UNCW Celebrates Faculty Award Recipients at Fall Faculty Meeting

UNCW recognized faculty who have made significant contributions in teaching, research and service during its Fall Faculty Meeting on Sept. 14. Facilitated by Chancellor Aswani K. Volety, the meeting included additional remarks from Faculty Senate Past President Nathan Grove and Provost James J. Winebrake, as well as the celebration of numerous faculty awards. 

Chancellor Volety’s report opened with a welcome to the start of another semester and reflection on the important impact of the faculty, reflected in the thriving success of the university. He commented on the university’s new strategic plan, endorsed by the Board of Trustees in July, the progress towards the Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW with over $113 million raised and the $25 million in sponsored research last year. He further celebrated the opening of two new colleges and a strong fall enrollment of nearly 18,000 students.  

The report from Faculty Senate, delivered by Past President Grove on behalf of President Colleen Reilly, welcomed the Senate’s recently elected 2023-24 leadership and highlighted areas of work for this year, including a range of policy work and affirmation of the university’s commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression. Dr. Grove also announced the recipients of the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award:  

• Dr. Donald Barnes, professor in the Department of Marketing 

• Dr. Paul Castagno, professor in the Department of Theatre 

Kim Sousa ’94 of the UNCW Alumni Board of Directors presented the J. Marshall Crews Distinguished Faculty Award on behalf of the Alumni Association: 

• Dr. Lynn Leonard, professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences and associate director of the Center for Marine Science 

Provost Winebrake’s report led the recognition and presentation of several additional faculty awards: 

2022-23 Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award 
This award recognizes recipients from each college for the last academic year. 

• Dr. Mark Pelletier, associate professor in the Department of Marketing, Cameron School of Business
  
  
• Dr. Michaela Howells, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, and Dr. Jennifer Vanderminden, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, the former College of Arts and Sciences
   
• Dr. Amelia “Kit” Huelskamp, associate professor in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, College of Health and Human Services
  
  
• Dr. Christine Liao, associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education, Watson College of Education 

Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching  

• Dr. Victor Malo-Juvera, professor in the Department of English 

Excellence in Online Education Award 

• Marianella Jara '04M, '13M senior lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures 

Lecturer of the Year Award 

• Dr. Ashlee Balena '95, senior lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures 

• Amy Long, senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences 

Part-Time Lecturer of the Year Award 

• S. Ryan Estes '20M, lecturer in the School of Social Work 

Graduate Faculty Mentor Award 

• Dr. Joanne N. Halls, professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences 

Distinguished Scholarly Engagement and Public Service Award 

• Dr. Christopher Prentice, professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs and director of the Center for Social Impact 

Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award 

• Dr. Nathan Crowe, associate professor in the Department of History
   
• Dr. April D. Matthias, professor in the School of Nursing 

Board of Trustees Teaching Excellence Award 

• Dr. Nathan Crowe, associate professor in the Department of History 

The Provost’s report closed with celebration of faculty with years of service in the following categories: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. A total of 149 faculty were recognized. 

More information on many of the awards celebrated at this meeting can be found on the Faculty Excellence Awards webpage.