A Tradition of Excellence: FGCU Honors Outstanding Faculty, Staff, and Students

May 15, 2026 / Tags: FGCU Celebration of Excellence, Office of the Provost, Academic Affairs Newsletter, Academic Excellence

Provost Thorne congratulate awardee at the 29th Celebration of Excellence

COACHE team pose with President Timur and Provost Thorne at the Celebration of Excellence

On Tuesday, April 22, nearly 400 Eagles gathered in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom to celebrate the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff at the university’s 29th annual Celebration of Excellence.

President Timur, Professor Soto, Provost Thorne pose with Soto as she holds her Celebration of Excellence award

EVP & Provost Dr. Debbie Thorne expressed her gratitude to the FGCU community for their remarkable support and attendance. President Aysegul Timur joined the event to celebrate outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to student success and academic excellence in alignment with the university’s mission.

Award Recipients and Nominees

Advising Excellence Awards

Junior Advisor Excellence Award
Recipient: Kelly Liu
Nominees: Melissa MacNeill
Senior Advisor Excellence Award
Recipient: Stephanie Soto
Nominees: Crystal Hill

Librarianship Excellence Awards

Junior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
Recipient: Amy Craig
Nominees: Em Farmer
Senior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
Recipient: Kimberly Reycraft

Scholarship Excellence Awards

Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Christina Anaya, Dr. Bhisnauth Churaman
Nominees: Dr. Anita Rose
Senior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Melodie Eichbauer, Dr. Scott Michael
Nominees: Dr. Carolyn Culbertson, Dr. Eric Dent, Dr. Jacqueline Eastman, Dr. Peter Ndiangui, Dr. Jase Ramsey, Dr. Tammy Sadighi

Service Excellence Awards

Senior Faculty Individual Service Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Anna Koufakou, Karen Landy
Nominees: Dr. Jessica Essary, Dr. Chuck Lindsey
Faculty Team Service Excellence Award
Recipient: COACHE Team
Nominated Teams: Marieb College of Health & Human Services Advising Team

Teaching Excellence Awards

Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Louis Baumann, Clarisse Halpern
Nominees: Dr. Lewis Broslovsky
Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Charla Chailland, Dr. Oscar Johnson
Nominees: Dr. Faysal Chowdhury, Dr. Amy Dudley, Dr. Chukwumaobim Nwokwu, Dr. Sunny Song, Richard Wanjema
Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Shelby Gilbert, Dr. Valerie Weiss
Nominees: Dr. Daniel Acheampong, Dr. George Alexakis, Dr. David Brown, Dr. Suzanne Dugger, Dr. Daniel Huerta, Dr. Jiehong Liao, Dr. Peter Ndiangui, Dr. Maria Paylor, Dr. Dan Vo
Junior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
Recipients: Dr. Lee Ann Frederick, Tara Peburn
Nominees: Anthony Hoffman, Rita Morgan, Dr. Caren Polk
Senior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
Recipients: Karen Marino, Kara Winton
Nominees: Dr. Joyce Fassbender, Eugene Hoyt, Reid Lennertz, Dr. Maggie Swanson

Additional Recognition

John Herman Award for Excellence in General Education
Recipient: Rosanna Mitchell
Chair Excellence Award
Recipient: Dr. Charles Xiaoxue Wang
Nominees: Dr. Khaled Aboulnasr, Dr. Brenda Hage, Dr. Eric Otto, Dr. Rob Sillevis
Grant-in-Aid Educational Leave Award Program
Recipients: Jaclyn Chastain, Santiago Luaces, Seana Perkins
Applicants: Crystal Hill, Travell Oakes, Jennifer Targia, Yasmin Galindo
President's Award for Exemplary Online Teaching
Recipient: Dr. Anita Rose
Student Success Champion Awards – Faculty
Recipient: Dr. Khaled Aboulnasr, Jennifer Fulwider, Nicole Legge
Nominees: Amy Craig, Edwin Everham, Colleen Peters, Claire Rudeen, Maggie Swanson, Emily Vallier
Student Success Champion Awards - Staff
Recipients: Lindsay Rushworth, Lianet Escandell Rodriguez, Alexandra Pipitone
Nominees: Ney Arias, Tabitha Dawes, Andrew Funari, Becky Jones, Mark Komives, Christina Kreiger, Jorge Lopez, Gillian Mayglothling, Travell Oakes, Emma Reeners, Francisco Torres, Tod Winslow

Outstanding Staff Awards

Outstanding Support Personnel Staff Award
Recipient: Celia Venza-Colon
Nominees: Amy Vitiello, Jennifer Hernandez, Jennifer Taylor, Laura Jensen, Tina Seink, Lynn Hooker, Gissela Bravo
Outstanding Administrative & Professional Staff Award
Recipient: Adam Catasus
Nominees: Jaclyn Chastain, Andi Clemons, Elizabeth Goldbach, Emily Murray, Hope Rivera, Joanna Naumes, Joseph Lyshon III, Kandi Chamberlain, Kathleen Crawford, Kaylee Zuidema, Kelly Boyd, Kendra Carboneau, Kim Hobart, Kristen Vanselow, Kristin Toth, Laurie Babcock, Lindsay Singh, Maxine Faatz, Michael Rechkemmer, Scott Jamieson, Sheila Rae, Tabitha Dawes, Teresa Colazzo, Teri Byrne-Knell, Yanitza Carrion-Cruz
Gabor Staff Champion Award
Recipient: Andi Clemons
Nominees: Ashleigh Droz, Hilal Peker, Tabitha Dawes

We congratulate all award recipients and nominees and thank everyone who participated in the nomination and selection process.