2020 Faculty Excellence Awards announced
Delaware State University recently announced the recipients of its 2019-2020 Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research/creative activity, University/community service, and advising.
This school year’s group of awardees – who each received a trophy and $2,500 – include:
Dr. Anthea A. Aikins, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences – Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching.
Dr. Aikins has won the Teaching category this year through her dedication in effective delivery of biological sciences curriculum, her development of two new courses (Forensic Microbiology and Medical Microbiology), her impact on the Nursing Department’s student success through her Microbiology course, and in providing research training and education for over 30 undergraduate and undergraduate students. She has been successful in securing external research funding from the National Science Foundation HBCU-UP program and the Delaware Economic Development office totaling $1.9 million. She has pursued professional training in online course development, which enabled her to quickly move her microbiology course on online with the advent of COVID-19. “Dr. Aikins has by far demonstrated her dedication to academia through her efforts in research, teaching, and our outreach,” said Dr. Sabrina McGary, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, in her letter of support for the award to Dr. Aikins.
Dr. Alberta N.A. Aryee, Assistant Professor of Human Ecology – Faculty Excellence Award in Research/Creative Activity.
Dr. Aryee has been honored in this category for the diverse research activities she has been involved in, while at the same time encouraging the participation of all students in her work. Among her research: utilizing the University’s optical science resources to study the morphology of oilseeds to enhance oil recovery; collaborating with a research partner at the University of Delaware to study the amelioration of prostate cancer with medicinal plant extracts; and collaborating with a USDA scientist to develop a novel platform to enhance the delivery of algae containing astaxanthin to salmon as a potential lower-cost alternative to providing needed nutrition to that fish. In a letter of support, Dr. Taiwo Akanbi of the School of Environment and Life Sciences at The University of Newcastle, Australia notes that he has co-published a number of research articles with Dr. Aryee, many of which she played a leading role. “Alberta has a creative mind and can critically articulate research ideas brilliantly,” he said. “She has a characteristic way of spreading positivity and a possibility mindset while staying pragmatic.”
Dr. Nicole Bell Rogers, Assistant Professor of Nursing – Faculty Excellence Award in Service.
Dr. Bell has added this award to her young career accomplishments through her service on various committees and organizations on and off campus. She currently serves as a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Steering Committee, on which she is also the Co-Chair of the Standard V Subcommittee. She is a member of the Faculty Senate, the Graduate Council and the recently completed University Provost Search Committee. Within the Department of Nursing, she participates on the General Education Committee, College Curriculum Committee, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Personnel Committee, and was instrumental in the revisions of several department handbooks. She is the co-PI of the Program Life Summer Grant and was the keynote speaker for the 2019 Nurse Pinning Ceremony. Off campus, she is a board member for Beautiful Butterflies, Inc., a nonprofit mentorship organization for girls, and the Vice President and Secretary of the Dover Chapter of The Links, Inc. She is the daughter of Dr. Kenneth Bell, the retired Dean of the then-College of Agriculture and Related Sciences and interim University Provost, as well as the wife of Michael Rogers, video coordinator for the Department of Athletics.
Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, Professor of Natural Resources and Extension Specialist – Faculty Excellence Award in Advising
Dr. Ozbay has been prolific in this category, having advised and mentored almost 400 students since 2014. Those included: 25 graduate students as their research advisor, 34 graduate students in their thesis research, six students as their special need mentor, and 24 Honors students as their Honors Program academic mentor. She also has been the primary advisor to about 20 Environmental Science majors. During this same period, Dr. Ozbay has served as an advisor to 12 staff members, which included post doctorates, research technicians, research associates and seasonal technicians. She has secured more than $3.5 million in grants for experiential learning programs over the last six years, providing more than 300 undergraduates and high school students with training opportunities in various research projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and in study abroad experiences in Australia, Belize, the University of Hawaii and the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. She has served on a number of advising-related committees for the departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources (for which she served as the Chair for three years) and Human Ecology, as well as the Applied Chemistry Graduate Program.
Faculty Excellence Award recipients from recent years included:
2018-2019
Dr. Carla Becker, Assistant Professor of Music, FEA in Teaching
Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee, Assistant Professor (now Associate) of Plant Science, FEA in Research/Creative Activity
Dr. Kwame Matthews, Assistant Research Professor of Agriculture, FEA in Service
Dr. Faith Newton, Professor of Education, FEA in Advising
2017-2018
Dr. Kylie Parotta, Associate Professor of Sociology & Criminal Justice, FEA in Teaching
Dr. Daniela R. Radu, Associate Professor of Chemistry, FEA in Research/Creative Activity
Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, Professor of Natural Resources, FEA in Community Service.