Faculty, staff members receive excellence awards

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes superior teaching by full-time instructors at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level.

DAVID KLOTZKIN is a committed educator who puts in countless hours to support students and colleagues, using a holistic approach and humor to ensure the success of his students. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1988, his master’s degree in materials science from Cornell University in 1994, and his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1998. He joined the faculty at Binghamton University as an associate professor of electrical engineering in 2009. Before coming to Binghamton, he held several positions in industry and was an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Cincinnati. As a teacher, he strives to build a very deep and solid foundation in the material so that years later, students will remember the essential ideas. He includes a lot of context and examples, remaining accessible to students in and out of class. His students attest to his talent for explaining complex concepts by relating them to real-world scenarios, as well as his special gift for injecting humor into his lectures. He uses this engaging style to create classroom projects and hands-on activities that enable students to learn challenging concepts at both the undergraduate or graduate level. He has twice received the Outstanding Instructor Award from students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is prestigious from the students’ perspective. He is also known for devoting considerable time to curriculum development, even as he continues to teach the challenging required courses.

ORLY SHOER is an outstanding teacher who is caring and creative. She is able to teach classes with students of varying levels of expertise while enabling them all to thrive and succeed in a calm, supporting environment. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel-Aviv, Israel in 1984. She joined the Department of Judaic Studies at Binghamton University as an adjunct lecturer in 2011. Prior to that, she taught Hebrew to adults who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia at the Absorption Center in Netanya, Israel, and also taught at Temple Concord in Binghamton as well as Hillel Academy in Vestal. Upon arriving at Binghamton, she took charge of the Hebrew language program, refreshing and revising the curriculum. She teaches three courses each semester, ranging from Hebrew 101 to advanced reading and comprehension courses. She is also in charge of all Hebrew language testing, placement and translation of official documents. Called a dedicated and particularly talented classroom teacher, she devotes time to reinforcement and review of grammar points, utilizing flashcards and conversation drills for true comprehension of the language. When introducing new grammar points, she has students work collaboratively in groups to practice in both written and oral exercises. She uses poems to illustrate structure and developed a teaching tool students have nicknamed the “foldy” — a sheet split down the middle between Hebrew and English. The foldy allows one student to listen while another practices conversational skills before switching roles, facilitating conversation where nervousness might otherwise hinder learning.

SARAH THOMPSON brings an energy and passion for health and wellness to all of her classes, inspiring both students and colleagues. She models what she teaches and motivates students to enhance their own health and well-being. She received her associate of arts degree from Highland Community College in Kansas in 1993, and her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise physiology from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995. She received her master’s degree in social science and counseling from Binghamton University in 1999, and joined the faculty as a lecturer of health and wellness studies in 2000. Prior to that, she taught in the exercise science master program at SUNY Cortland. Over the past two decades, she has taught dozens of different courses, and currently teaches five to six different classes a year. Her wide breadth of knowledge makes her valuable and unique. All of her courses are evidence-based in practice while remaining current with the latest research in the field and structured around what is best for the students. Well-known for bringing a high level of energy and vibrancy to her teaching, she sets high standards and personally motivates each student to reach his or her personal goals. Her classes are well-planned and informative, and she is acknowledged for breaking down complex topics into digestible terms. She established a nutrition and exercise internship to provide students with hands-on and field work experiences and has inspired students to change career paths after taking her courses.

NANCY TITTLER is a caring, dedicated and creative teacher who plays an impactful mentor role, building strong relationships with students and colleagues. She is a lifelong learner and continuously strives to improve the teaching experience for her students. She received her bachelor’s degree in Russian and English from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1974, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Slavic languages and literatures from Yale University in 1976 and 1981, respectively. She also attended Norwich University Russian School in Vermont, and the CIEE Language Program at Leningrad State University in Russia. She joined the faculty at Binghamton University as an instructor of Russian in 1980 and became a senior instructor in 1994. Prior to coming to Binghamton, she was an assistant in Slavic collections at the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University, taught high school Russian and served as a translator of Russian for the University’s Translation Referral Service. She is credited for growing the program of Russian studies from a small listing of language courses to a vibrant unit that is poised to offer a new major, as well as developing courses and revamping others in preparation. She amazes her colleagues by how much her students learn in short amounts of time, in part by holding mandatory “writing conferences” and individual meetings with every student. She provides extensive feedback to students while continuing to look for and adopt new approaches of teaching to make her classes even better. Her classrooms are interactive and she hosts the Russian Table and potluck dinners at her house to improve students’ conversational Russian.

