2009 Award Winners

Rabbi Sally J. Priesand (BA, '68, English)

Rabbi Sally J. Priesand made history in 1972 when she became the first woman rabbi ordained in America. After completing her undergraduate studies through a joint program between the university and the neighboring Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she completed her rabbinic studies at HUC-JIR. After ordination, she served as assistant/associate rabbi at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan. She held that position until 1979, when she became rabbi of Temple Beth El in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

In 1981, Priesand became the rabbi at Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Her leadership at the temple reflected her focus on the traditional values of synagogue life - worship, study, assembly and tikkun olam (repairing the world). After her retirement in 2006, she was named the temple's Rabbi Emerita.

Priesand's ordination has been commemorated by HUC every five years since 1972, and she received an honorary doctorate from the college in 1997 to mark the 25th anniversary of her ordination. An endowed professorship, the Rabbi Sally J. Priesand Visiting Professorship in Jewish Women's Studies, was established that same year under the leadership of the Women's Rabbinic Network.

Hon. John A. West (BA, '66, History)

Cincinnati native John West has built a successful career as a local attorney, common pleas judge and community leader since graduating from the university in 1966. After earning an undergraduate degree in history, he earned his JD in 1971 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. He served as a staff attorney and private practitioner until 1996, when he was sworn in as a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge. He moved to the Court of Common Pleas in 2001 and is the 2009 Presiding Judge for Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.

In 1997, Cincinnati Magazine named West the Best Judge on Hamilton County Municipal Court.

Outside the courtroom, West was a founding member of the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati, a professional organization that promotes and supports equal opportunity and justice in the legal system. He was elected as the association's first parliamentarian in its inaugural annual officers' election, held in 1973. West has also served on the boards of a variety of civic and legal rights organizations, such as the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. West is currently serving as a member of the McMicken College Advisory Board, which advises the college on a variety of matters.

Edith C. Alexander Award for Distinguished Teaching

H. Scott Dumas, Mathematical Sciences

Scott Dumas, professor of mathematical sciences, has earned consistently high praise for his lucid explanations of difficult course material and an unfaltering dedication to helping students - even rearranging office hours to a Sunday evening for students with conflicting schedules. For almost 20 years, Dumas has taught a wide range of math classes, including special requests from the College of Business to teach students in the Lindner's Honors Plus program. "Professor Dumas truly is an advocate for students," a former student says. "He will do anything and everything in his power to help his students succeed."

McMicken Dean's Award for Distinguished Service

Richard J. Harknett, Political Science

Richard Harknett, professor of political science, is a perfect example of service-minded faculty. He has served as the director of Academic Programs in his department, Taft Faculty Chair of the Taft Memorial Fund, and on the Faculty Senate, Undergraduate Research Council and the UC Research Officers. Taft Faculty Chair Jana Evans Braziel says Harnkett is "an individual who has devoted extensive time, abundant energy, and productive creativity" to his department, college, Taft and the university as a whole. "Professor Harknett's service has been exemplary."

McMicken Excellence Award

Deborah Lieberman, Chemistry

Deborah Lieberman is the academic director in the Department of Chemistry and handles the organic chemistry laboratory experience for students. While her responsibilities include developing and maintaining student labs, the extra duties she's taken on over the years make her stand out, says Pat Limbach, chemistry department head. "Debbie exhibits the characteristics and traits we expect from our faculty and staff including a strong commitment to student success, intellectual challenge, and creating new opportunities." That initiative has resulted in stellar student evaluations and even NSF funding to upgrade the labs, a key development in further enhancing the undergraduate chemistry experience. Limbach continues, "Debbie strongly exemplifies all that is great about academics."

Carl Mills Award for Outstanding Faculty & Student Relations

Thomas A. Lorman, History

Undergraduates, A&S student groups and alumni can submit nominations for the Carl Mills Memorial Award, showcasing the professor's involvement with students, commitment to mentorship and genuine concern for students' development. In his multiple nominations, students continually praised History Field Service Assistant Professor Thomas Lorman for his excitement about the subject matter, his humor, and his ability to engage and challenge them in the subject of history. "Dr. Lorman can relate to his students like no other professor I have had," a former student says. "He gets so excited about the subject which persuades his students to take interest as well."

McMicken Dean's Award for Distinguished Scholarship

Robert Richardson, Philosophy

Robert Richardson holds an international reputation as a philosopher of science, with numerous influential books, presentations and publications under his belt. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Charles Phelps Taft Professor of Philosophy. "It is a testament to Bob's work that he is considered a 'figure' in more than one area of our discipline. Most people known in philosophy of biology are unknown in philosophy of mind/psychology, and vice versa," says Thomas W. Polger, associate professor of philosophy. "And yet those two areas do not even exhaust the range of Bob's work."

