Professor Laureate Award

The Professor Laureate Award is the college’s highest academic honor, bestowed upon dedicated faculty with outstanding contributions to the missions of research, teaching, mentoring and outreach. The designation is intended to honor recipients and to provide the college with exceptional role models. The title is held for three years and includes an honorarium and two years of research funding.

2022 Award Recipients

Benjamin Clegg, Psychology
Jeffrey Hansen, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Amy Prieto, Chemistry

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Marc Nishimura, Department of Biology
Joshua Keller, Department of Statistics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Dave Matthews, Department of Computer Science
Anna Allen, Department of Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Lisa Angeloni, Department of Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Maggi Braasch-Turi, Department of Chemistry
Andrew Tonsager, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Dean’s Recognition Award

Bryan Elder, Department of Mathematics
Ron Costello, Department of Chemistry

2022 Award Recipients

Jeffrey Hansen, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Jeff Hansen

Benjamin Clegg, Psychology

Benjamin Clegg portrait

Jeffrey C. Hansen, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named a 2022 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate for his research on the biochemistry of chromatin, the genetic material of higher organisms and the substance of chromosomes. He also teaches Comprehensive Biochemistry 1, a course taken by all undergraduate biochemistry majors that covers the structure of proteins and nucleic acids at an advanced level. In 2016, Hansen became the associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, allowing him to further pursue his interests in undergraduate education.

Benjamin Clegg earned his doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Oregon, and after a post-doctorate at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, was hired as an assistant professor in cognitive psychology at CSU in 1999. He was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure in 2005, and full professor in 2011. In his time at CSU, he published more than 80 articles and papers, was a key member of 13 grants and has conducted more than 80 presentations at professional meetings.

Amy Prieto, Chemistry

Amy Prieto portrait

Amy Prieto is the founder and chief technology officer of Prieto Battery, Inc, whose goal is to commercialize a novel, three-dimensional, high-power density, safe lithium-ion battery made from aqueous based electroplating baths. In addition to this research, she has active projects developing nanoparticle inks for photovoltaics, light metal nanoparticles for hydrogen storage and novel nanowire structures. In 2011, she was named the ExxonMobil Solid State Chemistry Faculty Fellow, a Presidential Early Career Awardee for Scientists and Engineers — an honor she received from former U.S. President Barack Obama — and won the Excellence in Storage Technology Commercialization Award from the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. In 2022, she was awarded the Inorganic Nanoscience Award from the American Chemical Society. She is an associate editor for Chemical Communications and has been inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Her batteries are currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute Lemelson Center in the “Places of Invention” exhibit.

2021 Award Recipients

Indrakshi Ray, Computer Science
Robert J. Wilson, Physics

2020 Award Recipients

Jennifer L. Mueller, Mathematics
Charles S. Henry, Chemistry

2019 Award Recipients

Jennifer DeLuca, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mingzhong Wu, Physics

2018 Award Recipients

Debbie Garrity, Biology
Ernie Chavez, Psychology

2017 Award Recipients

Dan Cooley, Statistics
Melissa Reynolds, Chemistry

2016 Award Recipient

Anthony Rappé, Chemistry

2015 Award Recipients

Jennifer A. Hoeting, Statistics
Debbie Crans, Chemistry

2014 Award Recipients

Robert B. France, Computer Science
Carl E. Patton, Physics

2013 Award Recipients

Patricia A. Bedinger, Biology
F. Jay Breidt, Statistics

2012 Award Recipient

Steven H. Strauss, Chemistry

2011 Award Recipients

Lorann Stallones, Psychology
Laurie Stargell, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2010 Award Recipients

Adele Howe, Computer Science
N. LeRoy Poff, Biology

2009 Award Recipients

2008 Award Recipients

Ellen Fisher, Chemistry
Alan Knapp, Biology

2007 Award Recipients

Michael Elliott, Chemistry
Jennifer Nyborg, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A.S.N. Reddy, Biology

2006 Award Recipients

Norman Curthoys, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Richard Davis, Statistics
Jerry Deffenbacher, Psychology

2021-2022 Award Recipients

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Jeffrey Bandar, Department of Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Henry Adams, Department of Mathematics
Tanya Dewey, Department of Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Meena Balgopal, Department of Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Katherine McNeely-White, Department of Psychology
Nehali Mhatre, Department of Statistics

Dean’s Recognition Award

Courtney Butler, CNS Education and Outreach Center
Julia Murphy, Office of the Registrar

2020-2021 Award Recipients

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Jeffrey Bandar, Department of Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Henry Adams, Department of Mathematics
Tanya Dewey, Department of Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Meena Balgopal, Department of Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Katherine McNeely-White, Department of Psychology
Nehali Mhatre, Department of Statistics

Dean’s Recognition Award

Courtney Butler, CNS Education and Outreach Center
Julia Murphy, Office of the Registrar

2019-2020 Award Recipients

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Joseph Zadrozny, Department of Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Joseph Gersch, Department of Computer Science
Jeffrey Hansen, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Jana Anderson, Department of Statistics
Garret Miyake, Department of Chemistry