ERIN WASHBURN brings an unparalleled dedication to teacher education, challenging and inspiring her students as well as her colleagues and the K-12 students they collectively impact on a daily basis. She received her bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Baylor University in 2000, and her master of education in curriculum and instruction and PhD in curriculum and instruction/literary education from Texas A&M in 2004 and 2009, respectively. She joined the faculty at Binghamton in 2010 as assistant professor of literary education, and was promoted to associate professor in 2016. Prior to coming to Binghamton, she taught reading in high schools in Texas and England, and was a reading clinician and lecturer at Texas A&M. She has been called a model literacy teacher-educator grounded in robust theory and rigorous research with a comprehensive and balanced understanding of literacy teaching and learning. She empowers and engages students, using her scholarly work to support her teaching practices and working with students at all levels in the literacy field. She has excellent command of the content, planning carefully to guide her students and purposefully modeling reflective practices. She uses a teaching model that shifts responsibility for learning from the teacher to the student and uses varied methods of instruction to break learning down into understandable concepts while coaching students to higher levels of performance. Students describe her classroom as “real” and as a place where they are able to ask pressing questions. She also initiated and coordinates the Windsor High School Transition Academy and the Partner Power project with Johnson City schools.

WEI XIAO is an extraordinary educator who effectively presents difficult, cutting-edge material in an understandable way that motivates students and piques their interest in macroeconomics. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Shandong University, China, in 1993; his master’s in economics from Peking University, China, in 1996; and his PhD in economics from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. He joined the faculty at Binghamton University as an assistant professor of economics in 2006, was promoted to associate professor in 2008, and was promoted to professor in 2016. Prior to coming to Binghamton, he was an assistant professor of economics at the University of New Orleans. His teaching philosophy captures his belief that it doesn’t matter how much material he covers; it matters how much his students learn. He creates an environment for students that facilitates critical thinking, purposely encouraging and creating opportunities for students to ask questions. He learns every student’s name and he assigns group projects so students can learn by doing. While teaching both undergraduate and graduate students, he is praised for his clarity of instruction and his availability outside the classroom. He uses real-world examples to demonstrate how abstract theories meld with real-world economics, incorporating his research expertise to enrich the classroom experience. Students say that he focuses on the big picture, not dry facts from a textbook, teaching them to fully comprehend what they are being shown by walking through every step of the topic to provide clarity and a deeper understanding.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the University’s commitment to providing students with instruction of the highest quality.

JOHN FLETCHER is an enthusiastic, caring, disciplined teacher and mentor who inspires his students, using a culture of respect to help them succeed. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental planning from Binghamton University in 1993, and his master’s in outdoor and environmental education from SUNY Cortland in 2003. He also holds a second-degree black belt from Sang Lee’s Taekwondo Academy in Vestal, N.Y. He has been teaching taekwondo, physical fitness and wellness, and martial arts/self-defense courses at Binghamton since 1993, and also serves as a Newing College Fellow. He uses innovative approaches to teaching and hands-on activities to support learning concepts, basing everything he does on respect and discipline. As a natural leader, he sets his standards high, yet personally motivates each student to reach personal goals. He stays current with the ever-changing health field and encourages students to do the same through the assignments he integrates into courses. By focusing on student requests, interests and difficulties, his students connect not only with him, but also to new ways of living life that shift their perspectives in a positive way. By educating the whole student and considering all the dimensions of well-being, he has a tremendous impact on students’ lives. Students recognize him as inspiring, kind, caring as well as passionate for what he teaches, never asking students to do what he will not do himself. He makes classes enjoyable, puts his students before himself and empowers students with self-confidence and belief in self while promoting effective problem-solving strategies.

