Faculty and student excellence celebrated at EMS annual awards celebration

Lee Kump at Wilson Awards Banquet — Lee Kump, John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, speaking at the college's annual Wilson Awards Banquet held on Sunday, April 24. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) recognized exceptional students and faculty for their academic excellence, service and leadership during its annual Wilson Awards Celebration, held on Sunday, April 24. The Wilson Awards are named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, major benefactors of the college.

Matthew Wilson graduated from Penn State in 1918 with a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering and the Wilson endowment provides the college with support for its well-known student loan program and a number of faculty and student awards and scholarships.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our faculty and students,” said Lee Kump, John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. “This annual award celebration offers the college an opportunity to honor and recognize the impact of their innovative work. We were especially excited to hold it in-person for the first time in three years.”

This year’s recipients are listed below.

Wilson Award for Excellence in Research

The Wilson Award for Excellence in Research is the college’s highest research honor. This award is given in recognition of scholarly or creative excellence represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. The contribution may be original basic research or may represent the application of knowledge in the creation of a process or device useful to society. Recipient is:

Peter Wilf, professor of geosciences

Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching represented by performance in a single course of instruction or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. The contribution may represent application of knowledge in a traditional classroom setting, field course or online education. Recipient is:

John Mauro, professor of materials science and engineering and associate head for graduate education in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Wilson Award for Outstanding Service

Created in 1999, the Wilson Service Award recognizes exceptional service contributions to the college, the University and the community. Recipient is:

Kenneth Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science

John T. Ryan, Jr. Faculty Fellow

This award was created to provide supplementary funds to an outstanding faculty member in the college to further their contributions in teaching, research, and public service. Recipient is:

Chiara Lo Prete, associate professor of energy economics

Faculty Advising Award

Created in 2013, the Faculty Advising Award is given in recognition of outstanding advising undertaken by faculty members to enhance the student’s experience at Penn State. Recipient is:

Jonathan Mathews, professor of energy and mineral engineering

Faculty Mentoring Award

The Faculty Mentoring Award honors a faculty member who invests in the success of others, whether it is a new faculty member, a student or a staff member. This award recognizes the generous contribution of time and energy it takes to mentor in teaching, research and service. Recipient is:

Nasim Alem, associate professor of materials science and engineering

G. Montgomery and Marion Hall Mitchell Award for Innovative Teaching

This award was created in 1998 to recognize faculty members in the college who use innovative teaching techniques in their courses. Recipient is:

Kevin Bowley, assistant teaching professor in meteorology and atmospheric science

Paul F. Robertson Award for EMS Breakthrough of the Year

This award was created in 2012 with support from a generous gift by EMS alumnus Paul F. Robertson. This award is given to recognize achievements for a singular breakthrough in research or in the scholarship of teaching. This year’s recipient of this year’s Paul F. Robertson Breakthrough of the Year Award is a team of four researchers in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science:

William Brune, distinguished professor of meteorology
David Miller, assistant research professor
Patrick McFarland, student in the IUG program
Jena Jenkins, graduate student

Charles L. Hosler Alumni Scholar Medal

The Charles L. Hosler Alumni Scholar Medal was established in 1992 to honor of one of our college’s former deans, Charlie Hosler. This award recognizes the very highest levels of intellectual achievement or academic service attained by alumni of the college, with emphasis given to those who have earned doctoral degrees. Recipient is:

Angelique Adams, CEO of Angelique Adams Media Solutions LLC

E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Faculty Fellowship

The E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Faculty Fellowship was created to support faculty of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative approaches to major contemporary challenges in the earth, energy and material sciences. Recipient is:

Manzhu Yu, assistant professor of geography, for her proposal “Quantifying the Changing Wildfire Influence on Air Quality, Environmental Justice, and Mobility-Based Human Exposure to Air Pollution”

George H. Deike, Jr. Research Grant

The George H. Deike, Jr. Research Grant is awarded in support of an innovative research project. Recipients are:

