Presidential Excellence Awards
The Presidential Excellence Awards honor individuals and teams who have demonstrated an
outstanding commitment to our mission, excellence in their work and service to our community.
As we continue to navigate a time of transformation in higher education, it is essential to
acknowledge the leaders who are paving the way for success. Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß is a
remarkable place – I am proud of the generosity, creativity and kindness of our community.
Every day, our faculty and staff go above and beyond to help students, colleagues and the local
community.
These awards are intended to highlight achievements from all members of our Red Hawk
community, including faculty and staff, full-time and part-time, long standing and newly arrived.
Together, we will continue our mission to make Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß an inclusive and accessible university
that creates transformative educational opportunities for students across the globe.
If you have any questions, please contact Mark Allman, Senior Advisor to the President, at allmanm@montclair.edu.
Jonathan GS Koppell
President
2026 Award Categories
| Award | Eligibility | Criteria |
|
Teaching, |
Full-time Faculty (Tenured and Teaching Faculty) with at least 6 years of full-time teaching at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß |
Additional Information: When a nomination is submitted, the nominee will be asked to submit a 1-page (500-750 word) description highlighting accomplishments and describing evidence in support of the three criteria noted above. When a nominee is selected as a finalist, the finalist will be asked to submit three (3) teaching artifacts in support of the three criteria noted above. |
|
Teaching, |
Full-time Faculty (Tenure Track and Teaching Faculty) with less than 6 years of full-time teaching at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. |
|
|
Teaching, |
Faculty with at least 2 years of part-time teaching at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß | |
| Tenured Faculty Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity Award |
Tenured Faculty with at least 6 years of FT employment at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß |
For this award the following definitions apply: Research involves the systematic investigation and analysis aimed at discovering new knowledge or understanding phenomena, often using established scientific or empirical methods. Scholarship encompasses the intellectual work of interpreting, synthesizing, and advancing knowledge within a discipline—often through critical analysis, publication, or teaching innovation. Creative activity focuses on original expression or the creation of new artistic, performative, or design works that demonstrate imagination, innovation, and contribute to cultural or intellectual life. |
|
Tenure-Track Faculty Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity Award |
Tenure-Track Faculty |
|
|
Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
For this award the following definitions apply: Research involves systematic investigation and analysis aimed at discovering new knowledge or understanding phenomena, often using established scientific or empirical methods. Scholarship encompasses the intellectual work of interpreting, synthesizing, and advancing knowledge within a discipline—often through critical analysis, publication, or teaching innovation. Creative activity focuses on original expression or the creation of new artistic, performative, or design works that demonstrate imagination, innovation, and contribute to cultural or intellectual life. |
|
Community Engagement, Faculty Award |
Faculty (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
| Community Engagement, Staff Award |
Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
| Civic Participation & Public Purpose, Faculty Award | Staff and Faculty (FT or PT), individual or team of 2 people or more |
|
|
Student Success Award |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
| International Pedagogy & Research |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
|
International Engagement & Service |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
|
Operational Excellence Award |
Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
|
Sustainability Initiatives Award |
Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
|
Excellence in Service Award |
Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2 people or more with at least 5 years at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. For teams the majority of members must have at least 5 years at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. |
|
|
Excellence in Service, Early Career Award |
Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2 people or more with less than 5 years at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. For teams, the majority of members must have at less 5 years at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß |
|
|
Inclusive Excellence Award |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team of 2Â people or more |
|
|
Advocacy and Allyship Award |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT) |
|
|
Innovation Award |
Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT), individual or team |
|
|
Collective Impact Award |
Any group of three or more employees (staff and/or faculty, FT or PT) |
|
| Unsung Hero Award | Faculty (FT or PT) or Staff (FT or PT)
For work done since 2021 Multiple Award winners annually |
|
Timeline
- December 2025
- Nominations Open.
- January 2026
- Nominations close at 5:00PM.
- Nominees are notified.
- Presidential Excellence Awards Review Committee begins the review process.
- March 2026
- Committee determines a list of Finalists (no more than 3) for each award.
- Finalists for each award are notified and invited to submit additional documents to support their nominations (no more than 3 pages). Please note: finalists are not required to provide additional documentation, this is optional.
- Nominees that did not advance as finalists are notified.
- Deadline for Finalists to submit any additional documents to the committee.
- April 2026
- Committee sends a list of their recommendations and 1-page rationale for each award to the President for review.
- President makes the final decision regarding award recipients.
- Finalists receive email from the President informing them of the awards winners.
June 10, 2026
Red Hawk Recognition Day.
Review Committee
Presidential Excellence Awards Review Committee (PEARC) will be chaired by a representative of the President’s Office who will coordinate the committee meetings and selection process. The committee chair will have a voice, but no vote in the review process. The other committee members will be appointed by the president and consist of:
- Faculty (2)
- Students (2)
- Provost’s Office Representatives (2)
- Administration and Operations Office (2)
- Student Development and Campus Life (1)
- Communications and Marketing (1)
- Enrollment Management (1)
- Human Resources (1)
- Development and Alumni Engagement (4)
- Inclusive Excellence and Institutional Equity (1)
The PEARC will form 4 subcommittees to review nominees for a particular sub-set of awards. Each subcommittee will select a subcommittee chair.
Members of the PEARC are not eligible for any awards.