ZERKSIS UMRIGAR is a superb instructor who motivates his students to work hard as they gain knowledge and critical-thinking skills, making vital contributions to the teaching mission of the Department of Computer Science. He received his BTech degree in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India, in 1976, his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1978, and his PhD in computer engineering from Syracuse University in 1986. He joined the faculty at Binghamton University in 1987 as a full-time faculty member, but left for a software design and programming position in industry. Since 1997, he has worked as chief web programmer analyst for Rail Europe, and returned to Binghamton’s faculty as an adjunct lecturer in 1996. His courses are considered difficult but motivating for students who deepen their knowledge and find him very accessible. His classes work like “a well-oiled machine” and he is very responsive to student questions. He designs and delivers materials and assignments that require students to think critically to come up with solutions, attracting many students to his courses given his high standards. Students note that his class policies are clear and he sticks to them; his assignments are interesting and thought-provoking; and his teaching, quizzes and exams and programming assignments are so well designed that you get a sense of achievement at the end of the course. He makes himself accessible to students outside of class and goes above and beyond to help students master challenging concepts.

The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring honors Binghamton University faculty who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment as mentors of Binghamton’s undergraduate students in research, scholarship or creative activities outside of normal course assignments.

ELIZABETH CASTEEN is a transformative advisor, instructor and counselor for a wide range of students, giving her a powerful capability to engage young people in challenging and first-rate research. She received her bachelor’s degree in history, modified with art history, from Dartmouth College in 2001, and her master’s degree and PhD in medieval European history from Northwestern University in 2004 and 2009, respectively. She joined the Binghamton University faculty as an assistant professor of history in 2011, and was promoted to associate professor in 2016. She has mentored nine undergraduate students on topics ranging from an honors thesis on the cult of relics, to a yearlong project on 11th-century papal politics, as well as a research project on feminine sanctity and heresy. Students commend her patience and breadth of knowledge that helps to foster a passion for the study and understanding of history. She is able to bring history to life and inspire a desire to learn more. She is dedicated to advancing students’ work ethic and skill sets, encouraging presentations at conferences and helping to secure travel funding to enable them to do so. She has guided students, helping them to cultivate research and organizational skills that will serve them throughout their careers. She offers constant, unyielding support to students, modeling for them what constitutes an outstanding scholar, and, in turn, views her students as legitimate scholars themselves. Through her mentoring and counseling methods that will take students well beyond their undergraduate years, she has opened doors for students when they didn’t even know those doors existed.

Provost’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Director

This award recognizes the exemplary service that graduate directors provide to their unit’s graduate programs.

GRETCHEN MAHLER, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2002, and her PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Cornell University in 2008. She remained at Cornell University as a postdoctoral fellow until 2011, when she joined the faculty at Binghamton University. She assumed the role of graduate program director for the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2014, and under her direction, the number of graduate students enrolled in the program has increased substantially. In fall 2014, the department had 80 percent more new master’s students and 25 percent more new PhD students compared to the prior year, which nearly doubled the total number of graduate students enrolled in the department. In fall 2015 and fall 2016, the number of new graduate students increased by 30 percent and 20 percent respectively, over the prior years; all occurring while maintaining quality. She oversaw the application process for a complete revision of the graduate curriculum that provides more in-depth training, as well as the introduction of a 4+1 BS/MS accelerated program, approved and implemented in spring 2015. The 34 graduates since 2014 have landed jobs in academia (Penn State, Columbia, Texas A&M, MIT) and industry (Pfizer, Oncobiologics, Procter & Gamble). She has also successfully nominated five Clark Fellows and garnered permanent course status for 11 new courses. She is the primary research advisor for eight PhD students, 19 master’s students and 25 undergraduates, while also serving as the academic advisor for 62 undergraduates.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes individuals whose long history of service to the campus, the State University, the local community or professional societies/organizations sets them apart, as well as those who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in local or system-wide faculty governance.

