Fulbright College Announces 2023 Annual Faculty Teaching and Research Awards

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas has named the 2023 recipients of its annual teaching and research faculty awards. Each honoree was selected for their exemplary, ongoing, and impressive contributions to their respective fields.

“Each of these amazing faculty members is beyond deserving of this recognition,” said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean of Fulbright College. “On a campus full of incredible changemakers, the competition for these awards can be rigorous, making the achievements of these individuals even more impressive.”

“I want to personally congratulate each of these 2023 awardees – who are remarkably devoted instructors, researchers, and service-minded individuals – for their commitment to improving our college, community and the world beyond,” Sloan added.

FULBRIGHT COLLEGE MASTER TEACHING AWARD

The college honors up to three outstanding teachers annually, and selection is based on a letter of nomination, teaching evaluations and documentation about the nominee’s teaching activities.

The 2023 recipients include:

Ryan Calabretta-Sajder, an associate professor and section head of the Italian Program, associate director of the Gender Studies Program and affiliate faculty in the African and African American Studies, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, and Jewish Studies programs. “Dr. Calabretta-Sajder has built an academic community that stresses the incredible diversity of Italy, and has worked tirelessly to implement innovative technologies, like 360° video footage for use in Virtual Reality Systems, into the study of antiquity,” said nominator David Fredrick, director of Classical Studies. This innovation also extends to Calabretta-Sajder’s classroom practices, as he’s developed 11 original courses over the last 10 years. Additionally, he has been at the forefront of organizing and facilitating several co-curricular activities for the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, such as the Italian Club, Weekly Italian Language Table, and Italian Cinema Film Series. Calabretta-Sajder’s many academic publications, lectures, and conference presentations contextualize the history and culture of the ancient Italian world with a modern understanding of democracy, economic inequality, and human rights. “For me, Ryan is a master teacher because of his intellectual range, his energy, his engagement with digital media and technology, and his generosity with his time” Fredrick added.

Rocio Paez Ritter, a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology. Ritter was nominated by associate professor and department chair Shauna Morimoto, who said, “In a department that prides itself for excellence in teaching, Dr. Paez Ritter stands apart as truly exceptional because of her innovative and rigorous instruction while also building personal relationships with her students.” Ritter’s many academic publications discuss various topics relating to criminological theory and the practices of the justice system regarding immigration and juvenile justice. She has been asked to present at several international conferences, including those held by the British Society of Criminology and the 17^th World Congress of Criminology. In addition to her many academic projects, Ritter is co-chair and an advisory group member of the Department of Sociology and Criminology’s undergraduate program, as well as a member of both the U of A’s One Book One Community Committee and its International Faculty Impact Group Development Committee. She also serves as secretary of the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice “To put it simply, Dr. Paez Ritter is an incredible teacher,” Morimoto said. “Her empathy touches her students, encourages them to think, teaches them to develop respect and builds their compassion.”

FULBRIGHT COLLEGE MASTER RESEARCHER AWARD

The honor is awarded to up to three outstanding researchers. Awardees are chosen based on a nomination letter, the nominee’s research accomplishments documented in a one-page summary of his or her research outlining its importance, a list of 10 publications, supporting evidence of exceptional performance in research, his or her curriculum vitae and an evaluation by the departmental chairperson.

The 2023 recipients include:

Lisa Corrigan, a professor in the Department of Communication, director of the Gender Studies Program, and an affiliate faculty member of the African & African American Studies and Latin American & Latino Studies programs. “Professor Corrigan is uniquely worthy of the award, given her outstanding record as a researcher, public intellectual, editor, and mentor,” said nominator and Department of Communication chair Ron Warren. Corrigan has built an international reputation as a critical rhetorical historian, publishing multiple award-winning books and academic essays. She is also founder of the Rhetoric, Politics, & Culture Journal, which was launched in 2020. Additionally, Corrigan is currently a board member of every major communication journal, including the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Howard Journal of Communication, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, and many more. “Dr. Corrigan has evolved into one of the most committed critics of rhetorical studies, and her academic works ask important questions about how rhetorical studies operates as a field,” said fellow professor Cara Finnegan. In addition to her various publications, Corrigan also hosts an award-winning podcast entitled Lean Back: Critical Feminist Conversations and volunteers consulting services to community organizations like Peace at Home Domestic Violence Shelter and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

