CLAHS Awards 2023-2024

Tim Becker - Department of English

Students commented on Professor Becker’s easily accessible teaching style, his excellent communication, and willingness to explore different teaching and learning approaches. One student wrote that Professor Becker’s course “made writing enjoyable, and I really appreciate the impact he has had on my idea of writing,” while another wrote that Professor Becker “treats us like actual human beings and not just students.” Former students credited this same approach of a long term impact on careers that combine writing with other kinds of professional service.

Katie Carmichael - Department of English

 Katie Carmichael is an associate professor in the Department of English, who teaches a range of courses in the linguistic program. In her personal statement, Professor Carmichael wrote that she seeks to create moments of joy and discovery for her students, when they find out how curiosity, intuition, and critical thinking can shape their work and lives beyond the university. Her success in these endeavors is confirmed by testimonies of former students, who took a course with Dr. Carmichael by chance -- and are now pursuing advanced study and professional careers in linguistics.

Catheryn Foster - School of Education

Catheryn Foster is an assistant professor of practice of music education. Dr. Foster advises all graduate music education students in the program, teaches seven courses, and works with honor bands across Virginia. Dr. Foster’s pedagogical approach focuses on addressing the learning needs of each student while also providing authentic assessments of their performance and potential. A former student confirms the impact of her teaching with the statement: “Dr. Foster listens and creates change.”

Sharon Johnson - Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures

Dr. Johnson is being recognized for excellent teaching of two very different courses: French language and culture and women’s and gender studies. A previous recipient of a Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the College, as well as the university’s Wine Award and Diggs Teaching Scholar Award, Professor Johnson ‘s innovative strategies and passion for learning into courses are documented by colleagues as well as former students, who testified to her commitment to lifting up students through positive reinforcement, support for critical thinking, and the development of intellectual confidence.

Brittany Presson - Department of Sociology

Brittany Presson is an instructor in the Department of Sociology, who receives a Certificate of Teaching Excellence for her record teaching introductory courses in Social Problems as well as advanced courses in Military Sociology and the Sociology of Mental Illness. The department nominating letter described Professor Presson’s commitment to building engaged learning opportunities into every class, while also creating and sustaining a safe environment for students to speak for themselves and listen to others with confidence. A former student offered this praise for Professor Presson: “the material was constantly engaged and something I looked forward to learning every day.”

Michael Sguerri - Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures

Michael Sguerri is an advanced instructor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. Over the last eight years, he has taught seventy Italian classes, including the first year course as well as advanced topics in Italian literature, music, and cinema. Professor Sguerri’s courses are student-centered, well-organized, and open to students’ experiences and perspectives. In his statement, Professor Sguerri offered this reflection: “As a teacher, I recognize that I am also a learner in a collaborative relationship with my students in which I can enhance and perfect my skills…being a teacher means that I must also strive to learn from my students' feedback and cues.”

James Collier - Department of Science, Technology, and Society

Dr. Collier's research award is based on his remarkable commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of social epistemology, which recognizes that knowledge is a communal effort, a process between people requiring inquiry, exchange, and community. His contributions include editing several major publications, which have published more than a thousand essays by scholars around the world. The department nomination offers this remarkable praise for a form of scholarship appropriate at a land grant university: “Dr. Collier’s scholarly work is infrastructural - focused on curating, cultivating, collecting, mentoring, and deeply editing work from a widely dispersed collection of scholars - with impacts reaching far beyond that of traditional scholars.”

Dina Smith-Glaviana - Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management

Dina Smith-Glaviana is an assistant professor in the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management and the director of the Oris Glisson Costume and Textile Collection. Her research exploring subcultures in dress practices, historic dress recreations, and curatorial work on textile collection management has resulted in prize-winning exhibitions, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. A letter from a colleague praises Dr. Smith-Glaviana’s research on science fiction fashion which brought new insights into power relations within these fan-based communities.

Rose Wesche - Department of Human Development and Family Science

Dr. Wesch’s research on health, romance, and sexuality in adolescence has resulted in peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and externally funded grants. The department head praised Dr. Wesche as “a highly valued member of our scholarly community” whose “leadership roles are remarkable for an early-career scholar.” The importance of her research are evident in the recommendation of a colleague, who writes that Dr. Wesche addresses “the negative health outcomes youth face and works to improve their well-being in meaningful ways.”

Kayla Goodwin - School of Communication

Kayla Goodwin is the academic advisor and undergraduate director for the School of Communication, where she advises more than 300 students while also coordinating programming and curricular development. The comments of current and former advisees illustrate her instrumental role in the School: a 2023 graduate stated that Ms. Goodwin  “was always in my corner supporting me through both my academic and professional journey,” a current senior wrote that Ms. Goodwin “has greatly contributed to my success here at Virginia Tech,” while another senior declared that even with the high number of students in her portfolio, she “makes it a priority to care for each and every one of them.”

