A Tradition of Excellence: FGCU Honors Outstanding Faculty, Staff, and Students | | On Tuesday, April 22, nearly 400 Eagles gathered in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom to celebrate the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff at the university’s 29th annual Celebration of Excellence. | | EVP & Provost Dr. Debbie Thorne expressed her gratitude to the FGCU community for their remarkable support and attendance. President Aysegul Timur joined the event to celebrate outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to student success and academic excellence in alignment with the university’s mission. | | |
Award Recipients and Nominees
Advising Excellence Awards
- Junior Advisor Excellence Award
- Recipient: Kelly Liu
- Nominees: Melissa MacNeill
- Senior Advisor Excellence Award
- Recipient: Stephanie Soto
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Nominees: Crystal Hill
Librarianship Excellence Awards
- Junior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
- Recipient: Amy Craig
- Nominees: Em Farmer
- Senior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
- Recipient: Kimberly Reycraft
Scholarship Excellence Awards
- Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Christina Anaya, Dr. Bhisnauth Churaman
- Nominees: Dr. Anita Rose
- Senior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Melodie Eichbauer, Dr. Scott Michael
- Nominees: Dr. Carolyn Culbertson, Dr. Eric Dent, Dr. Jacqueline Eastman, Dr. Peter Ndiangui, Dr. Jase Ramsey, Dr. Tammy Sadighi
Service Excellence Awards
- Senior Faculty Individual Service Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Anna Koufakou, Karen Landy
- Nominees: Dr. Jessica Essary, Dr. Chuck Lindsey
- Faculty Team Service Excellence Award
- Recipient: COACHE Team
- Nominated Teams: Marieb College of Health & Human Services Advising Team
Teaching Excellence Awards
- Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Louis Baumann, Clarisse Halpern
- Nominees: Dr. Lewis Broslovsky
- Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Charla Chailland, Dr. Oscar Johnson
- Nominees: Dr. Faysal Chowdhury, Dr. Amy Dudley, Dr. Chukwumaobim Nwokwu, Dr. Sunny Song, Richard Wanjema
- Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Shelby Gilbert, Dr. Valerie Weiss
- Nominees: Dr. Daniel Acheampong, Dr. George Alexakis, Dr. David Brown, Dr. Suzanne Dugger, Dr. Daniel Huerta, Dr. Jiehong Liao, Dr. Peter Ndiangui, Dr. Maria Paylor, Dr. Dan Vo
- Junior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Recipients: Dr. Lee Ann Frederick, Tara Peburn
- Nominees: Anthony Hoffman, Rita Morgan, Dr. Caren Polk
- Senior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Recipients: Karen Marino, Kara Winton
- Nominees: Dr. Joyce Fassbender, Eugene Hoyt, Reid Lennertz, Dr. Maggie Swanson
Additional Recognition
- John Herman Award for Excellence in General Education
- Recipient: Rosanna Mitchell
- Chair Excellence Award
- Recipient: Dr. Charles Xiaoxue Wang
- Nominees: Dr. Khaled Aboulnasr, Dr. Brenda Hage, Dr. Eric Otto, Dr. Rob Sillevis
- Grant-in-Aid Educational Leave Award Program
- Recipients: Jaclyn Chastain, Santiago Luaces, Seana Perkins
- Applicants: Crystal Hill, Travell Oakes, Jennifer Targia, Yasmin Galindo
- President's Award for Exemplary Online Teaching
- Recipient: Dr. Anita Rose
- Student Success Champion Awards – Faculty
- Recipient: Dr. Khaled Aboulnasr, Jennifer Fulwider, Nicole Legge
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Nominees: Amy Craig, Edwin Everham, Colleen Peters, Claire Rudeen, Maggie Swanson, Emily Vallier
- Student Success Champion Awards - Staff
- Recipients: Lindsay Rushworth, Lianet Escandell Rodriguez, Alexandra Pipitone
- Nominees: Ney Arias, Tabitha Dawes, Andrew Funari, Becky Jones, Mark Komives, Christina Kreiger, Jorge Lopez, Gillian Mayglothling, Travell Oakes, Emma Reeners, Francisco Torres, Tod Winslow
Outstanding Staff Awards
- Outstanding Support Personnel Staff Award
- Recipient: Celia Venza-Colon
- Nominees: Amy Vitiello, Jennifer Hernandez, Jennifer Taylor, Laura Jensen, Tina Seink, Lynn Hooker, Gissela Bravo
- Outstanding Administrative & Professional Staff Award
- Recipient: Adam Catasus
