Faculty and Staff Awards and Recognition

faculty cheering at awards ceremony

Faculty Award for Distinguished Achievement in Teaching


Jamie Mahoney
Assistant Professor, Department of Graphic Design

The purpose of this award is to honor outstanding contributions to the art of teaching by a faculty member in the School of the Arts. Teaching and Research faculty members (term, tenure-eligible, or tenured) who have produced remarkable work are eligible. The award is given for teaching-related activity and may be given for specific initiatives that demonstrate innovativeness or creativity in teaching or for general excellence in professing one’s discipline as evidenced by engaged students, commitment, and/or ongoing improvements of teaching in the arts. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. However, previously nominated recipients who did not receive this award may be nominated again with a new nomination and new supporting documentation.

Faculty Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research


Susie Ganch
Associate Professor, Department of Craft/Material Studies

The purpose of this award is to honor outstanding contributions to academic and creative research scholarship. Teaching and Research faculty members (term, tenure-eligible, or tenured) who have produced remarkable work are eligible. The award is given for products of research and scholarship that demonstrates significant depth of creativity and vision; creative and innovative developments of theory, method, form; or extensions of the frontiers of knowledge to the arts that constitutes substantial contributions to intellectual and artistic communities. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. However, previously nominated recipients who did not receive this award may be nominated again with a new nomination and new supporting documentation.

Faculty Award for Distinguished Adjunct

Kelly Alder headshot


Kelly Alder
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Communication Arts

This award recognizes an outstanding member of the School of the Arts adjunct faculty who best represents the contribution of adjunct faculty to the mission of the School of the Arts. All persons who have taught on adjunct contracts during the year of recognition review are eligible for consideration. They may be recognized for the culmination of their teaching or research, or excellence for a one-time contribution in these areas. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. However, previously nominated recipients who did not receive this award may be nominated again with a new nomination and new supporting documentation.

Dean’s Service Excellence Award


Brad Birchett 
Academic Advisor, Department of Communication Arts 

This award recognizes an outstanding classified staff member of the School of the Arts who best represents the contribution to their unit and the mission of the school. Any full-time classified employee of VCUarts who held an employment contract during the year of recognition review is eligible. They may be recognized for the culmination of their service, or excellence for a one-time contribution. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. However, previously nominated recipients who did not receive this award may be nominated again with a new nomination and new supporting documentation.

Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award


Tabatha Dunlap

Assistant Director of Finance

This award recognizes an outstanding University and Academic Professional (UAP) member of the School of the Arts who best represents the contribution to their unit and the mission of the School of the Arts. Any full-time UAP employee of VCU School of the Arts who held an employment contract during the year of recognition review is eligible for this consideration. They may be recognized for the culmination of their service, or excellence for a one-time contribution. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. However, previously nominated recipients who did not receive this award may be nominated again with a new nomination and new supporting documentation.


Previous Winners

Please note: the academic ranks of faculty and department name may have changed since the time of award.