FACULTY RECOGNITIONS
2025 Student Impact Grant for Faculty Mentors
The Student Impact Grants for Faculty Mentors are given annually to EIU faculty who engage in high impact student practices, including projects intended to result in publications with student co-authors, joint research endeavors with students that are accessible to external audiences, partnerships with local community organizations or schools, public displays of research and/or new creative works, and other projects that lead to external recognition at EIU.
Gopal Periyannan (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Barry Kronenfeld, Katherine Lewandowksi (Geology-Geography), Md Farhadur Reza (Mathematics & Computer Science), Margaret Floress, Jeffrey Stowell, and Anne Walk (Psychology).
2024-2025 Achievement and Contribution Awards
The Achievement and Contribution Awards are given annually to Eastern Illinois University faculty for outstanding work in the areas of teaching/primary duties, research, service, and balanced (combination of all three areas). Our faculty continue to achieve distinction in each of the award areas — congratulations to all!
Balanced Category
- Dr. Melissa Ames, Department of English
- Dr. Eden Effert-Fanta, Department of Biological Sciences
- Dr. Amberleigh Henschen, Department of Biological Sciences
- Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Department of Music
- Dr. Christopher Laingen, Department of Geology/Geography
- Dr. Md Farhadur Reza, Department of Math & Computer Science
- Dr. Elizabeth Tacke, Department of English
Research Category
- Dr. Michael Beck, Department of Chemistry
- Dr. Gary Canivez, Department of Psychology
- Dr. Hongshan He, Department of Chemistry
- Dr. Jinhyuk Lim, Department of Physics
- Dr. Scott Meiners, Department of Biological Sciences
- Dr. Christopher Wixson, Department of English
Service Category
- Dr. Bill Lovekamp, Department of Sociology/Anthropology/Criminal Justice
- Dr. Jennifer Stevens, Department of Sociology/Anthropology/Criminal Justice
- Dr. Paul Switzer, Department of Biological Sciences
Teaching Category
- Dr. Colleen Abel, Department of English
- Dr. Claudia Janssen Danyi, School of Communication & Journalism
- Dr. Sace Elder, Department of History
- Dr. Angela Glaros, Department of Sociology/Anthropology/Criminal Justice
- Dr. Danelle Larson, Department of Music
2025 EIU Distinguished Faculty Award
One of the most prestigious honors available to EIU faculty, the Distinguished Faculty Award is presented each spring to the faculty member or department chair who best exemplifies achievement in teaching/performance of primary duties, research/creative activity, and service.
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Joe Gisondi, a professor of Journalism at EIU, has turned the student-run newspaper, the Daily Eastern News, into one of the premier college news organizations in the country, has authored two books, regularly runs sports journalism workshops across the country, and has been named one of the most influential advisers of the last 100 years by the Associated Collegiate Press.
Gisondi’s primary responsibilities at EIU revolve around supervision of student journalists who run the DEN and teaching journalism classes, with a particular, although not exclusive, focus on sports reporting.
After 20 years as a working journalist, and a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida, Professor Gisondi joined the EIU faculty in 2002. He has had a profound impact on EIU students and on the EIU and Coles County community. Along the way, he found time to earn a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in creative nonfiction from Spalding University.
As student media director, the student newspaper has been named the Best College Media Group for the past two years by the College Media Association among the 50-plus national honors, has won 82 awards in the Illinois College Press Association journalism competition over the past three years, including for best news website and best print edition, and has earned four nominations and one win for an Associated Collegiate Press's Pacemaker Award. Previous to EIU, his student newspapers at Valencia College in Orlando won three ACP Pacemaker Awards among four nominations and the newspaper was twice named Florida student-newspaper of the year. In part for these accomplishments, in 2022 Professor Gisondi was named to the inaugural class of the Associated Collegiate Press's “Pioneers,” presented to distinguished journalism educators and advocates who have provided exceptional leadership for collegiate media programs and made remarkable contributions to collegiate journalism.
In addition to his work with students, Professor Gisondi has continued an active writing career. He has published a textbook, The Field Guide To Covering Sports, on sports reporting that is used across the country, and perhaps, most notably, a book reporting on people around the country who are actively searching for the cryptid Bigfoot. He also founded the website ColesCountySports.com, contributing prolifically to stories on the site covering the range of sports in Charleston, Mattoon, and the rest of the county.
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2025-26 EIU Faculty Laureate
Dr. C.C. Wharram is a Professor of English and Eastern's Coordinator for the Health & Medical Humanities minor program. He writes about literature, translation, medicine, and science, mostly concerning global transformations that occurred in the 18th century. He doesn't know how it happened, but his recent work on the importance of nonhuman things is often cited by researchers in the field of puppetry. His translation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's The Passion of Young Werther will, finally, be published in early 2026. He is a passionate advocate of general education. Wharram holds a B.A. in English (Honors) from McGill University and a Ph.D. in English, with a minor in German, from the University of Minnesota.
