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Presidential Faculty and Staff Award Winners

Dear Colleagues, 

During these challenging times, we want you to know that we recognize and appreciate all you’ve done, and continue to do, to support the University and our students. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to cancel one of our UMBC traditions, the yearly Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards (PFSA) ceremony. However, we want to take the time to recognize this year’s winners and celebrate their accomplishments. Please review the list below and take a moment to reach out these individuals and congratulate them on their accomplishments. 

You will find biographies of each recipient on the PFSA website, and we will be recognizing their work on social media in the coming weeks. Our colleagues in Institutional Advancement are also working to reschedule the event in the fall. 

We hope you and your families stay safe and healthy in the weeks ahead. We miss seeing you on campus but are deeply grateful for your continued hard work and community spirit.

President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous



Presidential Faculty & Staff Award Winners
Lee Blaney, Associate Professor, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
2020-2023 Presidential Teaching Professor

Phyllis R. Robinson, Professor, Biological Sciences
2020-2023 Presidential Research Professor

Amanda Knapp, Associate Vice Provost and Assistant Dean, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
2020-2021 Presidential Distinguished Professional Staff Award

Melody Wright, Academic Business Services Specialist, Biological Sciences
2020-2021 Presidential Distinguished Non-Exempt Staff Award


University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award Winners
E. F. Charles LaBerge, Professor of the Practice, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
2020 Excellence in Teaching

Weidong Zhu, Professor, Mechanical Engineering
2020 Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity

Steven Caruso, Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences
2020 Excellence in Mentoring

Denise Meringolo, Associate Professor, History, and Director of Public History
2020 Excellence in Mentoring


University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Staff Award Winners
Rachel Brubaker, Assistant Director, Grants & Program Development, Dresher Center for the Humanities 
2019 Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs

Celso Guitian, Campus Planner, Facilities Management
2019 Effectiveness and Efficiency

Larry Hennessey, Associate Director, Facilities Management
2019 Extraordinary Public Service to the University or Greater Community

Jess Myers, Director, Women’s Center
2019 Inclusion, Multiculturalism, & Social Justice


2019-2020 Jakubik Family Endowment Staff Award Winner
Jessica R. Cook, Associate Director, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program


2019-2020 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Outstanding Non-Exempt Staff
Carolyn Good, Administrative Assistant II, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication


2019-2020 Marilyn E. Demorest Award for Faculty Advancement
Ana Maria Schwartz Caballero, Associate Professor, Spanish and Second Language Education; Affiliate Faculty, Language, Literacy, and Culture Program


2019-2020 UMBC Research Faculty Excellence Award
Ann Christine Frankowski, Senior Research Scientist, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy


Posted: April 6, 2020, 4:23 PM