MADHUSUDHAN GOVINDARAJU is dedicated to improving the quality of students, teaching and research, while driving the exceptional growth of the Department of Computer Science. He earned his master’s degree in computer science from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1998, and his PhD in computer science from Indiana University in 2002. He joined the Department of Computer Science as an assistant professor in 2003 and is currently an associate professor. He served on the Watson School’s Graduate Committee in 2014 and 2015, and, as director of graduate admissions for the CS Department for the past five years, is primarily responsible for recruiting graduate students to the department. He works with our graduate director and graduate secretary to get other CS faculty involved in processing the applications and individually processed hundreds of the applications himself. He has helped develop strategies to achieve enrollment targets and attract high-quality students, including making international trips to India, visiting a large number of recruiting agencies and universities, and meeting with faculty delegations visiting Binghamton from overseas. He developed an innovative program with PES University in Bangalore to bring top students to work in our research groups in summer – an effort that will lead to recruiting some of these students to our PhD program. He has served on the Task Force on Future Directions for Information Technology, been a member of two Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence committees and served on the Task Force for Undergraduate Education for the Digital Generation. His professional service is broad and has impacted his discipline, indirectly influencing the greater community.

SARA REITER has an unparalleled depth of knowledge of University policies and curriculum and dedicates herself to ensuring that the University maintains high academic standards within and beyond her school. KPMG Professor of Accounting, she joined the faculty at Binghamton University as an assistant professor of accounting in 1990, was promoted to associate professor in 1992, and to professor in 2004. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Cornell University in 1971, and her master’s and PhD in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1977 and 1985, respectively. She passed the Certified Public Accountant exam in 1978. Her first critical role in the School of Management was director of PhD programs, establishing policies and procedures for the program. She has been instrumental in the redesign of the accounting curriculum in response to the 120 credit-hour requirements for CPA certification. She also designed the tax concentration in partnership with accounting professionals. She has been a co-leader for separate accounting accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and also serves on the school’s Strategic Planning Committee. She has been a member of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for 12 years, served two terms as Faculty Senate chair, and has chaired a majority of the Faculty Senate committees, including the Educational Policies and Priorities, Budget Review, University Undergraduate Curriculum, Evaluation Coordinating and the By-Laws Review committees. At the SUNY level, she has served both as a Faculty Senator and as an Alternate Faculty Senator for the University Faculty Senate.

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities recognizes faculty who consistently engage in, and have established, a solid record of scholarship and creative productivity in addition to their teaching responsibilities.

WAYNE JONES is an outstanding researcher and collaborator whose work has led to a better understanding of fundamental processes that occur in all of chemistry, including electron transfer, energy transfer, excited state reactivity and materials design at a molecular level. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Michael’s College in Vermont in 1987, and his PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1991. Prior to coming to Binghamton, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He joined Binghamton University as an assistant professor of chemistry in 1993, and was promoted to associate professor in 1999, and to professor in 2007. His research combines novel synthetic strategies with modern electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques and his research in nanomaterials provides a foundation for fundamental investigations as well as opportunities for new, applied techniques. He holds seven patents and has six disclosures or patents pending, including one that is being reviewed by commercial companies for display applications. He has 147 publications with more than 3,800 citations and an h-index of 32, has co-authored one book – Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education – and has published four software programs. A sought-after presenter, he has 171 invited presentations to his credit. His has been continuously funded since 1996, garnering over $11.6 million in external research and educational support grants, including a recent $4 million National Science Foundation grant to promote bachelor of science degree completion in STEM fields.

MARK POLIKS is a scholar who has successfully bridged the chasm between industry and academia to change the technological environment that our modern society is built upon, impacting life at work, school, home and play. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mathematics and his master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, in 1982 and 1983, respectively. He received a second master’s degree and a PhD in materials science and engineering from the University of Connecticut, in 1984 and 1987, respectively. He joined the Binghamton faculty as an adjunct assistant professor of chemistry in 1992 and became a research associate professor of chemistry in 1999, when he also assumed the position of director of the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing. He was promoted to research professor of chemistry in 2006, and joined the Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering as a professor in 2013. Prior to joining the Binghamton faculty, he was director of research and development for Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. He served in other roles for Endicott Interconnect as well as several roles for IBM Microelectronics. His research focuses on the complex interactions between materials and processes; fundamental issues in flexible, hybrid, high-rate roll-to-roll manufacturing; the potential of inline quality control and reliability; and creation of interdisciplinary global partnerships to fund student research. Internationally recognized for his contributions to flexible hybrid electronics, he has received several million dollars of external research funding, including $6.1 million from state and federal sources and $1 million from industry since 2013 alone.

