The faculty recipients of the 2015 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence and Gerald and Deanne Gitner Excellence in Teaching Award include (from left) Christopher Spilling, Sanjiv Bhatia, Lauren Obermark (Gitner Award), Susan Brownell, Kimberly Baldus, W. Howard McAlister and Brian Lawton. The awards were handed out at the annual State of the University Address Sept. 16 at UMSL. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Following the annual State of the University Address by University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Tom George on Sept. 16, seven faculty members were recognized for their outstanding work, along with three UMSL staff members.

The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, established in 1988 by Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett, have become a university tradition. This year’s faculty awards went to:

• Kimberly Baldus, teaching professor in the Pierre Laclede Honors College, for non-tenure track faculty member
• Sanjiv K. Bhatia, professor of computer science, for teaching
• Susan Brownell, professor of anthropology, for research and creativity
• Brian J. Lawton, senior lecturer in information systems, for part-time faculty member
• W. Howard McAlister, associate professor of optometry, for civic engagement
• Christopher Spilling, professor chemistry and biochemistry, for campus service 

The celebration also included the Gerald and Deanne Gitner Excellence in Teaching Award, given each year to a UMSL faculty member who is in the early stages of his or her career and demonstrates outstanding and innovative teaching abilities. Lauren Obermark, assistant professor of English, received this year’s Gitner award.

Twenty-five-year service awards were presented to the following faculty members:

• Priscilla Anne Dowden-White, associate professor, Department of History
• Michael T. Elliott, associate professor, Department of Marketing
• Ricardo A. Flores, professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy
• Aaron Stephen Franzel, assistant clinical professor, College of Optometry
• Margo Lea Hurwicz, associate professor, Department of Anthropology & Archeology
• Janet Lynn Lauritsen, curators’ professor, Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Thomas L. McPhail, professor, Department of Media Studies
• Keith J. Stine, professor, Department of Chemistry
• Cathy Vatterott, professor, Department of Educator Preparation, Innovation & Research
• Gayle A. Wilkinson, professor, Department of Educator Preparation, Innovation & Research

Click here to view Chancellor George’s State of the University presentation.

Media Coverage:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch