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    VPA Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards
    Updated Aug 22

      VPA Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards

      2026 Awards Cycle

      In order to recognize the outstanding contributions of both faculty and staff to the College of Visual and Performing Arts, three faculty and two staff awards have been created. Each year one Faculty Excellence Award will be awarded in each of the following three categories: Faculty Excellence in Teaching, Faculty Excellence in Research, and Faculty Excellence in Service. In addition, two Staff Excellence Awards will be awarded to recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff. For each of the five awards, an amount of $1,000 will be conferred to each recipient.

      Nomination forms are submitted online through the Syracuse University Application Portal, where you will find details on the selection process, eligibility, criteria, and the nomination process. The nomination period for the 2026 awards cycle will be announced in Spring 2026. For questions regarding the nomination process or the application portal, contact Seyeon Lee, associate dean for strategic initiatives and research (slee80@syr.edu).

      Past Recipients

      2024-25

      Winners: Faculty Excellence*

      • Mišo Suchý, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      *No nominations were received for Excellence in Research or Service.

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Jen Ballard, Department of Drama

      • Robert Lee, Setnor School of Music

      2023-24

      Winners: Faculty Excellence

      • Jessica Martinez, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      • Lyndsay Gratch, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Excellence in Research

      • James Fathers, School of Design, Excellence in Service

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Betsy Henderson, Office of Academic Affairs

      • Laura Mikols, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies

      • Sandra Puro, School of Art

      2022-23

      Winners: Faculty Excellence

      • Soudabeh Moradian, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      • Seyeon Lee, School of Design, Excellence in Research

      • Janet Brown, Setnor School of Music, Excellence in Service

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Linda Ferguson, School of Design

      • Colleen Reynolds, Office of Recruitment and Admissions

      • Niki Swackhamer, Office of Academic and Career Advising

      2021-22

      Winners: Faculty Excellence*

      • John Warren, Setnor School of Music, Excellence in Service

      • Jennifer DeLucia, Department of Creative Arts Therapy, Excellence in Research

      • Lynn Greenky, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Excellence in Research

      *No nominations were received for Excellence in Teaching.

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Jill Coggiola, Setnor School of Music

      • Jackie Flores, Office of Academic and Career Advising

      • Andrea Root, Office of Academic and Career Advising

      2020-21

      Winners: Faculty Excellence*

      • José (Peppie) Calvar, Setnor School of Music, Excellence in Teaching

      • Kelly Gallagher, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      • Margie Hughto, School of Art, Excellence in Teaching

      • Marilyn Koch, School of Art, Excellence in Teaching

      • Carmel Nicoletti, School of Design, Excellence in Teaching

      *No nominations were received for Excellence in Research or Service.

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Melissa Chirico-Brown, Office of Budget and Operations

      • Kati Foley, Office of the Dean

      • Caitlin Jarvis, Office of Recruitment and Admissions

      • Ben Luhrs, Office of Academic and Career Advising

      • Hannah Nast, Office of Academic and Career Advising

      2019

      Winners: Faculty Excellence

      • Ed Morris, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      • Sharif Bey, School of Art, Excellence in Research

      • Anne Laver, Setnor School of Music, Excellence in Service

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Danielle Benedetto, Office of Information Technology

      • Maria Maloof, Office of Budget and Operations

      • Michelle Taylor, Setnor School of Music

      2018

      Winners: Faculty Excellence*

      • Boryana Rossa, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Research

      • Ida Tili-Trebicka, Setnor School of Music, Excellence in Service

      *No nominations were received for Excellence in Teaching.

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Megan Carlsen, Setnor School of Music

      • Francesca Moore, Setnor School of Music

      • Lisa Nicholas, Department of Drama

      • Sandy Puro, School of Art

      2017

      Winners: Faculty Excellence

      • Kara Herold, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Teaching

      • Susannah Sayler, Department of Film and Media Arts, Excellence in Research

      • Joanna Spitzner, School of Art, Excellence in Service

      Winners: Staff Excellence

      • Joanne Balduzzi, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies

      • Chris Prior, VPA Fabrication Shops

      • Lisa Tucci, Department of Drama

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