Thorson (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology)
2008-2009: Dr. Robert Gross (James L. and Shirley A. Draper Professor of Early American History)
2007-2008: Dr. Steven Wisensale (Human Development and Family Studies)
2006-2007: Mr. Louis Lombardi (Actuarial Science)
2005-2006: Dr. Lawrence Hightower (Molecular and Cell Biology)
2004-2005: Dr. Robin Chazdon (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
2003-2004: Dr. Harry A. Frank (Chemistry)

Requirements for Nominations & Nomination Process

Requirements for Nominations

  • The nominee must be a full-time faculty member at the University of Connecticut.*
  • The nominee must exhibit excellence in working with Honors students in a teaching capacity.
  • The nominee must have taught an Honors undergraduate course or conversion in which the nominator was a student or served as an Honors advisor or thesis advisor to the nominator.
  • The selected awardee will participate in-person at the Honors Medals Ceremony to be held in May.
  • Only a current Honors student may submit a nomination for this award.

*Teaching assistants and graduate assistants are not eligible for this award.

    Nomination Process

    • Nominations for the 2024-2025 Honors Faculty Member of the Year Award are open and may be submitted by March 3, 2025 on this website.

    Selection Process

    • Nominations are reviewed by the selection committee, comprised of members of Honors Program faculty and students from the Honors Council.
    • Nominees will be notified of their nomination in late March/early April.
    • The Honors Program will contact each nominee for confirmation of availability to attend the Honors Medals Ceremony.
    • Available nominees shall submit a current curriculum vitae and description of their involvement with the Honors Program.
    • Eligible nominees will continue in the process for consideration by the award committee.
    • More than one nominee may receive the award in a given year.

    Awardee Expectations

    • The awardee will submit a biography and photograph (high resolution/black & white) of themself for use by the University. The biography and image will be included in the event program and utilized in Honors Program communications, including this website.
    • The awardee agrees to attend the Honors Medals Ceremony. They are encouraged to invite faculty, family, and friends. They will wear regalia and accept their medal on stage.
    • The awardee will be asked to give a “Last Lecture” presentation to the Honors community in the following academic year.

    For More Information

    Please email honors@uconn.edu to request additional information.