Rebecca Hester - Department of Science, Technology, and Society

Dr. Hester’s former students and faculty colleagues praise her total commitment to the intellectual development and personal well-being of her students. A former doctoral student praised Dr Hester for providing mentorship that “is a model that I hope to someday emulate for my students.” A faculty colleague writes that Dr. Hester “never brings anything less than her entire and engaged self to her interactions with students.”

Hannah Wildman Short - Department of Philosophy

Hannah Wildman-Short is an instructor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Philosophy. Her commitment to the success of students is evident in the comments from recent and current majors. A 2023 graduate praised Dr. Wildman-Short for both excellent guidance in course selection and a commitment to the well-being of each student. A current student offered this remarkable testimony: “Not many students are fortunate enough to say that their advisor goes above and beyond to get to know and build a relationship with them. I however am lucky and beyond grateful that I have that in my advisor, Hannah Wildman-Short.”

Aaaron Brantly - Department of Political Science 

An expert on cyber-security in the former Soviet Union, Dr. Brantly was uniquely positioned to respond in February 2022 when the Russian government launched an invasion of Ukraine. During the past two years, Dr. Brantly has written reports for the US military, supported Ukrainian scholars and public organizations, and contributed to public education about Ukrainian resistance to Russian occupation, thus demonstrating the distinctive value of liberal arts faculty engaging with urgent and timely political, social, and humanitarian issues.

Thomas Dearden - Department of Sociology

Dr. Dearden is receiving an award for Excellence in Outreach and International Initiatives for his commitment to addressing the educational needs of incarcerated populations. In addition to creating original educational software now used in over one hundred detention centers, Dr. Dearden has brought his scholarly expertise to call attention to the predatory nature of many existing educational programs marketed for use in prisons. A letter of support from a partner organization praises Dr. Dearden’s contribution to developing instructional materials for incarcerated individuals, which have generated extensive positive outcomes for participants.

Ashley Snider - Department of Science, Technology, and Society

Ashley Snider, Business Manager in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society is the recipient of the Staff Excellence award. She is being recognized for a remarkable broad range of activities which she completes efficiently, thoroughly, creatively, and promptly. The endorsements from colleagues devoted particular attention to her positive attitude, willingness to think outside the box, hands-on approach to problem solving, and understanding of university systems. Her commitment to building a positive atmosphere in the department even led her to bring her stress-reducing goats to Lane Hall.

Silas Cassinelli - Department of English

 Dr. Cassinelli is a  recipient of the College’s Diversity Award for a sustained commitment to promoting campus conversations about Asian American culture, advancing recognition for trans and queer rights, and challenging evidence of anti-Black practices. In April 2021, Dr. Cassinelli was a featured speaker at a town hall responding to the hate crime murders of Asian Americans in Atlanta, which combined a scholarly approach with personal reflections on the intersection of ethnic, gender, and sexual identities. This commitment to diversity work has brought remarkable benefits to the Women’s and Gender Studies program, the Department of English, and the Virginia Tech campus.

Jody Moser Russon - Department of Human Development and Family Science

Dr. Russon’s commitment to diversity is evident in her teaching, outreach, and research activities on topics related to LGBTQ+ youth, particularly in southwest Virginia and rural Appalachia. Dr. Russon has also made remarkable contributions to promote anti-racist pedagogy and practices in her department, in her professional field, and at Virginia Tech. A colleague wrote that Dr. Russon “brings intensive knowledge about systems of oppression as well as an exquisite sensitivity to creating the space for vulnerable voices to be expressed and heard.”

Jointly awarded to:

Katrina Powell - Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies and Department of English

Emily Satterwhite - Appalachian Studies and Department of Religion and Culture

The Jerry and Ruth Ann Niles Land Grant Scholar award was created by friends and colleagues of the College’s founding dean to recognize faculty whose scholarly activities fulfill the mission of the land grant university. Our co-recipients this year are Dr. Katrina Powell, Professor of English and Director of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies, and Dr. Emily Satterwhite, Professor in the Department of Religion and Culture and Director of the Appalachian Studies program. As co-directors of the Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia project, Dr. Satterwhite and Dr. Powell received a $3 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to engage artists, community organizations, students, and others in a sustained effort to rethink the history told through the physical spaces of this region. Their work demonstrates the potential for scholarly engagement at a land grant university to truly advance social good in the surrounding community.

Doctoral: Kulyash Zhumadilova - Department of Science, Technology, and Society

Doctoral Honorable Mention: Josh Thompson - School of Education

Masters: Mahmut Sami Gürdal - Department of Human Development and Family Science

Masters Honorable Mention: Aisling O'Leary - Department of Philosophy