2026 Presidential Excellence Award Winners
Teaching, Full-Time Faculty
Awardee:
Fernando Naiditch, Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Honorable Mention:
Evan Matthews, Associate Professor, Kinesiology, College for Community Health
Nicole Panorkou, Professor, Mathematics, College of Science and Mathematics
Teaching, Early Career, Full-Time Faculty
Awardee:
marcus d. harvey, Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance, College of the Arts
Honorable Mention:
Hao Liu, Assistant Professor, School of Computing, College of Science and Mathematics
Sei Eun Kim, Assistant Professor, Family Science and Human Development, College for Community Health
Teaching, Part-Time Faculty
Awardee:
Jason Torreano, Adjunct Instructor, Bloomfield College of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß
Honorable Mention:
Ashlee Martellacci, Adjunct Instructor, Social Work and Child Advocacy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Amrit Parmar Adjunct Instructor, School of Computing, College of Science and Mathematics
Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity, Tenured Faculty
Awardee:
Pankaj Lal, Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, College of Science and Mathematics
Honorable Mention:
Weitian Wang Associate Professor, School of Computing, College of Science and Mathematics
Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity, Tenure-Track Faculty
Awardee:
Erin Kang, Assistant Professor, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Honorable Mention:
Roman Liera, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity
Awardee:
Greg Pope, Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, College of Science and Mathematics
Honorable Mention:
Pankaj Lal, Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, College of Science and Mathematics
Erin Kang, Assistant Professor, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Community Engagement, Faculty
Awardee:
Maria Jose Garcia Vizcaino, Professor, Spanish and Latino Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Honorable Mention:
Lesley Sylvan, Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, College for Community Health
Antonella Calarota-Ninman, Director, Center for Latine and Spanish Academic Success and Excellence (CLASE), Spanish and Latino Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Madison Kranis, Program Coordinator, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Community Engagement, Staff
Awardee:
Krystal Woolston, Director of Public Service Programs, Office of the President
Honorable Mention:
Jayme S. Ganey, Engagement Specialist, Inclusive Excellence, Office of the President
Tamara Massay-Trotz, Senior Director of Student Services, Academic Affairs, Bloomfield College of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß
Civic Participation and Public Purpose
Awardee:
Brigid Callahan Harrison, Chairperson, Political Science and Law, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Honorable Mention:
Nora McCook, Associate Professor, Bloomfield College of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß
Fanny Lauby, Associate Professor, Political Science and Law, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Student Success
Awardees:
Jonnine DeLoatch, Assistant Dean, Student Belonging, Dean of Students, Student Development and Campus Life
Angie Aponte, Academic Advisor, Student Services, Feliciano School of Business
Honorable Mention:
The Crisis, Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) Team
International Pedagogy and Research
Awardee:
Soyoung Lee, Associate Professor, Family Science and Human Development, College for Community Health
Honorable Mention:
Elizabeth Emery, Professor, World Languages and Cultures, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Daniela Peterka-Benton, Director, Global Center on Human Trafficking
International Engagement and Service
Awardee:
Gail Yosh, Associate Teaching Professor, Information Management and Business Analytics, Feliciano School of Business
Honorable Mention:
Pascale Lafountain Associate Professor; Thomas Herold, Associate Professor, World Languages and Cultures, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Elizabeth Erwin Professor, Teaching and Learning, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Operational Excellence
Awardee:
Julianne Vitale, Associate Registrar for Transfer Evaluation and Articulation, Registrar, Enrollment Management
Honorable Mention:
Hope Lennon, Academic Advisor, University College
The Red Hawk Access Shuttle Team, Transportation Services
Sustainability Initiatives
Awardees:
Liliam Turino, University Facilities
Frances Jelks-Brown Assistant Director for Student Access to Community Services, OSB Advocacy and Outreach, Student Development and Campus Life
Honorable Mention:
Alex Witzl, Energy Manager; Adam McGuire, Project Manager, University Facilities
Service
Awardee:
Nicole Archer, Chairperson, Art and Design, College of the Arts
Honorable Mention:
Angie Aponte, Academic Advisor, Student Services, Feliciano School of Business
Kathleen Loysen, Chairperson, World Languages and Cultures, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Service, Early Career
Awardee:
Christopher Trautman, Director of Student Conduct, Dean of Students, Student Development and Campus Life
Honorable Mention:
Christina Rodriguez-Unalt, Assistant Professor, Art and Design, College of the Arts
Mikaela Guzman, Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator, Office of the President
Innovation
Awardees:
Paul McGroarty, Social Media Director, Strategic Distribution, Communications and Marketing
The Bilingual Educational Leadership Partnership Program Team
Collective Impact
Awardee:
The Crisis, Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) Team
Honorable Mention:
The Student Health Center Team
The Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÔÚÏß AI Hub Team
Inclusive Excellence
Awardees:
Blanca Elizabeth Vega, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Milton Fuentes, Professor, Social Work and Child Advocacy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Danne Davis, Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Advocacy and Allyship
Awardee:
Sarah Jennings, Director of University Health Services, Dean of Students, Student Development and Campus Life
Honorable Mention:
Rebecca Haddock Assistant Director of Promotion and Prevention Programming; Jennifer Faasse, Assistant Director for Clinical Services and Training, Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Marcus D. Harvey, Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance, College of the Arts
Unsung Hero
Posthumous Awardee:
Nancy Menegus
Awardees:
Heinz Nordmann, University Facilities
Dawn Wilkenfeld, Assistant Director for Early College Programs, Summer and Winter Sessions, Enrollment Management
Jude Uy, Staff Psychologist/Coordinator of Prevention and Wellness Programming, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Development and Campus Life
Danielle Insalaco-Egan, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Acting Dean, University College
Mike Peters, University Photographer, Creative, Communications and Marketing
Catherine Keohane, Director of Faculty Development, Academic Affairs
Melissa Zarin, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Development and Campus Life
Sumi Hagiwara, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College for Education and Engaged Learning
Honorable Mention:
Margaree Coleman-Carter Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Dean of Students, Student Development and Campus Life
Leslie Wilson, Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Robert Gano, Staff Content Producer, Strategic Content, Communications and Marketing