- Nominees: Jaclyn Chastain, Andi Clemons, Elizabeth Goldbach, Emily Murray, Hope Rivera, Joanna Naumes, Joseph Lyshon III, Kandi Chamberlain, Kathleen Crawford, Kaylee Zuidema, Kelly Boyd, Kendra Carboneau, Kim Hobart, Kristen Vanselow, Kristin Toth, Laurie Babcock, Lindsay Singh, Maxine Faatz, Michael Rechkemmer, Scott Jamieson, Sheila Rae, Tabitha Dawes, Teresa Colazzo, Teri Byrne-Knell, Yanitza Carrion-Cruz
- Gabor Staff Champion Award
- Recipient: Andi Clemons
- Nominees: Ashleigh Droz, Hilal Peker, Tabitha Dawes
| | We congratulate all award recipients and nominees and thank everyone who participated in the nomination and selection process. | | |
Academic Affairs Newsletter: Summer Schedule
Look for the next editions on the following dates:
Monday, May 4
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, July 7
We will begin a bi-weekly schedule on Monday, August 3. Enjoy your summer!
| | Missed a tip? Bookmark Digital Learning's Canvas QuickTip Archive and access expert guidance whenever you need a refresh to use Canvas more efficiently and effectively. CLICK to browse the Archive. | | Have you seen a faculty member or academic team exhibiting academic excellence and going the extra mile for student success? Let us know! Click here to submit your story. | | |
The Global Engagement Office (GEO) invites you to design and implement -
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
- Professional Development (4 online modules) about designing COIL on Canvas.
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Upcoming SAC Professional Development workshops for staff members
"SOAR with the Enneagram: Rewriting the Stories That Shape Us at Work”
SAC Workshop: Enneagram & Leadership Skills Workshop (with Dr. John Roth)
Date: Wednesday, 5/6
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Room: Cohen Center 214
RSVP Link - 50 people max: https://fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/event/12436271
SAC Workshop: Enneagram & Leadership Skills Workshop (with Dr. John Roth)
Date: Tuesday, 5/12
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Room: Cohen Center 214
RSVP Link - 50 people max: https://fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/event/12436272
SOAR with the Enneagram introduces the Enneagram as a powerful story-based tool for self-awareness and growth. Led by Dr. John Roth, this interactive workshop invites participants to reflect on the “broken stories” formed early in life that continue to influence how we show up at work. Roth will be using Ian Cron’s S.O.A.R. framework: See, Own, Awaken, Rewrite. Participants will explore how their Enneagram type shapes motivation, communication, and collaboration, and how greater awareness can support healthier relationships and more effective teamwork across campus.
Please complete an Enneagram Assessment prior to the workshop and have your results readily available - below are free and paid versions, choose whichever you prefer:
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Your voice matters!
The Digital Learning Department invites FGCU faculty and staff to participate in our Support Survey.
Why participate?
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Your feedback directly influences decisions about tools, services, and support priorities.
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Help shape future training and resources to better fit your teaching and work needs.
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Ensure faculty and staff voices are represented in digital learning planning.
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Support continuous improvement of instructional technologies and services.
- This survey takes ~ 8-10 minutes.
You may access the survey questionnaire via the QR code or through the link below. Survey closes May 1st, 2026.
Link to survey: https://fgcu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_37SiRzWFP1XbgAC
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Expanding Access: FGCU’s Degree Completion Initiatives
FGCU is dedicated to helping adult learners and returning students "Finish What They Started" by streamlining the path to graduation. Recognizing that modern learners often balance complex professional and personal lives, our Degree Completion pathways are designed to help students leverage previous academic work and life experience to earn their bachelor’s degrees.