Todd Cleveland, a professor, associate chair and director of Graduate Studies for the Department of History. In less than a decade, Cleveland has written or edited nine books and around 15 other scholarly works, including two in Portuguese. His work is focused on the study of Sub-Saharan Africa, shaping the understanding of its culture and history greatly through his many research contributions and lecture presentations. “Speaking as a fellow historian, Professor Cleveland merits recognition as a Master Researcher in part because his historical interpretations have greatly benefitted the field,” said associate professor and chair of the Department of History Laurence Hare. Cleveland is also a member of the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy, with a track record of successfully mentoring graduate students in his field and facilitating various study abroad programs. He is also on the editorial team for the International Journal of the History of Sport, the Journal of Tourism History, and co-editor of the Africa in World History book series. “Todd Cleveland’s record of investigation and publication, and his mastery over the methodologies and theories of Hhistory provide an impressive foundation for the exercise of research,” added Cleveland’s former college Nuno Domingos.

FULBRIGHT COLLEGE OUTSTANDING ADVISOR AWARD

This award recognizes a faculty member’s exceptional contributions to the departmental or college advising program. Awardees are chosen based on a letter of recommendation from someone who is acquainted with the candidate’s work as an advisor along with letters of support from colleagues and former students.

The 2023 recipient is:

Julia Kennefick, undergraduate advisor and an associate professor in the Department of Physics. Kennefick is described by her colleagues as “an invaluable asset to the department, and, by extension, to the college.” Kennefick has been an academic advisor within the department since 2016 and has risen to the challenge of ensuring student success. In a typical semester, Kennefick aids anywhere from 25 to 30 students, overseeing a staff of four to five other faculty members that work together to ensure no student falls through the cracks. “One of her most innovative methods involves keeping a spreadsheet of the over 100 physics majors currently attending the university, tracking their GPA, goals, and research experiences so as to best connect them with a faculty advisor that will ensure they achieve their goals,” said associate professor and colleague Woodrow Shew. Kennefick has also served on several student thesis committees, written numerous letters of recommendation, facilitated student research opportunities, helped with scholarship applications, and generally been a friendly face that students can come to for advice. “Julia Kennefick has been a remarkable and indispensable leader of our department’s advising program for the past seven years, personally advising a significant number of our majors and overseeing the success of all our students,” added department chair Lin Oliver.

J. HILLMAN YOWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

This award is given to a Fulbright College graduate assistant in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the college and university. Awardees are chosen based on a letter of nomination, a recommendation by the departmental chairperson, assessments of classroom visitations and other types of departmental review, his or her curriculum vitae, letters of support from faculty and peers as well as current and former students, a list of courses taught at the university and a summary of student evaluations for each course.

The 2023 recipient is:

Ryan Smith, learning assistant and instructor of record in the Department of History. Smith has been commended by his students for his enthusiastic teaching methods. His M.A. thesis, Gendered Confines: Women’s Prison Reform in 1920s & 1930s Arkansas, won the prestigious Violet B. Gingles Award in Arkansas history and was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. His other academic works have been published by the Journal of Mississippi History and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. As a doctoral student, Smith has risen to the top of his class of instructors for his innovative teaching methods and dedication to the engagement and success of his students. “In my years of observing our doctoral students in the classroom setting, I have seen some very good teachers, but Mr. Smith stands at the top,” said co-nominator Jeannie Whayne, University Professor of history. Smith also maintains a commendable success record, averaging a 4.55 out of 5 average course ratings and 4.73 out of 5 average instructor ratings according to student course evaluations. “It’s abundantly clear that Ryan is not only teaching history at an extremely high level but is also cultivating his students to become thoughtful citizens and informed, conscientious members of society who will make transformative contributions long after they leave the U of A,” added co-nominator and chair Laurence Hare.