2024 Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award
The Mendez Award is presented each fall to the EIU faculty member or department chair who best exemplifies dedication and achievement in service to the university, their profession, and the community at large.
Dr. Steven W. Daniels began teaching in the Physics Department in 1991. He earned his Ph. D. in Physics from the University of Maryland. His research has included Optics, Lasers, and Plasma Physics. He has been PI on NSF, DARPA, and DOE grants, as well as several internal grants. Dr. Daniels was the driving force for events surrounding two Solar Eclipses at EIU. He has been the President of the Charleston Rotary Club, the President and also Treasurer for the Excellence in Education Foundation which supports the local school district, the President and also Secretary of the EIU Council of Chairs, and Chair of the Physics Department for many years. Dr. Daniels has shepherded the Electrical Engineering major from its inception to the point where two classes have graduated and it is a fully functioning and vital part of the curricular offerings of EIU. He is a longtime member of the Illinois Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers executive board. He also serves on subcommittees of the American National Standards Institute which develops laser safety standards for the country. Dr. Daniels is an avid runner and has bowled on the Faculty-Staff Bowling League for over 30 years.
2026 Alan and Carlene Baharlou Distinguished Service Award
The Alan and Carlene Baharlou Distinguished Service is designed to recognize a member in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who has developed a record of outstanding service that supports and contributes to the teaching and research missions of the College.
Dr. Terri Fredrick, Professor of English, is the 2026 Baharlou Award winner. Over 21 years, Dr. Fredrick has provided exemplary service to EIU and beyond. She has made long-term and substantial contributions in areas including our periodic HLC re-accreditation efforts; support of gender diversity on campus through years as advisor to PRIDE and on the Gender and Sexual Diversity Committee; and service to other teachers through work with FDIC, the Wakonse Conference on College Teaching, and numerous collaborations and presentations with and for local school districts. Her service contributions are too numerous to list. Perhaps more important than the number of these activities is Dr. Fredrick's spirit of collaboration and genuine care for all in our campus community and beyond. These stand as a model for us all to emulate.
2026 Hanner Teaching Excellence Award
The Hanner Teaching Excellence Award is designed to celebrate and honor consistent excellence in teaching.
Dr. Anna Kochigina, Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Journalism, is the 2026 Hanner Teaching Excellence Award winner. Anna exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding teacher. She is highly dedicated to student learning, involved in creating active learning experiences inside and outside the classroom, challenges and supports students to grow and learn consistently and effectively.
2026 James K. and Wanda L. Johnson Award
The purpose of this award is to provide faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences with assistance in the pursuit of their individual research or development activities, the presentation of special conferences or guest speakers, the development of study abroad activities, interdisciplinary programs/courses, and the advancement of technology in the classroom.
Dr. Amberleigh Henschen, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, is the 2026 Johnson Award recipient. Amberleigh received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Creighton University. She is currently planning a research project to better understand how a bird species has adapted to a variety of natural and altered landscapes.
2026 Lawrence A. Ringenberg Award
The Ringenberg Award is the highest faculty honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The award is named in honor of Lawrence A. Ringenberg, the first dean of Arts and Sciences at EIU, serving from 1961-1980. In the tradition of Dr. Ringenberg, this award recognizes excellence in our academic community.
Dr. Ahmed Abou-Zaid, Professor and Chair of Economics, is the 2026 Ringenberg Award recipient. Since joining EIU in 2008, he has built a strong national and international reputation in monetary and financial economics, publishing in Scopus- and ABDC-indexed journals, including Q1 and Q2 outlets. His papers are highly cited, reflected in his strong Google Scholar h-index and growing citation record. His research spans exchange rate dynamics, public debt and growth, sustainability, and interdisciplinary work integrating sentiment analysis with financial markets. Dr. Abou-Zaid has earned consistently superior teaching evaluations and mentored numerous award-winning graduate students. A dedicated institutional leader, he serves as Department Chair and has held major university governance roles. His leadership, international engagement, and commitment to student success exemplify the highest standards of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
2026 Lida G. Wall Faculty Research Mentor Award
The Lida G. Wall Faculty Research Mentor Award is an annual honor bestowed on a faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who has served as a research mentor to one or more undergraduate students during the last two years.
Dr. Isaiah Lim, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, is the 2026 Lida Wall Award recipient. He has mentored students in highly impactful and productive research. He has taken them to Argonne National Labs to accomplish research. He has helped them to publish that research. He has mentored them through additional research and prepared them to present at a professional meeting at the national level. He has received awards and grants for this work both internal and external. Isaiah is an outstanding researcher, mentor, and colleague.
