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.

2025 Professor Laureates

Delphine Farmer, Chemistry

Eric Ross, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Delphine Farmer, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on understanding the air we breathe both indoors and out, and how the chemistry of air impacts human health, ecosystems, and climate.

Farmer grew up in Canada, and received her B.S. in Chemistry from McGill University in Montreal. She moved to warmer climates to earn her Master’s in Environmental Science, Policy and Management and her Ph.D. in Chemistry, both from the University of California at Berkeley. Delphine then held a NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder, working with aerosol mass spectrometers in forests in the Brazilian Amazon and California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

At CSU, Farmer runs the Fluxes and Atmospheric Reactivity Measurements and Experiments Research Group, which conducts laboratory and field studies on atmospheric chemistry in both urban and remote settings. While much of the group’s work has focused on ozone and organic aerosol pollution, Farmer’s group has also looked at wildfire smoke, participating in an aircraft project flying into large wildfire plumes, and then more recently looked at how smoke interacts with trees and even buildings.

Eric Ross joined CSU in 2005 and earned the rank of professor in 2017. Ross earned a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Mayo Clinic.

Ross has made key contributions to understanding protein misfolding and aggregation. Numerous diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, are associated with protein aggregation. In a subset of these disease, termed prions, the protein aggregates are infectious. Ross has helped define the features of proteins that allow them to form infectious protein aggregates. More recently, his lab has focused on defining the normal functions of prion-like proteins.

In addition to his research, Ross is an award-winning teacher and mentor. Undergraduates in his lab have produced 17 co-authorships on research manuscripts and he has used his laboratory to provide course-based undergraduate research experiences for Biochemistry undergraduates. He also developed and teaches a popular Biochemistry of Disease class.

Ross’s service activities include serving on multiple NIH grant review panels, serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and serving terms as both Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Chair Graduate Studies.

Former Professor Laureates

2025

Delphine Farmer, Chemistry
Eric Ross, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2024

Piotr Kokoszka, Statistics
Olve Peersen, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2023

Kim Hoke, Biology
Rachel Pries, Mathematics

2022

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

2021

Indrakshi Ray, Computer Science
Robert J. Wilson, Physics

2020

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

2019

Jennifer DeLuca, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mingzhong Wu, Physics

2018

Debbie Garrity, Biology
Ernie Chavez, Psychology

2017

Dan Cooley, Statistics
Melissa Reynolds, Chemistry

2015

Jennifer A. Hoeting, Statistics
Debbie Crans, Chemistry

2016

Anthony Rappé, Chemistry

2014

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

2013

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

2012

Steven H. Strauss, Chemistry

2011

Lorann Stallones, Psychology
Laurie Stargell, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2010

Adele Howe, Computer Science
N. LeRoy Poff, Biology

2009
2008

Ellen Fisher, Chemistry
Alan Knapp, Biology

2007

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

2006

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

Teaching and Mentoring Awards

The purpose of these awards is to offer public recognition to superior teachers and mentors in our college and to focus attention on our commitment to excellence in education.

2024 Awardees

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

Matthew D. Koslovsky, Department of StatisticsNikhil Krishnaswamy, Department of Computer Science

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Robert Paton, Department of Chemistry

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Yiqing “Skylar” Yu, Department of PsychologyAustin Ellingworth, Department of Statistics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Jennifer L. Neuwald, Department of Biology

Dean’s Recognition Award

James Cox, Office of the DeanKristin Berthold, Department of ChemistryDarrell Whitley, Department of Computer Science

2023

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Elizabeth Arnold, Department of Mathematics

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Katherine Hebert, Department of Psychology
Kristen Ruegg, Department of Biology

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Erin Osborne Nishimura, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or Mentoring

Hannah Finch, Department of Psychology

Dean’s Recognition Award

Kristen Felten, CNS Office of the Dean
Evelyn Palma, CNS Office of the Dean

2022

Early Career Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Marc Nishimura, Department of Biology
Kayleigh 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

2021

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

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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

2011

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

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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

College Outreach