2019-20 faculty and staff awards of excellence

Sixty-seven Youngstown State University employees earned awards of excellence for the 2019-20 academic year, including two dozen faculty receiving distinguished professorships in teaching, scholarship and service.

The awards are usually presented at the annual Faculty and Staff Awards Showcase, which was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Watch video.

The honorees:

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP AWARDS

Excellence in Teaching
Laura Calcagni, Nursing
Rebecca Curnalia, Communication
Omer Genc, Marketing
Victoria Kress, Counseling, School Psychology & Educational Leadership
Alicia Prieto Langarica, Mathematics & Statistics
Bradley Shellito, Geography and Urban-Regional Studies
Patrick Spearman, Teacher Education
James C. Umble, Dana School of Music

Excellence in Scholarship
Ewelina Boczkowska, Dana School of Music
Susan Clutter, Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences
Michael Crescimanno, Physics & Astronomy
Ramesh Dangol, Management
Karen Larwin, Counseling, School Psychology & Educational Leadership
Yogesh Uppal, Economics
Feng Yu, Computer Science & Information Systems

Excellence in Service
Snjezana Balaz, Physics & Astronomy
Jane Beese, Counseling, School Psychology & Educational Leadership
Christopher Bellas, Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences
Timothy Francisco, English
Weiqing Ge, Physical Therapy
Helen (Guohong) Han-Haas, Management
Jaietta Jackson, Communication
Tomi Ovaska, Economics
Michael Serra, Chemistry

PART-TIME FACULTY TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Michael Bartolo, Accounting & Finance
Rachel Faerber-Ovaska, World Languages & Cultures
Timothy Hanek, Economics
Amanda L. Sevilla, English

EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON IN SCHOLARSHIP
Sara B. Michaliszyn, Kinesiology and Sport Science

EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON IN TEACHING
Ronald Shaklee, Geography and Urban-Regional Studies

WATSON MERIT AWARDS
Nancy Landgraff, Physical Therapy
Gary R. Walker, Biological Science

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

Classified Service Awards
Cynthia Bella, WYSU-FM
Robin Bradley, Marketing
Mari Ann Cann, Dean’s Office, CCCAC
Niki Cole, Psychology
Lisa Devore, Chemistry
Eileen Esposito, Honors College
John Gordon, IT Customer Services
Marilyn Handel, Geography & Urban & Regional Studies
Tiffany Hans, Delivery Services
Mari Jusino, General Counsel
Denell Kenny-Vadala, Community Counseling Clinic
James Maiorca, Facilities Office
Cassie Nespor,  Maag Library
Sandra Olmi, University Bursar
Anna Marie Ruscitti, Career & Academic Advising
Scott Schippert, Facilities Office
Faun Williams, Housing & Residence Life

Professional/Administrative Service Awards
Crystal Bannon, Career and Academic Advising
Molly Burdette, Dean’s Office, CLASS
Michael Cardwell, Kilcawley Center
Lori Goist, World Languages and Cultures
Mollie Hartup, Marketing and Communications
Lori Hinebaugh, IT Application Services
Scott Knudson, Dean’s Office, Graduate Studies
Anne Lally, Student Counseling Center
R.J. Markowitz, Campus Recreation
Susanne Miller, Dean’s Office, BCHHS
Laura Robich, Nursing
Tara Sydney, Center for Student Progress
Xiaoli Zhu, Maag Library

Classified Exempt Service Award
Lisa Cutter, Parking Services

Professional/Administrative Exempt Service Awards
Alyssa Annico, Maag Library
Daniel O’Connell, Parking Services
Trevor Parks, Sports Information
Alycia Sutherin, Controller’s Office