2026 Outstanding Faculty Award
The CLAS Student Deans recognize an outstanding faculty member from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences each year. The recipient is nominated by EIU student.
Dr. Anna Kochigina, Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Journalism, is the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award recipient. Anna exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding teacher. She is highly dedicated to student learning, involved in creating active learning experiences inside and outside the classroom, challenges and supports students to grow and learn consistently and effectively.
2026 Unit B Research/Scholarship/Creativity and/or Service Achievement Award
This award recognizes the professional activities in research and scholarship/creativity and/or service to the department, college, and campus.
Dr. Lydia Craig, Instructor of English, is the 2026 recipient in the area of Arts & Humanities. Dr. Craig is an active scholar publishing research in Victorian Studies, and has had another successful year of research; in addition, she has given generously of her time in service to the English Department. In the past year, she has published as co-editor The Verse of Charles Dickens (Edinburgh UP) and two articles, with four more articles or chapters forthcoming. She gave an invited talk at a Dickens conference in the UK this past summer, presented other talks related to her work on Dickens, and organized a panel for a regional conference. She has an on-going editorial position with The Dickensian, and has multiple scholarly projects under way. I foresee that her scholarly reputation will continue to grow. In addition, she has generously served on multiple departmental committees in the English Department. Dr. Craig has been a model departmental citizen for any academic rank. We have been fortunate to be able to have this emerging scholar teach our graduate students as well as our first-year writing students.
Andreea Chiritescu, Instructor of Economics, is the 2026 recipient in the area of Sciences. While Ms. Andreea Chiritescu has demonstrated exceptional excellence in teaching and teaching innovation during her work at EIU, she is also active in both research, creative activity, and service to the Department of Economics and Eastern Illinois University, and the Charleston community at large. One notable contribution of her research is her co-authored publication, “Herd Immunity: A Classroom Experiment” (2016), which emerged from her long-term interest in making complex economic concepts more accessible through experiential learning. Andrea has served on the Student Recruitment Committee, the Textbook Selection Committee, and has advised the Student Society for Economics. She consistently represents the department during events such as EIU Open House and Academic Foundation Day. Her active recruitment efforts, both through formal events and personal encouragement, have contributed to increasing the number of Economics majors and minors. As chair of the Textbook Selection Committee, she managed communications with publishers, organized meetings, evaluated materials, and ensured clear documentation of departmental decisions. Her service extends deeply into the Charleston community. She founded the Science Club at Jefferson Elementary, served on the Charleston Carnegie Public Library Board, and contributed to the district’s gifted and talented program through the GATE Committee. Her Science Club, which welcomed third through sixth grade students for weekly experiments across 24 weeks, became widely recognized for its hands-on, creative, and enjoyable learning activities. Additionally, Andrea earned the DWF Collaborative Redesign Initiative grant in Fall 2024 to enhance learning outcomes in Principles of Microeconomics, implementing more hands on activities, policy discussions, and graded in class work. Andrea uses popular culture, such as film clips, music, and cartoons, to illustrate economic principles, an innovative pedagogical strategy that is used to make difficult economic concepts easier to understand by students.
2026 Outstanding Staff Award
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences recognizes an outstanding staff member who shows exemplary service in their department.
Jessica Hills, Office Manager in the Departments of World Languages & Cultures and Philosophy, is the 2026 recipient of the CLAS Outstanding Staff Award. Since joining the department in 2022, Jessica has served as Office Manager for World Languages & Cultures in the mornings and Philosophy in the afternoons, managing a full-time appointment with remarkable dedication and enthusiasm. Faculty and students alike attest to the transformative impact she has had on our work environment. Jessica is a proactive, dynamic self-starter who approaches every task—large or small—with energy and joy. Her ability to multitask between two departments is extraordinary. Forward-thinking and creative, she played a pivotal role in designing our three academic hubs in Coleman Hall, transforming them into vibrant, welcoming spaces. She also manages the hub calendar, ensuring easy access for student groups. Jessica is a driving force behind recruitment and outreach efforts. She helps create a lively atmosphere through cultural displays and seasonal decorations that students and visiting families praise. Our Culture Days for regional high schools depend heavily on her organizational expertise; during our February 26, 2026 visit, she helped host 70 students and teachers for an outreach experience praised by participants. Above all, Jessica is a caring and generous colleague who builds rapport effortlessly. Her attentiveness and empathy shine through in every interaction. As a mentor to student workers, she balances encouragement with clear guidance, boosting morale and fostering professionalism. Jessica has become the heart of our departments. Her professionalism makes her a role model, and her kindness makes her beloved by students and colleagues alike.
