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Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am delighted to congratulate five exemplary, distinguished faculty members who have won DePauw University’s most prestigious teaching awards for the 2020-21 academic year and five staff members whom our students have recognized as going above and beyond in their support of students.  

It is an honor and privilege to work with colleagues so dedicated to their contributions to students, the University and our community as a whole. 

I would have preferred to celebrate with all of you, in person, but have enjoyed reading nominations and taken great pride in your accomplishments.  The staff awards were presented in person by students during a student recognition ceremony Thursday afternoon, so there aren’t videos for those honorees; since there was no in-person ceremony for faculty, those are presented via the video links as follows:  

  • The Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Tucker Jr. Distinguished Career Award recognizes a senior faculty member who has made notable contributions to DePauw through a commitment to students, teaching excellence, one’s chosen discipline and university service.

  • The United Methodist Exemplary Teaching Award, awarded jointly by the University and the General Board of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church to faculty members who exemplify excellence in teaching; civility and concern for students and colleagues; commitment to value-centered education; and service to students, the institution and the community. Two honorees are recognized. 

  • The Edwin L. Minar Jr. Award recognizes the faculty member who has demonstrated an exceptional record of scholarly and creative work suggestive of the achievements of Dr. Minar, a professor of classical languages who taught at DePauw from 1951-80, wrote almost 50 reviews of major works in Greek philosophy and published a number of articles on the same subject. 

  • The G. Bromley Oxnam Award for Service, named for DePauw’s 13th president who served from 1928-1936, honors a mid-career faculty member who has made significant contributions to the University, the academic or professional world, the Greencastle community or the wider arena of civic contributions through social outreach or social justice. 

  • The Faculty Member of the Year Award is given by the student body to a faculty member who has supported students and the university. Finalists this year were Sharon Crary, chemistry professor; Tim Good, professor of communication and theatre; Emmitt Riley, associate professor of political science and director of the Africana Studies program; Greg Schwipps ’95, English professor; Andrea Sununu, English professor; and Erik Wielenberg, philosophy professor and chair of the philosophy department. 

The staff awards are given by the student body, following a process of open nomination, followed by approval of the Student Senate and DePauw Student Government. The following were announced during an in-person Student Leaders Recognition event  Thursday (additional details about their nominations are included in the news story linked below): 

  • Staff Members of the Year are Joseph Harris in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion; Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations Asaundra Pickett, who also is the director of the Welch Fitness Center and assistant coordinator of strength and conditioning; and Dondra Zaring, a facilities service provider. 

  • Administrator of the Year is Sarah Ryan, the assistant dean of students and director of the Women’s Center. 

  • And in a special new recognition, the COVID-19 Leaders Award goes to Julia Sutherlin Proctor, chair of DePauw’s COVID-19 Task Force and assistant dean of campus life, and Stevie Baker-Watson, associate vice president for campus wellness and the Theodore Katula director of athletics and recreational sports.  

More details about each honoree are included in this news story

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues! 

Sincerely,  

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Lori S. White, Ph.D.