CHSS Faculty Excellence Awards
The CHSS Faculty Excellence Awards were established to underscore the College’s deep commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Recipients of the 2024 awards will be recognized at the CHSS Fall Opening Meeting in late August 2024.
The College of Health & Social Sciences is deeply committed to excellence in teaching and will offer two Excellence in Teaching Awards each academic year. One award will be given to a tenured or tenure-track faculty member, and the other award will be given to a lecturer who has demonstrated excellence in teaching. Candidates for this award must have maintained an average of at least a .40 teaching load over a period of five years or more.
Students, faculty and department chairs are able to nominate an individual for this award. Self-nominations are also accepted.
Criteria for Excellence in Teaching Award
- Designs courses to maximize learning and address a variety of different learning styles
- Stimulates interest of students and encourages them to think imaginatively, critically and independently
- A pedagogical approach that is innovative (new approaches using current or new models of teaching), intellectually rigorous, creative and engaging
- A record of outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside the classroom
- Experience advising/mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students — interactions outside of the classroom and the quality of such interactions
- Contribution to developing or enhancing curricula in the field
- Embodies values in teaching vision statement of CHSS (e.g., social justice)
- Engages in professional development activities to enhance and expand teaching skills
- Quantitative SETE scores are important to consider, in addition to qualitative student comments
- Other forms of excellence in teaching
Nomination Process
Students, faculty and department chairs are able to nominate an individual for this award. An online form will be completed along with a narrative that addresses the qualifications of the nominee based on the criteria. The nomination deadline for the 2023 – 2024 awards is April 12, 2024.
Awarding of the Excellence in Teaching Award
Each award will include $750 and a certificate signed by the Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Health & Social Sciences. The recipient’s name and year of award will appear on a plaque displayed near HSS 238, and they will receive their award at the opening collegewide meeting in the fall. Awardees are required to be present at the Fall Opening Meeting in order to receive the award.
The College of Health & Social Sciences is deeply committed to excellence in scholarship and highly values the involvement of students in faculty research programs, as well as faculty who support student-initiated research that is above and beyond the requirements for a degree. To honor these collaborations, the Task Force on Scholarship will hold an annual competition, review nominations and select a winner.
This award recognizes either a tenure-track, tenured or lecturer faculty member who is committed to inclusive research processes and providing meaningful opportunities for students to engage with their communities and become an essential part of the knowledge production process. Eligibility for this award includes a minimum of five years on the College of Health & Social Sciences faculty and at least a .40 time base.
Nomination Process
Faculty colleagues (including chairs of departments and programs) are able to nominate an individual for this award. Self-nominations are also accepted. Submit the product of the collaboration (a published manuscript, a technical report, a video, a conference poster, etc. Include a one-page description that includes how the student and faculty collaborated on the project and provide contact information for both faculty and student(s). Thesis projects or assignments in classes are not eligible. The nomination deadline for the 2023 – 2024 awards is April 12, 2024.
Awarding of the Excellence in Scholarship Award
This award will include $750 and a certificate signed by the Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Health & Social Sciences. The faculty recipient’s name and year of award will appear on a plaque displayed near HSS 238, and they will receive their award at the opening collegewide meeting in the fall. Student research assistants will also be honored at the fall opening meeting, where they will receive an award certificate and gift from the College. Awardees are required to be present at the Fall Opening Meeting in order to receive the award.
The College of Health & Social Sciences is deeply committed to excellence in service and will offer one Excellence in Service Award each academic year. This award recognizes either a tenure-track, tenured or lecturer faculty member who has performed outstanding service that benefits the department, College and University. Eligibility for this award includes a minimum of five years on the College of Health & Social Sciences faculty and at least a .40 time base. Although not an absolute requirement, service activities that involve and promote student success are highly desirable in selecting a winner.
Criteria for Excellence in Service Award
- Service that has an impact on student success
- Service activities that promote and enhance the SF State community
- Variety, depth and leadership of service activities
- Innovations in service
- Exemplary quality and impact of the service activity
Nomination Process
Faculty colleagues (including chairs of departments and programs) are able to nominate an individual for this award. Self-nominations are also accepted. The nomination deadline for the 2023 – 2024 awards is April 12, 2024.
Awarding of the Excellence in Service Award
This award will include $750 and a certificate signed by the Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Health & Social Sciences. The recipient’s name and year of award will appear on a plaque displayed near HSS 238, and they will receive their award at the opening collegewide meeting in the fall. Awardees are required to be present at the Fall Opening Meeting in order to receive the award.
Previous Winners of CHSS Faculty Excellence Awards
Excellence in Teaching, Tenure-Track
Sherria Taylor, Department of Child & Adolescent Development
Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer
Martin Dixon, Department of Kinesiology
Excellence in Service
Sonja Lenz-Rashid, School of Social Work
Excellence in Scholarship
Julie Chronister, Department of Counseling
Excellence in Teaching, Tenure-Track
Gretchen L. George, Family, Interiors, Nutrition & Apparel Department
Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer
Sarah Pawlowsky, Department of Physical Therapy
Excellence in Service
Larry Vitale, School of Nursing
Excellence in Scholarship
Elif Balin, Department of Counseling
Excellence in Teaching, Tenure-Track
Molly McManus, Department of Child & Adolescent Development
Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer
Hamida Nusrat, Clinical Laboratory Science Program
Excellence in Service
Anthony Mayo, Department of Kinesiology
Excellence in Scholarship
Kate Hamel, Department of Kinesiology
Excellence in Teaching, Tenure-Track
Linda Platas, Department of Child & Adolescent Development
Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer
Deborah Craig, Department of Public Health
Excellence in Service
Sheldon Gen, School of Public Affairs & Civic Engagement
Excellence in Scholarship
Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Department of Public Health
Excellence in Teaching, Tenure-Track
Pavlina Latkova, Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer
Ana Maria Barrera, Department of Kinesiology
Excellence in Service
Jackson Wilson, Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Excellence in Scholarship
Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, Department of Sociology & Sexuality Studies