STUDENT RECOGNITIONS
Graduate Student Investigator (GSI) Awards
The Graduate Student Investigator (GSI) Award program was developed by the former Dean of the College of Sciences to support graduate research and to provide a forum for the presentation of superior graduate student research. The GSI program is open to students who are pursuing a degree program within CLAS.
2026 Recipients:
- Jemma Booth, Chemistry
- Abbas Khan, English
Scholars in Undergraduate Research at Eastern (SURE) Awards
The SURE program fosters undergraduate research participation in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Undergraduate involvement in research with mentoring professors is a rewarding experience for students. The goal of the SURE program is to facilitate research activities and provide a forum for the presentation of undergraduate research.
2026 Recipients:
- Josiah Barker, Psychology
- James O'Brien, Political Science
- Kevin Perry, Electrical Engineering
Social Science Writing Award
The Departments of Economics, Geology-Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, Anthropology, & Criminology invite students to participate in the Annual Social Science Writing Awards competition. Regardless of major, undergraduate students who write research papers as a regular assignment in all social science courses may submit them for recognition.
2026 Recipients:
- 1st Place - Jaylin Stofferahn, Economics & Mathematics
- 2nd Place - Haley Strempel, History
- 3rd Place - Hayden Sennett, History Education
Creative Works Award
The Department of English, the School of Arts (Departments of Art+Design, Music, and Theatre), the Departments of World Languages & Cultures, and the Tarble Arts Center invite undergraduate students to participate in the annual Creative Works Awards competition. Regardless of major, undergraduate students who engage in creative works in the arts and humanities may submit them for recognition.
2026 Recipients:
- Madison Colby, Interpersonal Communication
- Brianna Olshawsky, Theatre
- Benjamin Schwarberg, Music
CLAS Student Deans Assistance Award
This award is offered to students who have overcome or are facing some type of hardship that has impacted their college career.
2026 Recipient:
- Vanessa Johnson, Art Education
CLAS Outstanding Student Worker Award
This award is offered to student workers with exemplary service in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2026 Recipient:
- Jacksen Adkins, Departments of Political Science and Economics
Congratulations to this year's CLAS scholarship recipients! Thirty-six students were selected to receive a total of $34,050 in scholarship awards.
William E. Adams Memorial Scholarship
Jayriel Kizer, Sophomore, Political Science, Pre-Law Studies Minor
Eulalee Anderson & Caroline Pennel Scholarship
Nicole Lofland, Freshman, Astronomy
Elisha & Estella Baumgartner Scholarship
Lexi McCoy, Sophomore, History
Bridget Jimenez, Sophomore, Political Science
Emma Garner, Sophomore, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Sociology
Edith Breving Annual Scholarship
Olivia Corona, Senior, English Language Arts Education
CLAS Advisory Board Scholarship
Jemma Booth, Junior, Biological Sciences
Mary Jane Coartney Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship
Lauren Clark, Junior, English
Alyssa Copelin, Junior, English
Elijah Kubicek, Junior, English
G.B. Dudley Memorial Scholarship
Anthony Aya, Senior, Chemistry, Engineering Physics
Charnyl McFarland, Junior, Biological Sciences
Ann Frommel Memorial Scholarship
Genevieve Biberdorf, Senior, Biochemistry
Louise (Tym) Honnold & Martha (Tym) Johnson Scholarship
Sabrina Bunting, Senior, English Language Arts Education
Tricia & Greg Johnson Sciences Scholarship
Weston Averkamp, Freshman, Math Education
James Jones Fund for the Study of Experience of War in History, Literature, Theatre, Film, and Music
Michael Redman, Senior, English Language Arts Education
Quintin Scott, Freshman, Music Education
Halie Selsor, Senior, English Language Arts Education
Patricia Stal Markowski Science Scholarship
Preston Siewert, Senior, Chemistry
Ron & Carol Jean (McHenry) Martin Communication & Theatre Scholarship
Mary Graff, Senior, English Language Arts Education
Orndoff/LeDuc Scholarship
Preston Siewert, Senior, Chemistry
Jaylin Stofferahn, Sophomore, Mathematics
Reta & Mark Pafford Scholarship
Jae Lynn Riggleman, Senior, Biological Sciences
Don & Ferne Rogers & Daughters Scholarship
Cassandra Martin, Senior, Science Education Biology
Hiep Nguyen, Senior, Math Education
Al & Vesta Rundle Scholarship
Piper Reynolds, Sophomore, Theatre
Martin O. Schahrer Scholarship
Jae Lynn Riggleman, Senior, Biological Sciences
Gerardo J. Solis Latino/Latina Scholarship
Karla Tejada Guardado, Junior, Psychology
Murray & Sallie Walters Scholarship
Bo Hilbert, Junior, Math Education, Science Education Physics
Lewis T. White Memorial Scholarship
Alexys Drake, Senior, Biological Sciences
