Faculty Excellence 2025-2026 Highlights

Faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences are innovators in the classroom and leaders in their fields. Their diversity of backgrounds and perspectives contributes to an academic and scholarly experience that is inclusive, collaborative, and inspires big thinking. This year, many of our faculty members achieved career milestones, received prestigious awards, published books, and secured significant research grant funding.

Karen Sweeting

The Master of Public Administration Director and Associate Professor receives NASPAA.

Brittany Martin

Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor secures a Russell Sage Foundation Award.

Skip Mark

Political Science Professor and Director of the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies explores growth of digital repression around the world.

Annu Matthew

Department of Art Professor displays art installation in Tagliacozzo, Italy.

Lars Erikson

Languages Chair, Professor of French, and Director of French IEP, part of select group of French educators to visit Côte d’Ivoire on Fulbright-Hays grant.

Clarisa Carubin

The Department of Art Professor will design a new visual identity for the historic Stanton-Davis Homestead Museum.

Joëlle Rollo-Koster

Professor of Medieval History retires after three decades at the university.

Hilda Lloréns

Anthropology Professor receives inaugural research award from Hispanic Health Council.

Natalie Pifer

Criminology and Criminal Justice chair and Professor publishes study on solitary confinement and its impact with fellow researchers.

Evelyn Sterne

History Professor and Humanities Director’s new book opens the door into the House of David.

Travess Smalley

Department of Art Professor presents at 2025 Mindcraft LIVE as a creator who implements his digital art directly into the game.

Timothy Amidon

Professional and Public Writing Chair and Professor changes the conversation about risk, disaster, and crisis communication in his new book.

Justin Wyatt

Interim Director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media, and Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies analyzes the film ‘Nashville’ from a new critical perspective.

Jason Dwyer

Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Chemistry Professor receives National Science Foundation grant for nanotechnology study.

Kamliah A’Vant

Assistant Dean will be recognized at the upcoming 2026 11th Annual The 100 Women of Color Gala & Awards with 99 other women of color across areas of New England later this year.

Catherine DeCesare

History Professor’s new book outlines treacherous early 19th century voyage of trade vessel John Jay.

Jon Laustsen

The Art and Art History Department sculpture and three dimension instructor showed his latest work at Angell Street Galleries from April 18 – May 30.

Justin M. Pratt

The chemistry professor was awarded a $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant for his Institutional and Community Transformation project.