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
Benjamin Clegg, Psychology
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 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
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