Robert Hickey, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, for his proposal “Nanostructured Polymer Muscles Exhibiting Reversible Actuation”
Joel Landry, assistant professor of environmental and energy economics, for his proposal “Assessing the Efficiency and Equity Impacts of the Electric Vehicle Transition Under Alternative Policy Pathways”

Wilson Research Initiation Grant

The Wilson Research Initiation Grant was established to provide an extra spark to the research career of a junior faculty member. Recipient is:

Urara Hasegawa, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, for her proposal “Injectable Hydrogels Formed Via Thermally-Induced Gelation of Patchy Polymeric Micelles for Biomedical Applications”

Gladys Snyder Junior Faculty Grants

The Gladys Snyder Junior Faculty Grants are awarded for proposals for the development of new courses or the improvement of current offerings; for travel to professional meetings; to broaden the studies of junior faculty members; or to recognize significant contributions in research efforts. Recipients are:

Barbara Arnold, professor of practice in mining engineering, for her proposal “3D Printing in Energy and Mineral Related Laboratory and Engineering Courses”
Brian Kelley and Kimberly Lau, both assistant professors of geosciences, for their proposal “Fostering a Sense of Place with an Accessible Virtual Field Trip for Gold Rush: Geology and History, a New General Education Inter-Domain Course”

Postdoctoral Excellence in Research Award

Postdoctoral Excellence in Research is given in recognition of excellence in research represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. This award is designed to celebrate postdoctoral scholar’s outstanding achievements in research that has or will impact their field of study. Recipients are:

Sara Andreoli, postdoctoral scholar, EMS Energy Institute

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards were created to honor undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty who have demonstrated exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. Recipients are:

Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Undergraduate Student Award: Edward Spagnuolo, geobiology major
Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Graduate Student Award: Carl Fredrick Guico Aquino, geosciences major
Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Award: José Fuentes, professor of meteorology

25-Year Service Awards

Denice Wardrop, research professor in geography

George H. K. Schenck Teaching Assistant Award

This award was created to honor and recognize an exemplary graduate student teaching assistant in the college. Recipient is:

Steven Baksa, graduate teaching assistant, Intercollege Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Jay M. and Katherine DeFinis Award for Outstanding Student Leadership

Established in 2005 to honor outstanding student leadership abilities within the student organizations of the college. Recipients are:

Cierra Chandler, graduate student in materials science and engineering
Imani Murray, undergraduate student majoring in materials science and engineering, and Chinese
Alexander Vera, graduate student in materials science and engineering

Ellen Steidle Achievement Award

Established in 1953 by Dean Edward Steidle to honor the memory of his wife, this award recognizes junior and senior EMS students for their service to the college. Recipients are:

Senior Award: Kelly Matuszewski, materials science and engineering
Junior Award: Hannah Chop, environmental systems engineering
Junior Award: Luke Winand, meteorology and atmospheric science

Dean Edward Steidle Memorial Scholar Award

Established in 1981 to honor Edward Steidle, dean of the college from 1929 to 1953, this award is given to a graduating senior who is a truly outstanding scholar in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and who plans to go to graduate school. Recipient is:

Edward Spagnuolo, geobiology

GEMS Diamond Award

Established in 2006, the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) Diamond Award grants a lifetime membership in the Penn State Alumni Association to a graduating student who is found to have the most well-rounded involvement and achievement in both the University and community environment during their student experience while in the college. Recipient is:

Imani Murray, materials science and engineering and Chinese

College Marshal

The college marshal designation is given to the most accomplished graduate overall. College marshal is:

Camila Van Oost, environmental systems engineering, minors in watershed and water resources, and global and international studies

Science Marshal

The award is for the top-ranking graduate in a science discipline. Science marshal is:

Catherine Kohlman, meteorology and atmospheric Science, minor in marine science

Earth and Mineral Sciences Academy for Global Experience (EMSAGE)

Established in 2009, the EMSAGE program helps students develop as communicators and collaborators and prepares them to be effective leaders in their disciplines and responsible global citizens. Students may aspire to EMSAGE Laureate status by achieving notable success in scholarship, service, global literacy and experiential learning.

Fall 2021 EMSAGE Laureates