KARIN SAUER is a path-breaking researcher of biofilm formation whose seminal work has had a large impact on our understanding of how the biofilm process is regulated. She earned her diploma in microbiology from Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, in 1996, and her PhD in microbiology and biochemistry from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in 1999. She held a postdoctoral fellowship in microbiology and biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute in 1999, and another in microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry at the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University from 2000 to 2002. She came to Binghamton University as a visiting assistant professor of biological sciences in 2002, became an assistant professor in 2003, and held the position of director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility from 2005 to 2011. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008, and professor in 2013. She also serves as associate director of the Binghamton Biofilm Research Center, a post she has held since 2014. She has earned an international reputation for her research focused on biofilm formation by an opportunistic pathogen, studying regulatory mechanisms underlying biofilm development, dispersion and antimicrobial resistance. Her idea to determine what proteins are important during biofilm formation is recognized by her colleagues as brilliant and revolutionizing to the field. One of her papers has been cited more than 1,300 times and another that she co-authored, more than 2,000 times. She has been continuously funded through 20 research grants since 2002, has 54 publications in her field and is a popular speaker at national and international meetings.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service was created to recognize those with extraordinary professional achievement who have repeatedly sought improvement of themselves, their campuses, and, ultimately, the State University of New York, and in doing so, have transcended the normal definitions of excellence.

GEORGE BOBINSKI is a thoughtful, forward-thinking, collaborative and hardworking leader who brings his insight and perspective to bear for the improvement of the School of Management and Binghamton University. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo, and his MBA and PhD from Indiana University. He joined Binghamton University as an assistant professor of marketing in the School of Management in 1988, and has held positions of increasing responsibility there, including director of executive education, assistant dean and director of executive education and budget, and, since 2001, associate dean. Respected for his contributions and accomplishments, he is entrepreneurial and has developed significant partnerships with local and statewide businesses to offer executive education programs. He has helped the school become one of the elite business schools in the nation. He has been tireless in attending to academic quality and the recruitment of students for the fast-track professional MBA program in Manhattan, established in 2002. He is known for his friendly and authentic demeanor, listening well and following up on ideas shared with him. He leads the school’s many external programs with great skill and has grown them into stable programs that appropriately anticipate the needs of a changing management workforce. He has improved the rigor of the school’s programs by incorporating advanced team-building and professional development components and, yet, is never satisfied with the status quo. He also works closely with the dean to ensure money is strategically applied in the best interests of all stakeholders, improving transparency and building trust among the faculty.

CHERYL MONACHINO is a role model for others and a leader who takes on challenges, thinks strategically and brings her knowledge and creativity to every task she takes on. She received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science from LeMoyne College in 1981, and worked in industry, including at Lockheed Martin as director of systems engineering, before she joined the staff at the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science in 2011 as director of industrial outreach. She also assumed responsibilities for the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR), creating a SPIR Advisory Board with departmental representation, reaching a broader range of engineering disciplines and more types of small industries. She formalized the application and decision process, while building relationships with companies. She also developed and led the Career and Alumni Connections unit, forming a team of professionals to meet the career preparation needs of Watson students. She is smart, creative, tenacious, compassionate and resourceful, dedicated to identifying and establishing pathways for experiential learning. She stabilized and drove a 200 percent growth in the Engineering Professional Development Training program, now providing year-round programs for students, alumni and working professionals. She doesn’t hesitate to develop customized programs on request. Upon inheriting EngiNet, the Watson School’s facility for recording lectures of online courses, she aligned its infrastructure with the campus, reducing maintenance costs and providing self-sufficiency. She coordinated logistics for the abstract review process and for vendor donations and sponsorships for the Northeast Bioengineering Conference. She improves everything she touches.