Core Pathways Include:
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FGCU Complete: Tailored for students with an earned AA, offering flexible online, in-community, and on-campus course formats.
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Return to the Nest (RTTN): Re-engages former FGCU students with personalized re-entry support to help them cross the finish line.
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Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): Validates the expertise of our workforce by awarding credit for professional certifications, military training, and significant learning acquired outside the classroom.
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Destination FGCU: A seamless transfer partnership with Florida Southwestern State College and other partner institutions, ensuring a clear pipeline for AA graduates to transition into FGCU.
The Navigator Advantage To ensure persistence, every student in these pathways is paired with a dedicated FGCU Navigator. These staff members provide high-touch, personalized guidance from inquiry to commencement, working to identify and remove institutional barriers to graduation.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to share these resources with students or community members looking to return to higher education.
Learn more: fgcu.edu/degreecompletion
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2027 Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Proposals - Due May 29, 2026
Faculty interested in leading a study abroad program during Spring Break, Summer or Fall 2027 may request a proposal packet by e-mailing the Study Abroad Office at studyabroad@fgcu.edu.
Faculty proposing new programs or who have not previously led a program at FGCU should also schedule a meeting with Dr. Dechen Albero (dalbero@fgcu.edu) or Dr. Michael McDonald (mmcdonal@fgcu.edu) to discuss their plans.
Proposals and supporting documents are due via e-mail to studyabroad@fgcu.edu by May 29, 2026.
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The Lucas Center for Faculty Development invites you to register for our Summer Programs!
For more information on each workshop/academy and to secure your spot, visit:
🔗 https://www.fgcu.edu/lucascenter/programs#Academies
📍 All programs take place in-person at the Lucas Center (LIB-221)
⌛Please note that programs may fill up prior to the indicated registration deadline!
Course Design Academy – May 11th, 13th and 15th from 9:00a-3:00p
Participants will meet to explore learner-centered design principles, discuss ideas in small learning teams, and collaboratively design more intentional, transferable, and transformative learning experiences.
Click here for more info & to register for the Course Design Academy
Assignment Design Academy – May 19th from 8:30a-1:00p & May 21st from 9:00a-12:00p
Participants will learn about the Transparency in Learning & Teaching (TILT) framework & apply it in the revision or creation of an assignment they plan to use in an upcoming semester. Greater transparency has been shown to improve the quality of students’ work & improve success.
Click here for more info & to register for the Assignment Design Academy
Academic Portfolio Workshop – Week of June 1st
Participants will engage in a week-long mentored experience designed to aid in the development of an organizational framework for an upcoming promotion portfolio. Feedback is intended to help you showcase your strengths & accomplishments & offer guidance on how to organize your portfolio to meet university standards. Full-time faculty members are eligible to participate.
Click here for more info & to register for the Academic Portfolio Workshop
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FGCU AI Summer Academy 2026
The Dendritic Institute for Human-Centered AI & Data Science invites faculty, staff, students, and community members to participate in the FGCU AI Summer Academy, a month-long program taking place in May 2026.
The Academy features 30 sessions and nearly 200 hours of programming covering AI in teaching, research, technical development, leadership, and applied domains.
Participants may register for individual sessions based on their interests.
👉 Learn more and register:
https://www.fgcu.edu/eng/dendritic-institute/academy/summer_academy/
| Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) | | |
Why Research Compliance Education Matters?
Understanding export controls, foreign influence, conflict of interest reporting, and research compliance helps protect your research, your collaborators, and your professional reputation. These requirements are designed to support open scholarship while ensuring compliance with federal laws that govern international collaborations, funding sources, data sharing, and technology use. Staying informed allows you to engage confidently in global research partnerships, avoid unexpected delays or disruptions to your projects, and reduce personal and institutional risk. Ultimately, research compliance education empowers faculty to focus on what they do best—advancing knowledge and discovery, while safeguarding academic freedom, research integrity, and continued eligibility for external funding.
