March 31, 2021
SIU to honor nine Excellence Award recipients
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale will recognize nine faculty and staff members this spring for superior scholarship and creative endeavors, teaching, and service with the 2021 Excellence Awards.
The awards are bestowed annually for exceptional work and include a new emerging leader award. This year’s recipients include scientists, advocates for social justice and people who support students outside the classroom. They will be recognized during the State of the University event on April 26.
“In my nine months as SIU Carbondale’s chancellor, I have been deeply impressed by the dedication and resilience of our faculty and staff, especially in challenging circumstances,” Chancellor Austin Lane said. “The Excellence Awards winners have demonstrated outstanding teaching, significant scholarly and artistic contributions, and dedication to furthering the mission of our university. I hope everyone is as inspired by our award winners as I am.”
The 2021 SIU Carbondale Excellence Awards winners are:
- Scholar Excellence Award: Daryl G. Kroner, professor, criminology and criminal justice.
- Teaching Excellence Award (tenured and tenure-track): Michael James Lydy, professor, zoology.
- Teaching Excellence Award (non-tenure track) Diana Tigerlily, associate professor of practice, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Kevin R. Smith, senior lecturer, chemistry and biochemistry.
- Early Career Faculty Excellence Award: Gayan Baduge, assistant professor, electrical, computer and biomedical engineering.
- Women of Distinction: Bobbi Knapp, associate professor, kinesiology.
- Emerging Leader: Sandy Pensoneau-Conway, associate professor and chair, communication studies, and interim director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
- Staff Excellence Award: Lanel Love, assistant dean of students and director, First Saluki Center, and Richard Scott Taylor, superintendent of buildings, University Housing.