CLAHS Awards 2024-2025

Sherri Craig - Department of English

Dr. Craig’s primary teaching responsibilities are courses in first year writing and professional and technical writing, where students benefit from her “learner centered” approach to instruction. The nomination letter declared that Dr. Craig is “immensely knowledgeable, thought-provoking, pedagogically skilled, and driven to foster excellence in her students through often difficult and uncomfortable subject matter.”

Donna Fortune - School of Education

Dr. Fortune teaches in the elementary education program, where she guides the preparation of future teachers. A former student, now a kindergarten teacher, wrote: “The knowledge and insights I gained from her, coupled with her passion for education and learning, have been invaluable in shaping my approach to teaching and my development as an educator.”

Corinne Noirot - Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures 

Dr. Noirot has taught 26 different courses since 2008. A former student wrote: “Her passion and clear love of teaching have made her class not only highly educational, but also a joy to be a part of. Though Dr. Noirot expects a lot from her students, she doesn’t expect them to do it alone. She is a rock for her students, who can count on her for guidance, encouragement, and warmth whenever they may need it.”

Caroline Sanner - Department of Human Developement and Family Science

Dr. Sanner teaches courses in family relationships and qualitative methods for undergraduate and graduate students. A former student offered this testimony: “One of Dr. Sanner's most impressive qualities is her capacity to ignite the imagination of her students, particularly in the realm of qualitative research. Her creative and engaging instructional methods transform complex concepts into accessible and captivating lessons.”

Joseph Truscello - Departement of English

Joseph Truscello teaches courses across first year writing, creative and business writing, and advanced fiction. In his teaching statement, Professor Truscello wrote: “I believe that every person has a story to tell, and I carry this belief into every class I teach. I don’t teach students that any one way of writing is superior to any other way. Instead, I show students forms and techniques for telling the powerful stories that already exist inside them. It’s a privilege to do this.”

Matthew Vollmer - Department of English

Professor Vollmer’s nomination stressed his “remarkable range and adaptability,” with courses ranging from “hybrid forms” to “food writing,” while also assuming a leading role is efforts to contend with new challenges posed by large language models and artificial intelligence. Professor Vollmen concludes his teaching statement with this inspirational statement: “Invigorating the classroom—while embracing the vulnerability essential to creating unforgettable art—remains at the heart of my goals as an educator.”

Edward Gitre - Department of History

Dr. Gitre is recognized for a broad range of scholarship based primarily on written records produced by American soldiers in World War Two. In the words of a leading historian of this war, this digital collection is “at once an archival trove, an important edited volume, a valuable pedagogical tool, and inspiration for public history exhibits and installations.”

Carol A. Mullen - School of Education

Dr. Mullen has established a reputation as a leading international scholar exploring mentoring, social justice, and equity. A letter of support declared: “I’m not shy about telling people that Dr. Mullen is the most prolific and creative scholar I know. Her capacity to ‘marry’ creativity and research in original ways within our field (educational leadership) is nothing short of remarkable, stellar, and inspiring.”

Katalin Parti - Department of Sociology

Dr. Parti is an expert in cybercrime with particular attention to gender-based violence. Working in partnership with colleagues across the university, Dr. Parti transformed her research into a performance intended to educate senior citizens about the dangers of online scams.

TeKisha Rice Wallace - Department of Human Development and Family Science

Dr. Rice Wallace defines her research mission as investigating how close relationships operate as sites for restoration and resistance in the face of social stress. In just four years, Dr. Rice Wallace has published ten peer-reviewed journal articles and two book chapters. Her reputation as a scholar is so well established that many incoming graduate students are asking her to mentor their advanced studies in family science.

Graduate: Matthew Fullen - School of Education

Dr. Fullen is recognized for academic advising that connects students in the Counselor Education program to local and regional elder care programs. In the words of a former student, I am “a stronger researcher, a more confident educator, a more caring mentor, a braver advocate, and a kinder person due to his advising.”

Undergraduate: Karen Watson - Office of the Dean

Dr. Watson retired in December 2024, after 25 years of shaping undergraduate advising in the College and more broadly at Virginia Tech. In her statement, Dr. Watson wrote: “My advising philosophy is grounded in my desire to help those who have questions and problems or need guidance. I apply my advising philosophy to my work with students, parents, faculty, staff, colleagues, and administrators. It is an extension of who I am.”

Matthew Komelski - Department of Human Development and Family Science

Dr. Komelski is recognized for an extensive record of outreach, including preparing students for international service learning, thematic study abroad, and support for refugee assistance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Brett Shadle - Department of History

Dr. Shadle has an extensive record of working with refugee organizations and supporting families that connects local efforts, through the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, with the establishment of a college preparatory program in Kakuma Refugee Camp that provides Virginia Tech students with service learning opportunities.

Cammie Sgarrella - Department of History

Associate chair of the History Department Carmen Gitre states, “Cammie embodies all the characteristics that one could ever ask for as a staff member in History…Her work on sharing departmental successes has been important in building relationships with alumni and others in the community…And she maintains a positive spirit, even in the busiest of times.”

Bonnie Zare - Deparmtent of Sociology

Dr. Zare’s commitment to values such as pluralism, coexistence, and differences while acknowledging power dynamics is evident across her teaching, outreach, and service activities. The nomination letter stated that Dr. Zare has transformed Virginia Tech’s motto, “That I May Serve,” into the more passionate, “That we may serve and inspire each other, right here.”

Shannon Bell - Department of Sociology

The Land Grant scholar award was made possible by the friends and colleagues of the College’s founding dean, Jerry Niles, and his wife, Ruth Anne Niles. Dr. Bell fulfills the vision of the Land Grant Scholar through her research and outreach on environmental health, sustainable development, and community based methodologies in southwest Virginia.

Doctoral: Savannah Lann Mandel - Department of Science, Technology, and Society

Masters: Elena Roe - Department of Political Science