VANESSA YOUNG is tireless in her commitment to students, passionate about her profession and remarkably effective at helping students realize their goals and potential. She graduated from Binghamton University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and African American and African Studies, and earned her master’s degree in education from Indiana University at Bloomington. She began working at Binghamton University in 1989, as coordinator of counseling services/senior academic counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and has served on three occasions as the program’s interim director. As senior academic counselor, she counsels students on their academics, careers, finances and personal issues, and her duties have included strategic planning and operations, fiscal oversight, and supervision of the Tutorial Center and Math Lab. She is liaison to the School of Management. While a Binghamton EOP student herself, she planned to major in nursing before realizing that her strengths lie in assisting others to set and meet their goals. She has served on countless committees and spearheaded the charter of the Gamma Delta chapter of the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society, serves as staff advisor to the Binghamton University Gospel Choir and collaborated in the creation of the Men of Color Scholastic Society. She is also an integral part of the Student Affairs Diversity Committee, helping to develop its purpose and goals in a meaningful, thoughtful direction. She remains current and effective at capturing the attention of students and serves as their “mother away from home,” providing that listening ear in a kind and loving manner.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service recognizes superb performance in fulfilling the job description for the position, supported by evidence of excellent work and high degrees of reliability, resourcefulness and initiative.

MARTHA GAHRING is hard-working, accurate, cheerful and professional in all that she does. She joined Binghamton University as a clerical assistant in 1990, and rose to Secretary II, now representing the “face” of the Office of the President in an exceptional manner. She is responsible for a number of clerical tasks including coordinating and maintaining reception and secretarial duties; serving as the secretary to the president in the absence of the special assistant to the president and recording secretary for the Binghamton University Council; ensuring accuracy of personnel and other correspondence; supporting the director of special events and Commencement; supporting the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA); serving as office assistant for the Link Foundation; and serving as secretary to the chief of staff; along with other duties. She has a cheerful disposition and a realistic outlook on the operation of the office and has been the glue that helped hold it together during several transitions. She facilitates communication among staff very effectively. She displays outstanding attention to detail and is deeply committed to performing her duties to exceptionally high standards. She is a solid contributor to projects requiring large teams of individuals that often unfold over several months and is consistently positive, enthusiastic, diligent, thorough, personable, welcoming and unflappable. She reliably and calmly assisted with two presidential searches, bringing a high level of competence and professionalism to her supportive role and shifting gears as needed. In her role with the Link Foundation, she has been described as at the top of the list of executive secretaries.

DOUGLAS GRISWOLD is proactive, collaborative, dependable and inspirational to all who work with him. He came to Binghamton University in 1998 as a cleaner, and has risen to the position of maintenance assistant. He continued his education in the trades, earning 387 credit hours through the New York State and CSEA Partnership Trade Education Program and has several commendations for his work, including one from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He is also designated as a service level 1 and 2 essential and critical employee for emergency operations on campus. Responsible for a wide variety of maintenance and repair work at the Innovative Technologies Complex, he cleans windows, paints, plumbs, plows in winter and cares for plants in good weather, taking pride in his own work and the work environment. Those who work and hold high-risk, high-profile events in the ITC praise his dependability, diligence, cheerful attitude and attention to detail. He often “saves” an event when an emergency forces a change of plans, staying late and returning early the next morning for the delivery of the last-minute items to get them into place in time for the event. Working with him is like having the most intuitive person right by your side coming to your rescue. He knows before being asked what may or may not be needed. He is proactive and anticipates, simply taking care of things ahead of time to avoid panic during one of many last-minute setups.

CHERYL NESTLERODE is a dedicated, thoughtful, caring and accomplished professional who provides critical support to Binghamton University. She is responsible for serving as the HR Master for the Provost’s Office, processing and tracking all personnel transactions including hires, terminations, changes in status and positions, changes in salary, renewal dates, and performance program and evaluation dates. She also provides secretarial support to the senior vice provost for strategic and fiscal planning; prepares financial analyses, revenue and enrollment projections; tracks memorandum of understanding documents (MOUs) for international partnerships; and tracks all contracts and documents for the senior vice provost. She coordinates countless projects required of the University including many interactions with SUNY Administration; Middle States accreditation processes; NCAA athletic Certification; and numerous human resources transactions. Her involvement in a project invariably improves its results. She has played a key role in expanding Binghamton University’s partnerships with dozens of universities across the globe as the lynchpin of the approval process for all MOUs and in hosting visits by dignitaries. This work requires precision and cultural sensitivity, is often time sensitive and requires significant diplomatic skills. She brings all these skills to the task without fail, with grace and good humor. She also went above and beyond the call of duty to assist with a comprehensive document that accurately reflected how Binghamton University was meeting – and exceeding – Middle States standards. She doesn’t flinch in the face of enormous tasks, but quietly and efficiently completes them perfectly. She is responsible, careful, helpful and cooperative, always serving the University.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship

The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship recognizes consistently superior professional achievement in the field of librarianship.

