Convocation to Shine Spotlight on Faculty, Staff Accomplishments

The University of Maryland’s 37th annual Convocation today will honor 27 faculty and staff for their contributions to education, research and the campus community.

Marcio Oliveira, assistant vice president of academic technology and innovation, and executive director of the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center, will receive the President’s Medal, which recognizes extraordinary contributions to the intellectual, social and cultural life of Maryland. Oliveira is being recognized for his innovative track record and leadership in moving the university to remote operations due to COVID-19.

Astronomy Professor Derek Richardson will receive the Kirwan Faculty Research and Scholarship Prize for his pioneering research in areas such as how planets are formed and stay together. Todd Cooke, professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and founder of the Integrated Life Sciences Program, will receive the Kirwan Undergraduate Education Award.

Convocation is “an opportunity to pause and appreciate the achievements of our colleagues,” said University President Darryll Pines. “When they do their best work, it lifts us all.”

Find out more about all awardees by clicking on their names below, and watch the virtual ceremony at 3 p.m. today at umd.edu/convocation.

President’s Medal
Marcio Oliveira, Assistant Vice President, Academic Technology and Innovation, Division of Information Technology; and Executive Director, Teaching and Learning Transformation Center, Division of Academic Affairs

Kirwan Faculty Research and Scholarship Prize
Derek Richardson, Professor, Department of Astronomy

Kirwan Undergraduate Education Award
Todd Cooke, Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics

President's Distinguished Service Award
Margaret Gibbs, Office Supervisor, Counseling Center
Diane Krejsa, Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel
Ana Palla-Kane, Senior IT Accessibility and UX Specialist, Division of Information Technology
Ross Stern, Executive Director of Government Relations, Office of Government Relations
Colleen Wright-Riva, Director, Dining Services
 
Provost’s Excellence Award for Professional Track Faculty
Lisa Boté, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and& Leadership (Teaching)
Roohollah Ebrahimian, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics (Service)
Christine Harvey, Director of Assessments, Director of the Graduate Multimedia Certificate Program and Senior Lecturer, Philip Merrill College of Journalism (Service)
Chengquan Huang, Research Professor, Department of Geographical Sciences (Research)
Igor Puchtel, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Geology (Research)
Marcia Shofner, Senior Lecturer, Department of Entomology (Teaching)
Roy Walls, Instructor, Institute of Applied Agriculture (Teaching)

Distinguished Scholar-Teacher
Steven Klees, Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education
Thomas Murphy, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Director, Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics
Xiaoli Nan, Professor and Co-director of Graduate Studies, Department of Communication
Rochelle Newman, Professor and Chair, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences
Derek Paley, Willis H. Young Jr. Professor of Aerospace Engineering Education, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Director, Maryland Robotics Center and the Collective Dynamics and Control Laboratory
Saúl Sosnowski, Professor of Latin American Literature and Culture, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Distinguished University Professor
William Fagan, Professor, Department of Biology
James Farquhar, Professor, Department of Geology and Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center
Dinesh Manocha, Paul Chrisman Iribe Professor of Computer Science and Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering
Peter Reuter, Professor, School of Public Policy and Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Aravind Srinivasan, Professor, Department of Computer Science and University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
Ruth Enid Zambrana, Professor, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies