Endowed Professorships, President’s Excellence Awards Announced

A large group of smiling people holding teardrop shaped glass trophies.

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 17, 2025) — Two dozen University faculty and staff members were recognized Wednesday for their service to the institution with endowed professorships and the President’s Excellence Awards.

Provost Carol Kim handed out the honors after President Havidán Rodríguez presented his Spring University Address in the Campus Center Auditorium. Kim began by announcing two new endowed professorships. The Ackner/Newman Professorship in Business and Innovation went Rita Biswas, associate professor of finance in the Massry School of Business. Massry School of Business Dean Paquita Davis-Friday was awarded the new endowed Chair in Business Leadership.

“Over the past several years, led by our vice president for University Advancement, Fardin Sanai and his team, UAlbany has made a concerted effort to establish new endowed faculty and administrative positions to support your incredible work,” Kim said.

The provost also recognized Chemistry Professor Marina Ptrukhina, whose appointment as the Carla Rizzo Delray Endowed Professor of Chemistry was renewed for another five years. 

Kim then presented the President’s Excellence Awards, noting that they “recognize faculty and staff who are exemplars of outstanding performance” in their respective areas.

2025 President’s Excellence Awards

Excellence in Professional Service

  • Laura Barron, Information Technology Services

  • Melissa Powers, Registrar’s Office

  • Elana Stein, College of Arts and Sciences

  • David VanVranken, Office of Facilities Management

  • Jameelee Ford, Great Dane Union

  • Renee Wallingford, assistant dean, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Excellence in Academic Service

  • Bret Benjamin, associate professor, English, College of Arts and Sciences

  • Ellen Rubin, associate professor, Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Excellence in Teaching

  • Caitlin Udas, teaching assistant and PhD student, School of Criminal Justice, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

  • Elise Andaya, associate professor, Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences

  • Jennifer Dodge, associate professor, Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

  • Teniell Trolian, associate professor, Educational Policy & Leadership, School of Education

  • Susan Cumings, lecturer, Writing and Critical Inquiry Program

Excellence in Librarianship

  • Lauren Puzier, user experience librarian, University Libraries

Excellence in Classified Service

  • James Stalker, Office of Facilities Management

  • Mario Labrecque, Office of Facilities Management

Excellence in Research and Creative Activities

  • Annalisa Scimemi, associate professor, Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

  • Barbara Sutton, professor and chair, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

  • David Yun Dai, professor, Educational & Counseling Psychology, School of Education

  • Paolo Forni, associate professor, Biological Sciences and RNA Institute, College of Arts and Sciences

  • Kevin Knuth, professor, Physics, College of Arts and Sciences