The 2023 winners were nominated by their peers for these awards, which are presented annually. College of Arts and Sciences Dean John A. Pelesko called the faculty members’ body of work impressive and their dedication to their students inspiring.
Hannah Kim, associate professor in the department of history, and co-coordinator of the social studies education program received the Outstanding Advising Award. Kim was recognized not only for her outstanding advising in the history education program, but also her extraordinary voluntary commitment to undergraduate majors and faculty advisors in the seven other social studies education program departments, as well as her collaboration with advisors throughout the University.
James Allen Anderson, professor in the School of Music, and David Kim, an assistant professor in the department of English, each received an Outstanding Advocacy Award. Anderson was recognized for his commitment to multiculturalism through the art of music. He is creator of the UD Cultural Fusion Initiative, which provides students with culturally immersive experiences through collaborations with other students and musicians from around the world. Kim has worked to develop strong connections with The News Journal, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Historical Society and other stakeholders on a breadth of initiatives to improve the lives of people living in Wilmington.
The award for Outstanding Mentoring was received by Jennifer Follett, an assistant professor in the department of English and the director of the University Writing Center. She mentors fellow faculty, graduate teaching assistants and tutors in the Writing Center. In a nominations letter, it was noted she “works tirelessly to mentor…on effective teaching, grading, and mentoring strategies.”
Joseph M. Fox, a professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, was awarded the Outstanding Scholarship Award. He has a distinguished record of scientific publications, professional honors, and funded projects that total close to $40 million in support. Recently, Fox’s seminal contributions to the development of click chemistry and bio-orthogonal chemistry were cited by the Nobel Committee describing the background for the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Emily Davis and Jennifer Naccarelli each received an Outstanding Service Award. Davis is an associate professor with joint appointments in the department of English and the department of women and gender studies. She was recognized for her “extraordinary efforts to support faculty governance, enhance faculty and student life, and create diverse and inclusive curricula and programming across the University of Delaware.”
Naccarelli is a professor in the department of women and gender studies. She is engaged with the community through social activism, the focus of her work is gender-based violence. As director of her department’s domestic violence prevention and services program, she has a direct impact on students’ social-justice education and career preparation.
The Outstanding Teaching Award was presented to Polly Zavadivker, an assistant professor in the department of history and the director of UD’s Jewish Studies program, an interdisciplinary program that offers a broad range of courses in Jewish culture. She is recognized by her peers and her students for her dedication to her teaching.
One of her students noted, “We leave her class as better (and smarter) humans.”
