By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

As Oakland University celebrated its heritage and kicked off its first-ever comprehensive campaign during Founder’s Day, the university honored the faculty who bring innovation and opportunity to OU and its students at the 10^th Annual Faculty Recognition Luncheon on April 22 in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms. Through academic excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and service, OU’s faculty members help provide students with the distinctive OU education.

“Each year on this day, Oakland University sets aside time to formally recognize the teaching and research excellence, scholarly productivity, creative achievements and community service of our inspired faculty members. It is through your work that OU and its students and graduates are able to touch countless lives,” President Gary Russi told the faculty members gathered for the luncheon.

Professor of Chemistry Michael Sevilla received special recognition by being award the honor of distinguished professor. A faculty member since 1970, Sevilla’s research projects have been funded by nearly $4 million in external grants. He has published more than 140 papers in leading journals and delivered 150 talks at national and international conferences.

“Distinguished Professor Sevilla is recognized today for his accomplishments in research, teaching and service that have established him as an exemplary member of the university community,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Moudgil. “His colleagues express their appreciation for his leadership of the Chemistry Department during a period of critical growth, his dedicated service to colleagues, his impressive research undertakings, and his devotion to his students.

“As a classroom teacher of chemistry at all levels, he is widely admired by his students, despite the challenging and rigorous standards of excellence he holds them to. Combined with his sustained accomplishments in research, service and teaching, Professor Sevilla is a model Oakland University Distinguished Professor.”

The OU Board of Trustees created the rank of distinguished professor in 1988. The criteria is based on preeminence in scholarship, teaching and public or professional service. Sevilla joins 12 other OU faculty members who have been honored with this prestigious status.

Each year, the OU Senate Teaching and Learning Committee and the University Research Committee honor faculty whose teaching and research efforts merit singular praise. The four individuals who received such honors this year include:

• Carlo Coppola, professor of modern languages and literatures, recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award;
• Maria Szczesniak, professor of chemistry, recipient of the Research Excellence Award;
• Xiangqun Zeng, assistant professor of chemistry, recipient of the New Investigator Research Excellence Award;
• Alan Epstein, special lecturer of political science, recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award.

The complete list of 2005 honorees includes:

Distinguished Professor

• Michael Sevilla, distinguished professor of chemistry

Teaching Excellence Award

• Carlo Coppola, professor of modern languages and literatures

Research Excellence Award

• Maria Szczesniak, professor of chemistry

New Investigator Research Excellence Award

• Xiangqun Zeng, assistant professor of chemistry

Excellence in Teaching Award

• Alan Epstein, special lecturer of political science

College of Arts and Sciences

• Sara Chapman, associate professor of history
• Natalie Cole, associate professor of English
• Carlo Coppola, professor of modern languages and literatures
• Roman Dembinski, assistant professor of chemistry
• Andrea Eis, special instructor of art and art history
• Ravindra Khattree, professor of mathematics and statistics
• Abdi Kusow, associate professor of sociology and anthropology
• Alberto Rojo, associate professor of physics
• Peter Trumbore, assistant professor of political science
• Flavio Varani, professor of music

School of Business Administration

• Oded Izraeli, professor of economics
• Cynthia Miree-Coppin, assistant professor of management and marketing

School of Education and Human Services

• Eileen Johnson, assistant professor of educational leadership
• Mary Lose, assistant professor of reading and language arts
• Mary Stein, associate professor of teacher development and educational studies

School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Hoda Soliman Abdel-Aty-Zohdy, professor of electrical and systems engineering
• Richard Haskell, professor of computer science and engineering

School of Health Sciences

• Stafford Rorke, associate professor of wellness, health promotion and injury prevention

School of Nursing

• Gary Moore, associate professor of nursing

University Library

• Linda Hildebrand, reference/instruction librarian and assistant professor