Ivan Allen College Faculty and Staff Celebrated at Spring Luncheon

Posted April 18, 2019

On, April 16, 2019, faculty and staff from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts were recognized for their accomplishments, service, and research contributions at the Spring Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon.

Dean Jacqueline Royster recognized the accomplishments of the College throughout the year, and looked back on her time as dean as she prepares to step down in August 2019.

“As I reflect upon my almost nine years as dean and the role of liberal arts at Tech and beyond, I see our path steadily evolving – slowly, but steadily,” Dean Royster said. “We have had bold advocates during our 131 years on campus – students, faculty, and executive leadership who have helped us to make the case for leadership and accomplishments, and I am here to say that the need for advocacy continues. What I know, though, is that this collaboration with us has been and continues to be worth the effort.”

Royster said it was the people who matter most and presented the following recognitions:

Faculty members Matthew Oliver (Economics), Dan Amsterdam (HSOC), Johnny Smith (HSOC), Nassim Parvin (LMC), Paul Alonso (Modern Languages), Jan Uelzmann (Modern Languages) were recognized for their promotions to associate professor, and for earning tenure.

Newly promoted academic professionals were recognized: Brandy Blake (LMC), senior academic professional and director of the Naugle Communication Center, and Melissa Foulger (LMC), senior academic professional and director of DramaTech.

Recipients of the Distinguished Staff Awards for their administrative services were Mayumi Cole (Army ROTC), David Selman (Dean’s Office), Jenny Strakovsky (Modern Languages), Joycelyn Thomas (LMC), and Michael Terrell (LMC). Student services recipients were Jade Charnigo (Public Policy), Carolyn Crump (ROTC), and Robert Hampson (Dean’s Office).

Legacy staff in the Dean’s Office were recognized with Ivan Allen College Distinguished Service Awards. Financial Administrator Lead Gregory Abrams was recognized for 26 years of service at Georgia Tech. Those recognized for ten years of service were Financial Manager II in Modern Languages Edward Able, Director of Facilities Sam Aral, Director of Communications Rebecca Keane, and Sponsored Research Financial Manager II David Selman.

The Ivan Allen College Student Advisory Board presented Distinguished Teaching Awards to Daniel Amsterdam (HSOC) and Adele Douglin (Modern Languages). 

Dean Royster presented the Faculty Researcher Awards:  

The Gold Star – Level 1 awards recognize faculty who, for the first time, garner $100,000 or more in external research dollars. Gold Star 1 recipients are: Brad Fain (Center for Advanced Communications Policy), Danny Hughes (Economics), Aaron Levine (Public Policy), Anna Stenport (Modern Languages), and Anne Sullivan (LMC).

The Gold Star – Level 2 awards recognize faculty who bring in external research dollars above $100,000 subsequent to the Gold Star 1. Recipients are: Nathan Moon (Center for Advanced Communications Policy), and Alasdair Young (Nunn School).

The Million Dollar Club recognizes faculty who have accumulated more than $1 million dollars in research over time. Members of the Club include: Paul Baker (Public Policy), Ian Bogost (LMC), Danny Boston (Nunn School), Marilyn Brown (Public Policy), Ute Fischer (LMC), Vicki Galloway (Modern Languages), Sy Goodman (Nunn School), Gordon Kingsley (Public Policy), Chris LeDantec (LMC), Brian Magerko (LMC), Julia Melkers (Public Policy), Helena Mitchell (Public Policy), Janet Murray (LMC), Phil Shapira (Public Policy), and Adam Stulberg (Nunn School).   

Those who have obtained distinguished fellowships include: Diane Hicks (Public Policy) who has been named a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Aaron Levine (Public Policy) who was recently named a AAAS Leshner Fellow. 

The Distinguished Faculty Researcher Award, carrying a one-time $20,000 in research funding, was awarded to Lisa Yaszek from the School of Literature, Media, and Communication.

Johnny Smith (HSOC), the Julius C. “Bud” Shaw professor of Sports, Society, and Technology, was recognized for Innovation in Education.

Distinguished Outstanding Service by students recognized Nicholas Bell, an industrial engineering major, and public policy graduate research assistant Paul DeMerritt. Both are assistants in the Dean’s Office.

Will Jimerson, human resources manager in the Dean’s Office, received the Distinguished Administrative Service Award.

Dean Royster closed out the ceremony by acknowledging the College’s retiring faculty, which includes Danny Boston (Nunn School), Lawrence Foster (HSOC), Helena Mitchell (CACP), Robert Pikowsky (Public Policy), Vicki Galloway (Modern Languages), Xiaoliang Li (Modern Languages), Rumiko Simmonds (Modern Languages), and Delia Tyler (Modern Languages).

“One of the very best parts of being dean of this college has been the privilege of shining a brighter light on our amazing work,” Dean Royster said. “I’ve had the pleasure of broadcasting to anyone within sight and sound stellar examples of what is possible when humanities and social sciences function boldly and vibrantly as 21st century enterprises in a scientific and technological world.”