McMicken College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Scholarship

Jonathan Doerger, Communication

Second-year communication major Jonathan Doerger has a full schedule. Along with his degree studies, he is minoring in business and earning certificates in deaf studies and public relations. He hopes to attend law school after graduation.

Doerger is also treasurer and executive board member for the McMicken College Arts and Sciences Tribunal, alternate senator for the Student Government Association and also named Most Outstanding Future Greek Leader by the Inter-Fraternity Council.

"The University of Cincinnati is helping me to become the best possible person I can become," said Doerger.

"Professor Newman is a great example of the wonderful faculty members here at UC," he said. "She's always willing to take time out of her hectic schedule to offer guidance, advice and support to anyone who stops by her office."

Joyce E. Yeager Memorial Scholarship

Alexandria Halmbacher, Anthropology

Alexandria Halmbacher is a junior pursuing a major in anthropology and a minor in Spanish. She expects to graduate a year early from her program (2010) and hopes to enter McMicken's graduate anthropology program, concentrating on Pre-Columbian archaeological museum curatorial studies.

Outside of her academic life, Halmbacher is a member of Friday Night Live, ROAR, Alpha Lambda Delta and Anthropos. She also volunteers at the Cincinnati Museum Center's Anthropology Lab, where she cleans, categorizes and sorts artifacts from various dig sites.

Halmbacher cited Anthropology Professor Ken Tankersley as her guiding influence during her time at UC.

"Dr. Tankersley's infectious enthusiasm for learning, along with his passion for anthropology, makes him an unparalleled resource for students," she said.

The Eleanor Hicks Award for the Outstanding Undergraduate Female Senior

Caitlin Kane, English

Caitlin Kane will graduate this spring after only three years of undergraduate study. The English major took 17 to 21 credits per quarter, and plans to pursue a career as a high school English and drama teacher.

Kane is a Cincinnatus scholar, served as a teacher's assistant and participated in tutoring and service projects in Cincinnati and the Appalachian region.

During her final year at UC, Kane served as a peer leader for the Center of First Year Experiences and Learning Communities, providing leadership and guidance for 23 first-year students during fall quarter.

She cited CCM Professors Michael Burnham and Marilyn Bossman as influences after working with both as a teaching assistant.

Kane also studied technical theatre through College-Conservatory of Music and worked on several productions, all while maintaining a 4.0 in her English classes.

The Robert Patterson McKibbin Medal for the Outstanding Undergraduate Male Senior

Per DeVisé Jansen, International Affairs & Political Science

Per DeVisé Jansen will graduate in June 2009 with double majors in international affairs and political science, certificates in security studies and international human rights and a minor in geography. When he finishes his undergraduate studies, he will leave behind a wide impact on both the university and the city of Cincinnati.

Jansen worked as an intern for Mayor Mark Mallory and as a research assistant for former mayor Roxanne Qualls. His extracurricular work includes involvement with the Political Science Student Association, UC's award-winning Model UN team and the Urban Justice League, a social justice group he founded.

Jansen cited Assistant Professor of Geography Colleen McTague as his most inspiring faculty member, and said he intends to next pursue both a law degree and a master's degree focusing on human rights.

Outstanding Master's Student Award

Katy Cornell, History

Along with scholarship, history graduate student Katy Cornell has made teaching a significant part of her life at UC. The University Graduate Scholar has worked as a teaching assistant every quarter of her two years here.

Along with teaching, Cornell has served as the vice-president of the History Graduate Student Association, a volunteer for Campus Crusade for Christ and a committee member of the Queen City Colloquium. She also volunteered as a tutor with Cincinnati Youth Collaborative.

"I would like to thank Professor Plank for nominating me for this award and the faculty in the history department for providing excellent instruction and mentorship during my time at the University of Cincinnati," she said.

Cornell said she plans to pursue a position as a high school social studies teacher and has applied to the UC Curriculum and Instruction Program.

Outstanding Doctoral Student Award

Sayandev Chatterjee, Chemistry

Chemistry doctoral candidate Sayandev Chatterjee came to UC in 2003 after earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in India. He joined Professor Bill Connick's research group, and has spent the past six years studying solar-to-chemical energy conversion, catalysis and chemical sensors. He hopes to continue his research when he assumes a postdoctoral position with the Pacific Northwest National Lab.

"I want to keep working in an area closely related to energy and environment," he said.

Chatterjee thanked several members of the chemistry faculty for their support during his time at UC, but pointed out Connick in particular.

"He not only set up a challenging research environment, but made me realize that knowledge and its growth is a cumulative process that can be built and made stronger by constantly challenging, reassessing and re-evaluating conventional beliefs and wisdom."