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Alex Fout, Department of Statistics
Ashlie Johnson, Department of Psychology
Julie Prosser, Department of Psychology

Dean’s Recognition Award

Alicia Armentrout, Department of Physics
Korina Burn, Dean’s Office
Anne Manning, Strategic Communication and Public Relations

2018-19 Award Recipients

Outstanding Career Contributions in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Brian Jones, Department of Physics

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Erin Nishimura, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Kate Ross, Department of Physics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Tom Santangelo, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Rachel Mueller, Department of Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Ryan Rahm-Knigge, Department of Psychology

Dean’s Recognition Award

Karen Kahler, Department of Chemistry
Ross Madden, College of Natural Sciences

2017-18 Award Recipients

Dean’s Recognition Award

Meagan Taverner, Biology
Jannine Mohr, Office of General Council

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Ben Prytherch, Ph.D., Statistics

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Delphine Farmer, Ph.D., Chemistry

Early Career (Pre-Tenure) Faculty Excellence in Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Jessica Hagman, Ph.D. , Mathematics

Graduate Student Teaching & Mentoring Award

Pam Lundeberg, Psychology
Annalise Maughan, Chemistry
Charles Vollmer,
Statistics

2016-17 Award Recipients

Dean’s Recognition Award

Margi Cech, College of Natural Sciences
Betty Wilmoth, Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Joseph Diverdi, Ph.D., Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Colleen Webb, Ph.D., Biology

Early Career (Pre-Tenure) Faculty Excellence in Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Jamie Neilson, Ph.D. , Chemistry
Dan Sloan, Ph.D., Biology

Graduate Student Teaching & Mentoring Award

Lauren Bates, Psychology

2015-2016 Award Recipients

Dean’s Recognition Award

Lisa Anaya Esquibel, Sponsored Programs
Heather L. Michalak, Little Shop of Physics
Robert Adame, Physics Machine Shop

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Eric D. Ross, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Mary C. Meyer Ph.D., Statistics

Early Career (Pre-Tenure) Faculty Excellence in Teaching and/or Mentoring Award

Amber T. Krummel Ph.D., Chemistry
Jaime G. Ruiz, Ph.D., Computer Science

Graduate Student Teaching & Mentoring Award

Samuel T. Dunn, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Hillary Wehe, Psychology
Zachary D. Weller, Statistics

2014-2015 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Christopher G. Wilcox, Ph.D., Computer Science

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Shane Kanatous, Ph.D., Biology

Melissa Reynolds, Ph.D., Chemistry

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching or Mentoring

Brian McNaughton, Ph.D., Chemistry

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Elizabeth Harp, Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Sarah Morrison-Smith, Computer Science

2013-2014 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Shrideep Pallickara, Ph.D., Computer Science

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Matthew P. Shores, Ph.D., Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education & Mentoring

Asa Ben-Hur, Ph.D., Computer Science

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching & Mentoring

Santiago Di Pietro, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Sarah Warner Fitzpatrick, Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Francis C. Motta, Mathematics
Crystal M. Vander Zanden, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

2012-2013 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Edward L. DeLosh, Ph.D., Psychology
Patrick D. Shipman, Ph.D., Mathematics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Lisa Angeloni, Ph. D., Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education & Mentoring

Donald L. Mykles, Ph.D., Biology

Post-Doctoral Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

E. Dale Broder, Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Janet M. Peters, Psychology

2011-2012 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Jennifer Jill Harman, Ph.D., Psychology

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Charles S. Henry, Ph.D., Chemistry

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching or Mentoring

Lisa Angeloni, Ph.D., Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education and Mentoring

Eugene Y. Chen, Ph.D., Chemistry

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Leif Anderson, Physics
Erin M. Schliep, Statistics

2010-2011 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education and Mentoring Award

Kurt Kraiger, Ph.D., Psychology

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award

Charles F. Stone, Biology

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award

Aaron J. Sholders, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award

Simon J. Tavener, Ph.D., Mathematics

Early Career (pre-tenure) Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching or Mentoring Award

Mingzhong Wu, Physics

2009-2010 Award Recipients

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Amanda E. Sensenig, Psychology
Cassandra L. Williams, Mathematics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Patricia A. Bedinger, Ph.D., Biology
Ross M. McConnell, Ph.D., Computer Science

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Lisa Dysleski, Ph.D., Chemistry

2008-2009 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education and Mentoring

Michael F. Antolin, Ph.D, Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Tenaya L. Newkirk, Ph.D., Chemistry

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Gregory L. Florant, Ph.D., Biology

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Norman P. Curthoys, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adele E. Howe, Ph.D., Computer Science

2007-2008 Award Recipients

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education and Mentoring

Laurie A. Stargell, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching

Jacob A. Benfield, Ph.D., Psychology
Adam N. Pearlstein, Ph.D., Physics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Benjamin A. Clegg, Ph.D., Psychology

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

R. Steve Robinson, Ph.D., Physics

Faculty Excellence in Teaching & Mentoring – Early Career Award

Cameron K. Ghalambor, Ph.D., Biology

Faculty Excellence in Teaching Innovation

Karla J. Gingerich, Ph.D., Psychology

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