Dear Colleagues,

While it is hard to believe we’ve reached the end of Spring 2024, exams and the commencement preparations around campus prove the semester is wrapping up. I’m delighted to report, however, that our faculty and staff achievements are not slowing down. I want to again pass along some updates that have been shared with me lately.

• Two JMU faculty were recently honored by the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) Advisory Council. A proposal from assistant professor of Political Science Sombo Muzata to return as a fellow to the CADF program, having completed her 2022-23 fellowship at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, was awarded. In addition, a proposal from Amina Saidou, assistant professor of French, entitled “Engaging the Senegalese Youth in Cinema through the Power of Artificial Intelligence,” which exemplifies a groundbreaking initiative that seamlessly integrates teaching, research and civic engagement was funded.
• Interested in autonomous cars? You can learn more from Elham Torabi, associate professor of Computer Information Systems, and Gizem Atav, assistant professor of Marketing. They recently received a 4-VA grant for their proposal “What Drives Autonomous Cars? An Investigation Into Consumer Behavior And Diffusion Trends In Autonomous Car Adoption.” The project will study the adoption of autonomous vehicles and ways to foster smart, connected communities.

Last week I hosted the Academic Affairs Awards and Recognition Luncheon and was able to acknowledge divisional-level and endowment award winners. Please join me in congratulating your colleagues once again.

Provost Awards for Excellence

• Provost Award for Administrative Excellence (Full-time): Sheila Ward, Administrative Assistant, Educational Foundations and Exceptionalities, College of Education
• Provost Award for Administrative Excellence (Full-time): Kathy Lubkowski, Operations Coordinator, Dean's Office, College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Provost Award for Excellence in Faculty Departmental Advising: Kenn Barron, Professor, Psychology, College of Health and Behavioral Studies
• Provost Award for Excellence in Faculty First Year Advising: Ben Blankenship, Assistant Professor, Psychology, College of Health and Behavioral Studies
• Provost Award for Excellence in Full-time Advising: Katie Fisher, Assistant Director, Pre-Professional Health Advising, Student Academic Success and Enrollment Management
• Provost Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising: Margaret Sloan, Professor and Director, School of Strategic Leadership Studies, Strategic Leadership Studies, College of Business
• Provost Award for Excellence in Global Education: Justin Henriques, Associate Professor, Engineering, College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Provost Award for Excellence in Honors Teaching and Service: Jared Featherstone, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, University Studies
• Provost Award for Excellence in Learning Improvement: College Student Personnel Administration (M.Ed.) program, Graduate Psychology, College of Health and Behavioral Studies
• Provost Award for Excellence in Outreach and Engagement: Carlos Alemán, Associate Professor, School of Communication Studies, College of Arts and Letters
• Provost Award for Excellence in Part-time Teaching: Manita Khemthong, Adjunct Faculty, School of Integrated Sciences, College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Provost Award for Excellence in Part-time Teaching: Aiveen Gallagher, Instructor, School of Music, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Provost Award for Excellence in Inclusivity: Laura Taalman, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science and Mathematics
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Ja'La Wourman, Assistant Professor, Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, College of Arts and Letters
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Sergiy Dmytriyev, Assistant Professor, Business Management, College of Business
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Benjamin Riden, Assistant Professor, Educational Foundations and Exceptionalities, College of Education
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Joseph Kush, Assistant Professor, Graduate Psychology, College of Health and Behavioral Studies
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Shraddha Joshi, Assistant Professor, Engineering, College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: William Lukens, Assistant Professor, Geology and Environmental Science, College of Science and Mathematics
• Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship: Rachel Rhoades, Assistant Professor, School of Theatre and Dance, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Endowments

• Jerry Benson Faculty Engagement Endowment: Michelle Hesse, Associate Professor, Department of Health Professions, College of Health and Behavioral Science
• Alger Family Faculty Support Endowment: Emma Thacker, Associate Professor, Early, Elementary and Reading Education, College of Education
• Ford Faculty Support Endowment for Excellence in Teaching: Eric Carbaugh, Professor, Middle, Secondary and Mathematics Education, College of Education
• Goodman Faculty Fellowship Endowment for Excellence in Teaching: Matt Pardo, Associate Professor, School of Theater and Dance, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Shirley Hanson Roberts ’56 and Richard D. Roberts Endowment for Faculty Excellence: Bill Evans, Professor, Psychology, College of Health and Behavioral Science
• Shirley Hanson Roberts ’56 and Richard D. Roberts Endowment for Faculty Excellence: Kate Arecchi, Associate School Director, School of Theater and Dance, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Betty Coe and Paul J. Cinquegrana Presidential Chair: Suzanne Miller-Corso, Professor, School of Theatre and Dance, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Please keep submitting the accomplishments you and your colleagues achieve over the summer! You can also send comments and inquiries via email (provost@jmu.edu) or submit a question anonymously through the Ask the Provost option online.

Good luck with exams and have a wonderful summer.

Sincerely, 
Heather