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.
2023 Professor Laureates
Kim Hoke, Biology
Rachel Pries, Mathematics
Biology Professor Kim Hoke, who joined Colorado State University in 2009, has been named one of the 2023 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureates. Hoke earned her doctorate at Stanford University and honed her expertise as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. At CSU she leads innovative research at the Hoke Lab, where her work delves into the mechanisms behind the evolution of complex behaviors like communication, mate choice, reproduction, competition and anti-predator strategies. The Hoke Lab explores the interplay between biology and behavior, examining how genetic variations and life experiences impact brain function in frogs and guppies. In 2017, Hoke earned recognition as a Monfort Professor, a “rising star” award at Colorado State University, which provided grant funding for her research. In 2020, she assumed the role of director of the LIFE Core Curriculum, transforming the curricula for pivotal science courses and fostering student success through dedicated leadership, solidifying her position as a role model and scholar shaping the scientific community at CSU.
Mathematics Professor Rachel Pries, named a 2023 College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate, is recognized for groundbreaking research in arithmetic geometry, with a focus on moduli spaces of curves and Galois theory. Pries holds a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania and a post-doctorate from Columbia University. She joined CSU as an assistant professor in 2003, progressing to full professor in 2014. Her work explores the intersection of number theory, geometry and algebra, particularly the stratification of the moduli space of curves using invariants like the Newton polygon. Beyond her research, Pries teaches abstract algebra, number theory and cryptography. Pries actively fosters a supportive mathematical community as a Women in Number Theory Network founding member, VaNTAGe seminar organizer and a mentor to graduate students. Honored as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2018 and as a Fellow of the Association for Women in Math in 2023, Pries is a role model for mathematicians, especially women.
Former Professor Laureates
Kim Hoke, Biology
Rachel Pries, Mathematics
Benjamin Clegg, Psychology
Jeffrey Hansen, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Amy Prieto, Chemistry
Indrakshi Ray, Computer Science
Robert J. Wilson, Physics
Jennifer L. Mueller, Mathematics
Charles S. Henry, Chemistry
Jennifer DeLuca, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mingzhong Wu, Physics
Debbie Garrity, Biology
Ernie Chavez, Psychology
Dan Cooley, Statistics
Melissa Reynolds, Chemistry
Anthony Rappé, Chemistry
Jennifer A. Hoeting, Statistics
Debbie Crans, Chemistry
Robert B. France, Computer Science
Carl E. Patton, Physics
Patricia A. Bedinger, Biology
F. Jay Breidt, Statistics
Steven H. Strauss, Chemistry
Lorann Stallones, Psychology
Laurie Stargell, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Adele Howe, Computer Science
N. LeRoy Poff, Biology
Ellen Fisher, Chemistry
Alan Knapp, Biology
Michael Elliott, Chemistry
Jennifer Nyborg, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A.S.N. Reddy, Biology
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.
2023 Awardees
Early Career Faculty Excellence in Teaching and/or Mentoring (Pre-Tenure)
Elizabeth Arnold, Department of Mathematics
Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or MentoringErin Osborne Nishimura, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Graduate Student Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or MentoringHannah Finch, Department of Psychology
Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and/or MentoringKatherine Hebert, Department of Psychology
Kristen Ruegg, Department of Biology
Dean’s Recognition Award
Kristen Felten, Office of the DeanEvelyn Palma, Office of the Dean
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