CARYL WARD is a driving force behind new development initiatives at Binghamton University Libraries and noted for her exceptional dedication to the learning, teaching and research needs of students and faculty. She received a bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in English from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1979, and an MLS from the State University of New York at Albany in 1999. She received a Certificat, Cours de civilisation française, Université de Paris (Sorbonne) in 1978 and has completed graduate-level coursework in translation, English and education at Binghamton University. She holds a unique and vital position as head of Binghamton University (print and electronic) acquisitions and is subject librarian to three academic departments: comparative literature, Romance languages and Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies (LACAS). In her philosophy of librarianship, she writes that her intent is to help students and faculty in their search for credible, complete, current and accurate information… ensuring access to materials in all formats for all users while encouraging independent discovery and use of information. She is proactive, reaching out to provide assistance before being asked and is known for excellent presentations to students on library research methods and resources, both group presentations and one-on-ones. She is an active member of department program committees, bringing information about new resources for teaching and research and discussing priorities for library acquisitions in the field. She keeps the library current and maximized cataloging efficiency at point of order, making e-books accessible within 48 hours and supporting academic demands for streaming video.

Binghamton University Council/Foundation Award

The Binghamton University Council/Foundation Awards were established to recognize extraordinary commitment to the campus community. Faculty and staff recipients are selected for their contributions to the strength and vitality of the University.

RACHEL COKER received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Rochester in 1996, and her master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1997. She worked as an editor for the Oneonta Daily Star and the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin before joining the staff at Binghamton University in 2005 as editor of Inside BU. In 2008, she became associate director of research advancement, and in 2009 assumed the director of research advancement position. She has also taught at SUNY Broome Community College and is currently an adjunct instructor at Binghamton University, teaching Introduction to Journalism. A high-energy person who leads by example, she provides communications leadership, expertise and services to advance an understanding of and appreciation for Binghamton University research and scholarship. She assumed the editorial responsibility for the Southern Tier Upstate Revitalization Initiative in 2015, which culminated in a $500 million award from New York state to the region and was also relied on to write the plan’s 2016 update. She led the redesign of promotional materials for the New York State Center of Excellence in Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging, and extended her work with S3IP marketing to staffing its booth at trade shows out of state. A valuable resource for faculty as well, her work goes beyond traditional public relations tasks and includes preparing faculty to present their research to industry, assisting faculty in writing and editing journal articles and discussing the value of scientific communications in graduate-level seminars.

HEATHER DEHAAN invests a great deal of time and care and uses her own international experiences, diplomatic skills and extensive knowledge to enhance international and intercultural educational opportunities for Binghamton University students. She received her bachelor’s degree from Redeemer University College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1996 and her master’s and PhD from the University of Toronto in 1998 and 2005, respectively. She joined the faculty at Binghamton University as an assistant professor of history in 2005, and was promoted to associate professor of history in 2012. She is currently chair of the History Department. Whether orienting and advising 120 undergraduate students in the Global and International Affairs Turkish Dual-Degree Program, serving as an ambassador to the RussianTajik Slavonic University, chairing the International Education Advisory Committee, coordinating conferences or directing the Russian and Eastern European Program, she excels. Students’ intercultural learning is intrinsic to her conceptualization of curriculum and this perspective manifests itself in creative features of the courses she teaches as well as her administrative leadership. One example is her use of Languages Across the Curriculum Language Resource Specialists in her Soviet history course to help students develop foreign-language competencies in their areas of academic interest. She does a magnificent job identifying and moving forward critical international initiatives that impact the campus at large. As department chair, she has enhanced collegiality and respect among colleagues, and thanks to her drive and spirit of enthusiastic outreach, she inspires others to look to Binghamton University to learn about Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia.