Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education
Since 1998-1999, the University of Minnesota has recognized a select group of faculty members for their outstanding contributions to postbaccalaureate, graduate, and/or professional education. This honor is awarded annually to exceptional candidates nominated by their colleges in their quest to identify excellence in postbaccalaureate, graduate, and/or professional education. In addition to honoring individual faculty members, the award contributes to the improvement of postbaccalaureate, graduate, and professional education at the University by publicizing their work to serve as resources to the whole faculty.
The award is made possible through generous support of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
For more information about the Graduate-Professional Award.
Graduate Professional Award Recipients
2014 Award Recipients
Sharon S. Allen, Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School
Sharon Allen, MD, PhD is recognized for 32 years of medical student education, advising and involvement of students in research, scholarship and professional development. In addition, she has served as a mentor and role model for faculty research in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Her outstanding scholarship has played a significant role in the department’s consistent ranking among the top ten National Institutes of Health-funded family medicine departments.
Dale Carpenter, Law School
Dale Carpenter is one of the most demanding and highly regarded professors at the Law School. Dale’s teaching evaluations are exceptionally strong because students learn a lot in his classes and they enjoy learning in his classes. Dale is also an exceptionally rigorous teacher, insisting that all of his students apply maximum effort, come to class prepared and contribute to class discussions. Finally, Dale has inspired many students to embark upon their lives in public service working for civil rights and other important causes.
Jay Coggins, Applied Economics, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Dr. Jay Coggins has been central to the success of the Applied Economics Graduate Program. He teaches foundational courses in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs, while also offering topical courses in his areas of expertise. He has been an outstanding teacher and mentor to students. Most importantly, Jay was instrumental in the expansion of the Applied Economics Graduate Program to a more collaborative program spanning four different programs in four colleges.
Jigna Desai, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, College of Liberal Arts
Professor Jigna Desai’s scholarly achievements are marked by exceptional mentorship of students, commitment to collaborative projects and innovations to pedagogy and to graduate education. Professor Desai’s creative and impassioned teaching has both trained a generation of cutting-edge scholars reflective about their pedagogy and knowledge production, and has transformed the very curricula of her department. She is renowned across campus and indeed in campuses across the country for the quality of her advising, the productive synergies between her research and her pedagogy, and the commitment to critical inquiry and institutional change.
Marc A. Hillmyer, Chemistry, College of Science and Engineering
Professor Marc A. Hillmyer is recognized for his outstanding contributions to graduate education in the fields of chemistry and polymer science. His infectious passion for science has made a positive and lasting impact on his numerous advisees. His prolific scientific accomplishments and versatile abilities as a research advisor have distinguished him as an outstanding mentor of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. He has also made important and meaningful contributions to graduate education in his leadership role as a center director and in the classroom.
Sarah E. Hobbie, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior,College of Biological Sciences
Dr. Hobbie enriches and advances University graduate education. She is an active mentor to and advocate of graduate students – her excellence in mentoring have been recognized by graduate program and University-wide awards. Furthermore, as Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Hobbie proactively improves graduate education in program, College, and University settings. Finally, Dr. Hobbie has elevated the discourse on classroom instruction of writing through her participation and leadership in the Writing Enriched Curriculum program.
Ned Mohan, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Science and Engineering
Professor Mohan excels in all aspects of Electric Energy Education that make him a complete package: excelling in instruction, mentoring his graduate students and developing instructional material. His five textbooks translated into seven languages have contributed to the education of tens of thousands nationally and internationally. His contributions stretching over 38 years are truly groundbreaking, bringing enormous prestige to the University of Minnesota and establishing it as an unquestionable worldwide-leader in Professor Mohan’s field.
Kevin D. Wickman, Pharmacology, Medical School
Dr. Kevin Wickman, Professor of Pharmacology, is an award-winning lecturer and course director in the Medical School. Dr. Wickman also directs a well-regarded research program that has served as a platform for mentoring graduate and professional students in biomedical research. His sustained commitment to student learning, program development, research mentorship, and service over the last 15 years is both outstanding and unique, and has greatly improved the training of our future health professionals and scientists.
Previous Award Recipients
Awardee |
Department |
Date |
| Jerry Cohen | Horticultural Science |
2013 |
| Ronald Hadsall | Pharmaceutical Care and Health |
2013 |
| Karen Ho | Anthropology |
2013 |
| Kevin Murphy | History |
2013 |
| Michael Osterholm | Environmental Health Sciences |
2013 |
| Keshab Parhi | Electrical & Computer Engineering |
2013 |
| Lisa Schimmenti | Pediatrics |
2013 |
| Robert Washabau | Veterinary Clinical Sciences |
2013 |
| Allen M. Goldman | Physics and Astronomy |
2012 |
| Kim K. P. Johnson | Design, Housing, and Apparel |
2012 |
| Bonnie LeRoy | Genetics, Cell Biology and Development |
2012 |
| Timothy P. Lodge | Chemistry, Chemical Engineering |
2012 |
| Jennifer L. Pierce | American Studies |
2012 |
| David Power | Family Medicine and Community Health |
2012 |
| Yoji Shimizu | Laboratory Medicine and Pathology |
2012 |
| Traci L. Toomey | Epidemiology and Community Health |
2012 |
| Melissa D. Avery | Nursing |
2011 |
| Janet M. Dubinsky | Neuroscience |
2011 |
| Edward G. Goetz | Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs |
2011 |
| Ralph W. Holzenthal | Entomology |
2011 |
| Anatoly Liberman | German, Scandinavian and Dutch |
2011 |
| Raymond M. Newman | Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology |
2011 |
| Margaret V. Root Kustritz | Veterinary Clinical Sciences |
2011 |
| Ann E. Van Heest | Orthopaedic Surgery |
2011 |
| Linda Bearinger |
Nursing |
2010 |
| Alvin J. Beitz | Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences |
2010 |
| Kang Ling James | Mathematics & Statistics, UMD |
2010 |
| Ruth Karras | History |
2010 |
| Joseph Konstan | Computer Science & Engineering |
2010 |
| Rory Remmel | Medicinal Chemistry |
2010 |
| J. Ilja Siepmann | Chemistry |
2010 |
| Robert Sorenson | Genetics, Cell Biology & Development |
2010 |
| Sally J. Kenney | Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs |
2009 |
| Jean A. King |
Educational Policy & Administration |
2009 |
| Josephine Lee |
English Language & Literature |
2009 |
| Helga Leitner |
Geography |
2009 |
| Michael C. Rodriguez |
Educational Psychology |
2009 |
| Terry L. Roe |
Applied Economics |
2009 |
| Jon C. Schommer |
Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems |
2009 |
| Jennifer York-Barr | Educational Policy & Administration |
2009 |
| Massoud Amin |
Electrical and Computer Engineering |
2008 |
| Richard C. Brundage |
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology |
2008 |
| Cesare Casarino |
Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature |
2008 |
| Douglas N. Foster |
Animal Science |
2008 |
| John R. Freeman |
Political Science |
2008 |
| Stephen A. Katz |
Integrative Biology and Physiology |
2008 |
| John Matheson |
Law School |
2008 |
| Melissa Middleton Stone | Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs |
2008 |
| Maria Damon |
English |
2007 |
