Quinnipiac University
The audience enjoying an awards ceremony for the center of excellence.

Centers and Institutes

Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence

The Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence recognizes the exemplary work of our faculty and staff who bring to life the vision and strategic plan of Quinnipiac.

What We Do

Support and celebrate excellence

The Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence recognizes the exemplary work of our faculty and staff at Quinnipiac University. Each year, six distinguished members of our community are honored for their dedication to the university and their significant contributions to Quinnipiac's evolution as the University of the Future.

The Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence serves an important role in supporting President Judy Olian’s strategic plan and its four pillars — to build an institution-wide mindset that prepares graduates for 21st-century careers and leadership; to create an inclusive, excellence-driven community; to nurture and positively impact internal, local and global communities; and to foster lifelong connections and success.

To this end, the awards reflect the highest professional standards at Quinnipiac. The university holds a formal celebration each fall to honor the recipients.

Celebrating Excellence

The 2022 Center for Excellence winners
Quinnipiac honors excellence in teaching and service

October 21, 2022

For their exceptional contributions to the Quinnipiac community, six faculty and staff members were honored Thursday evening during the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students awards ceremony.
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2022 Excellence in Teaching Award

Ruby ElKharboutly

Associate Professor of Software Engineering

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Robert Engle

Professor of International Business

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Catherine Takizawa

Associate Teaching Professor of Biology

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2022 Excellence in Service to Students Award

Noreen Bashta

Assistant Director for Student Accounts

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Heather Stegmaier

Director of Donor Relations and Fund Management

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Janice Surato

Talent Acquisition Support Specialist

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Nominate Someone for the Faculty Excellence Award

The Excellence in Teaching Award will recognize any Quinnipiac faculty member (full time or part time) for the excellence of their teaching of Quinnipiac students. Excellence may include teaching that is clearly beyond the high standard the university already assumes or that is extraordinary in the innovative methods it brings to the Quinnipiac classroom.

Suggested nomination deadline: April 30

Please note the following:
  • The awards committee shall consider nominations from students, alumni, or faculty/staff. No self nominations will be considered.

  • Each nomination should state why the nominator believes the nominee has demonstrated excellence and/or innovation in teaching.

  • Nominations should be 2 pages or less and are evaluated based upon substantive, specific examples supporting the various criteria.

  • Generalized positive comments do not aid in establishing how and why the nominee deserves an award.

Nominate a faculty member

 

Nominate Someone for the Staff Excellence Award

The Staff Excellence award will recognize members of the university community who have extended themselves beyond the scope of their regular responsibilities to greatly enhance the student experience, provide exemplary service to the institution, or to significantly impact the university’s operations through growth in professional expertise.

Suggested nomination deadline: April 30

Please note the following:

  • The awards committee shall consider nominations from students, alumni, or faculty/staff.

  • Nominations are evaluated based upon substantive, specific examples supporting the various criteria. Therefore, generalized positive comments — while complimentary — do not aid in establishing how and why the nominee deserves an award.

  • Nominators may wish to collaborate with other co-nominators in completing the nomination form to make it as comprehensive as possible. The information provided on the nomination form will significantly carry the greatest weight in the consideration of a nominee.

  • Nominees will be selected based on their contributions to the university and not upon any number of nominations received for any individual nominee.

Nominate a staff member

Excellence in Teaching Award, Past Honorees

Thomas Army (2021)

Adjunct Faculty of History in the College of Arts and Sciences

Meet Thomas

Jose Riofrio (2021)

Associate Teaching Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering

Meet Jose

Deanna Proulx-Sepelak (2021)

Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy in the School of Health Sciences

Meet Deanna

Iddrisu Awudu (2020)

Associate Professor of Management, Muslim Chaplain, 2020 Honoree

Meet Iddrisu

Jonathan Blake (2020)

Professor of Computer Science & Software Engineering, Director of Computer Science

Meet Jonathan

Excellence in Service to Students Award, Past Honorees

Jill Martin (2021)

Professor of Legal Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences

Meet Jill

Laura Mutrie (2021)

Director of Field Education for Social Work, Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work in the School of Health Sciences

Meet Laura

Mike Medina (2021)

Director of Campus Life for Recreation in Student Affairs

Meet Mike

Jason Burke (2020)

Director of Veteran and Military Affairs

Meet Jason

Joe Podsiadlo (2020)

Associate Director of Technology

Meet Joe

Erin Provistalis (2020)

Director of Campus Life for Student Centers and Student Involvement

Meet Erin

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Centers and Institutes at Quinnipiac

We believe education doesn’t begin and end inside the classroom. We live in an increasingly diverse and complex world that demands the knowledge, collaboration and empathy required to deliver meaningful impact. 

Whether it’s turning ideas into viable business applications or digging through human history by analyzing ancient artifacts, each of our centers and institutes pairs our students and faculty to transform academic theory into real-world solutions.

Academics

Our broad liberal arts core complements deep expertise across more than 100 degree programs to provide an education that equips you for an extraordinary career. Whether you are in high school and ready to pursue your undergraduate degree, currently in the workforce and looking to advance your career through one of our graduate programs or have ambitions of becoming a lawyer or doctor, we have the schools, programs and faculty that will help unlock your potential.