Read more here: FGCU - Research Compliance
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Notice of Hanover Grant Academy 2026-2027
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP) is soliciting nominations for the 2026-2027 Hanover Grant Academy. The goal is for eight faculty to undergo an intensive proposal development plan over a one year time frame. The Academy consists of approximately 4-6 in person meetings during the year and one on one meetings with the Hanover experts.
The requested information for application can be accessed here. A key factor in selection will be the goal of submitting a proposal for extramural funding. Hanover will provide grantsmanship training, proposal critique, guidance on project and alignment with grant opportunities, and proposal revision assistance. Faculty selected are expected to submit a proposal for extramural funding at the completion of the grant academy. Faculty are permitted to apply for an additional round of intensive proposal development assistance provided an application for extramural funding was submitted during their previous participation.
The application submission deadline is September 14, 2026 by 5 PM. Please submit the application as a single pdf to Dr. Rosemary Higgins rhiggins@fgcu.edu. Questions can be referred to Dr. Higgins.
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Notice of Intent for Extramural Proposals
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) has Streamlyne in place for PreAward Applications. If you are unsure about a submission and not quite ready to enter your request into Streamlyne, ORSP has developed a Notice of Intent (NOI) for Principal Investigators or Project Directors to complete to request a consultation for proposal submission for extramural funding. The NOI requests information for the investigator, proposal, and agency. This will assist applicants and ORSP in facilitating the process of applications.
ORSP can also review the request for proposal for details regarding required information to guide investigators on required elements for a submission. Some proposals are quite simple; others require a significant number of documents.
The NOI can be found at: https://fgcu.formstack.com/forms/notice_of_intent_form.
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SciENcv Update
NIH and NSF now require that the PI and all Key Personnel generate their Biosketches and Current & Pending Support documents for every proposal submission through SciENcv. They also require an ORCID iD to be linked to SciENcv.
If you have not yet signed up for an ORCID iD number, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any delays at the time of proposal submission. If you have not yet created a SciENcv account to maintain your Biosketch and Current & Pending, ORSP suggests that you do so now.
There are several ways to log in to SciENcv; however, the most efficient method is through login.gov. If you do not already have a login.gov account, you should first create one using your FGCU email address and then use it to set up your SciENcv account.
To create an ORCID iD, go to this link and sign up where indicated. If you already have your SciENcv and ORCID ID accounts, the SciENcv site will prompt you to link the accounts.
ORSP is aware of ongoing issues and delays in responses from the associated help desks. Please contact ORSP early so we can assist you with generating Biosketches and Current & Pending Support documents that are compliant with grant submission requirements.
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Required Training for NSF and NIH Submissions
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has required training starting December 2, 2025. The new requirements set forth in NSF Important Notice No. 149 will take effect.
What you need to know:
- Proposals submitted before December 2, 2025, including those submitted during the recent lapse in appropriations, are not subject to those requirements originally set to take effect on October 10, 2025.
- As of December 2, 2025, such new certifications are required at the time of proposal submission within the Cover Sheet, Biographical Sketch, and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms. These include new certifications related to:
- Completion of research security training by all senior/key personnel; and
- An institution of higher education’s status regarding contracts or agreements with any Confucius Institute.
- Organizations are required to provide supporting documentation, including copies of grants, contracts, and agreements, upon request by NSF.
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You are instructed to take this course, download and save your completion certificate and provide it to ORSP_preaward@fgcu.edu. This certificate must be uploaded with your proposal to NSF.
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To assist research organizations and investigators, NSF has published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page summarizing the new requirements, certification procedures, and relevant timelines. Access the FAQs here.
Training can be done using the following link and takes 45-60 minutes: https://www.secure-center.org/ctm.
NIH research security training (RST) becomes mandatory for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026 - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-017.html
If you have questions, please reach out to ORSP.
| | The Faculty Publications newsletter for February was sent out on Monday. Didn't get it? Here is the link to the web version. Contact Em Farmer (emfarmer@fgcu.edu) with any questions. | | | | |