| John W. Day |
Neurology & Pediatrics |
2007 |
| Ruth A. Lindquist |
Nursing |
2007 |
| Thomas W. Molitor |
Veterinary Population Medicine |
2007 |
| Bruce F. Wollenberg | Electrical & Computer Engineering |
2007 |
| Dennis Falk |
Social Work, UMD |
2006 |
| Joan Garfield |
Educational Psychology |
2006 |
| Wendy Hellerstedt |
Epidemiology |
2006 |
| Richard Leppert |
Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature |
2006 |
| Deborah Levison |
Public Affairs |
2006 |
| Jean O'Brien |
History |
2006 |
| Michel Sanders | Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Biophysics |
2006 |
| Ragui Assaad |
Public Affairs |
2005 |
| Christopher J. Cramer |
Chemistry |
2005 |
| Timothy J. Ebner |
Neuroscience |
2005 |
| Alex J. Lubet |
Music |
2005 |
| Carl A. Osborne |
Veterinary Clinical Sciences |
2005 |
| Mary Margaret Rowan |
Nursing |
2005 |
| Raj G. Suryanarayanan |
Pharmaceutics |
2005 |
| Gregory M. Vercellotti | Medicine |
2005 |
| Kristin E. Anderson |
Epidemiology |
2004 |
| James R. Carey |
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation/PT |
2004 |
| Susan M. Galatowitsch |
Horticultural Science |
2004 |
| Glenn Giesler |
Neuroscience |
2004 |
| Mats Heimdahl |
Computer Science & Engineering |
2004 |
| Cynthia Peden-McAlpine |
Nursing |
2004 |
| Kathryn A. Sikkink |
Political Science |
2004 |
| Madelon Sprengnether | English |
2004 |
| Francesca J. Cuthbert |
Fisheries & Wildlife |
2003 |
| Sara M. Evans |
History |
2003 |
| Ilene Harris |
Medical School: Educational Development & Research |
2003 |
| Marc Jenkins |
Microbiology |
2003 |
| Frances Lawrenz |
Educational Psychology |
2003 |
| John Mowitt |
Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature |
2003 |
| Christian Teyssier |
Geology & Geophysics |
2003 |
| Donald L. Uden | Pharmacy |
2003 |
| Peter W. Carr |
Chemistry |
2002 |
| Hazel Dicken-Garcia |
Journalism & Mass Communication |
2002 |
| David W. Hayden |
Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine |
2002 |
| Paul A. Iaizzo |
Surgery |
2002 |
| Mary Jo Maynes |
History |
2002 |
| James T. Pacala |
Family Practice & Community Health |
2002 |
| Anthony M. Starfield |
Ecology, Evolution & Behavior |
2002 |
| John L. Sullivan | Political Science |
2002 |
| Ronald R. Aminzade |
Sociology |
2001 |
| Kenneth Brooks |
Forest Resources |
2001 |
| Edward M. Griffin |
English |
2001 |
| Chap T. Le |
Biostatistics |
2001 |
| Larry L. McKay |
Food Science & Nutrition |
2001 |
| Patrick M. Schlievert |
Microbiology |
2001 |
| Heinz G. Stefan |
Civil Engineering |
2001 |
| Kathleen Watson | Medicine |
2001 |
| Raymond D. Duvall |
Political Science
|
2000 |
| Harold D. Grotevant |
Family Social Science |
2000 |
| Wesley James Miller |
Medicine |
2000 |
| Lawrence Que, Jr. |
Chemistry |
2000 |
| Nelson L. Rhodus |
Diagnotic & Surgical Science |
2000 |
| Elaine Tarone |
Linguistics, ESL, Slavic Languages & Literatures |
2000 |
| David D. Thomas |
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics |
2000 |
| Patricia McCarthy Veach |
Educational Psychology |
2000 |
| Tom Clayton |
English |
1999 |
| Margaret B. Davis |
Ecology, Evolution & Behavior |
1999 |
| Robert Hardy |
Veterinary Clinical Sciences |
1999 |
| Thomas R. Hoye |
Chemistry |
1999 |
| Allen Isaacman |
History |
1999 |
| Thomas B. Mackenzie |
Psychiatry |
1999 |
| Ephraim M. Sparrow |
Mechanical Engineering |
1999 |
| Richard A. Weinberg | Institute of Child Development |
1999 |