Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence
The generosity of an alumnus has made possible an annual award to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The award is named in honor of J. Kenneth Kreider, professor of history emeritus, and Carroll L. Kreider, professor of business emerita "for their inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College." The Kreiders were not only inspirational in the classroom, but were also powerful mentors and role models.
The Elizabethtown College Community (students, faculty and staff members, and alumni) are encouraged to nominate a faculty member whose teaching, mentoring and leadership on campus are inspirational to current and former students. Current full-time faculty members who have taught at the College for at least three years are eligible. Choose from the drop-down list and write a brief (250-500 word) statement on why the nominated faculty member is deserving of the award. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 21, 2022. Please note: If you nominated a faculty member last year, you do not need to resubmit the nomination. Your nomination will be considered along with new nominations submitted this year.
The faculty Professional Development Committee (PDC) and a representative group of current students will choose the recipient of the Kreider Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff. Members of the PDC may be nominated, but they will not be eligible for the award until their service on the committee has ended. You are welcomed to encourage members of other constituencies in the Elizabethtown College community to support the faculty member you have nominated. The recipient of the Kreider Prize will be announced mid-April.
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Jill Moore, assistant to the associate provost for academic and faculty affairs at 717-361-1555 or moorejill@etown.edu.
2020 - 2021 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence Recipient
Judy Beck Ericksen
The 2020-2021 recipient of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence is Dr. Judy Beck Ericksen, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy. The Professional Development Committee noted “students, alumni, faculty, and staff deeply respect and admire her outstanding mentorship, service ethic, and classroom engagement.”
Nomination letters described Ericksen as a great listener who takes time to get to know her students holistically. She builds trust with her students, allowing them to feel “heard and valued.”
In addition to her patient listening, students and alumni described her support and encouragement and its impact on their lives, stating, “She sees the potential in students and knows exactly what to do and say to access that potential.”
Ericksen will deliver the Kreider Prize Lecture this fall.
Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence (past recipients)
- 2019-20 - E. Fletcher McClellan
- 2018-19 - Michele Kozmor ’93
- 2017-18 - Kurt DeGoede
- 2016-17 - J. Robert Spence
- 2015-16 - Edward Chung
- 2014-15 - Oya Ozkanca
Ranck Prize for Research Excellence
The Ranck Prize for Research Excellence is an award that is presented annually to an Elizabethtown College faculty member in recognition of his/her excellence in research and commitment to his/her field of study. The Award, which has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Robert O. Kerr ’64 and Mary Ann Kerr ’64, is named in honor of Dr. John P. Ranck ’58, professor of chemistry emeritus, "for his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College."
Nominations may come from the candidate or from others (academics from the nominee’s field). Consistent with the Boyer model of scholarship, research is considered in the broadest context of understanding and includes peer-reviewed work in the areas of scholarship of discovery, the scholarship of integration, the scholarship of application/engagement, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. As such, “research” may be taken to include any of the following: publication or presentation of papers; publication of books and other scholarly material; exhibitions of art, theatrical or musical performances; and other items appropriate to the discipline.
2021 - 2022 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence Recipient
Oya Dursun-Özkanca
The 2020-21 recipient of the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence is Oya Dursun-Özkanca, Director of Honors Program & Professor of Political Science/Professor of International Studies. The Professional Development Committee chose Dursun-Özkanca from nominations submitted by faculty peers. In addition to receiving a monetary award and a supplement to her professional development fund to support ongoing scholarly activity, Dursun-Özkanca will deliver remarks in the Spring of 2022.The Committee commended Dr. Dursun-Özkanca for being a globally recognized expert in the field of International Relations and in Turkish-NATO and Turkey-EU relationships. She is also commended for her outstanding scholarship record, including numerous books, high-impact articles, book chapters, invited talks, and presentations. Dr. Dursun-Özkanca impressed the PDC committee with both the volume and caliber of her academic work. In addition to traditional academic work, Dr. Dursun-Özkanca has been invited to numerous interviews with BBC, Voice of America, and a sizable number of additional outlets.
Ranck Prize for Research Excellence (past recipients)
- 2020-21 - Jeffery Long
- 2019-20 - Susan Mapp
- 2018-19 - E. Douglas Bomberger
- 2017-18 - April Kelly
Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship
The Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship is presented annually to an Elizabethtown College faculty member to commend and celebrate excellence in advising and mentoring students toward successful graduate school placement and/or careers. The Polanowski Prize for Excellence, which has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Mary E. Schmidt ’79 and Dr. Russell Libby, honors Dr. Frank P. Polanowski, Associate Professor of Biology Emeritus, for his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.
The Elizabethtown College Community (students, faculty, administrators/staff, and alumni) is encouraged to nominate a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in advising and mentoring. Current full-time faculty members who have taught at the College for at least three years are eligible. To nominate a faculty member, choose from the drop-down list and provide a brief (250-500 word) statement on why the nominated faculty member is deserving of the award. The deadline for nominations was Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Please note that should your nominee not receive the award in this cycle, your nomination will be included for two additional years in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
The faculty Professional Development Committee (PDC) and a representative group of current students will choose the recipient of the Polanowski Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff. Members of the PDC may be nominated, but they will not be eligible for the award until their service on the committee has ended. You are welcomed to encourage members of other constituencies in the Elizabethtown College community to support the faculty member you have nominated. The recipient of the Polanowski Prize will be announced in March 2022.
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Jill Moore, Assistant to the Associate Provosts at 717-361-1555 or moorejill@etown.edu.
2021 - 2022 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship Recipient
Jeffrey Rood
The selection committee noted that Dr. Rood's positive impact on Elizabethtown College students through his mentoring and advising deserves recognition and celebration. Nomination letters noted his outstanding advising and mentorship that provides students with life-changing engagement opportunities and professional experiences and his commitment toward ongoing support for students at all levels. Repeatedly, students noted how supportive and encouraging he is and that they could depend on him whenever they needed sound academic or career advice in the lab, classroom, or an informal setting. Numerous students also noted how helpful, approachable, and focused Dr. Rood is on individuals’ success. He tirelessly works to help his students hone their chemistry, research, presentation, as well as other professional skills and has mentored numerous students outside of the classroom via SCARP.
Dr. Rood's profound impact is seen in student quotes that show the importance of his mentorship on the lives of Blue Jays.
“His teaching helped change my static mindset to a dynamic one and let me understand the importance of learning as a process.”
"I began writing an application for a Fulbright grant to carry out my research, and Dr. Rood collaborated to help me throughout the process, leading to my application’s approval."
Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising & Mentorship (past recipients)
- 2020-21 - Hossein Varamini
- 2019-20 - Bryan Greenberg
- 2018-19 - Anya Goldina