Awards
Distinguished Faculty Governance Award
Faculty members who consistently place University-wide interests on the same level as their personal career and departmental interests represent a scarce resource that all faculty members treasure. Their concern with the general welfare protects and nourishes our individual welfare. The kinds of corporate activities these University citizens take on give us a secure sense of collective conscience. Faculty governance is the arena in which these citizens serve, and it is faculty governance through the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs that recognizes their accomplishments with this award.
The Distinguished Faculty Governance Award of $1,500 was established by SACUA in 1986 and is funded by the Alumni Association. The criterion for the award is distinguished service to faculty governance over several years with an emphasis on university-wide service
Current SACUA members are ineligible, as are those members from the immediate past year. All members of the University Senate (assistant, associate, and full professors, research scientists, and librarians who are Senate Members) are eligible.
Please submit nomination materials with the faculty awards nomination form. The deadline for the 2023 award cycle is May 9, 2023.
- A nomination letter outlining the faculty members’ work, participation, and contributions for Central Faculty Governance. (Required)
- Nominee’s CV (Required)
- Additional supporting statements (optional)
Note: Nominations that are not selected will be eligible for three years.
If you have any questions about the award or the nomination process, please contact the Faculty Senate Office at facultysenateoffice@
Natalia V. Czap - 2023 Recipient
Professor of economics in the College of Arts, Science, and Letters, UM-Dearborn
Czap specializes in behavioral economics, experimental economics, behavioral environmental policy and well-being. In addition to her research, teaching and service to the campus and economics profession, she has served three terms in UM-Dearborn’s Faculty Senate, including as chair from 2020-22. Faculty from across campus praise Czap for her integrity, diplomacy, consistency, transparency, proactive communication and fairness. As UM-Dearborn’s Senate chair, she formed nine task forces to address enrollment management, the budget, retention and graduation, revision of Campus Bylaws, research support and development and academic integrity. She also led the development and adoption of new course evaluations, and procedures for the reapportionment of Senate seats. Czap strengthened shared governance on the Dearborn campus by demanding wider inclusion of faculty in campus decision making and hiring of senior leadership, restructuring several Senate committees, promoting experience and expertise over rank and title for greater inclusion of lecturers in faculty governance, and supporting inclusivity in admissions. She managed the COVID-19 response for the Faculty Senate, initiating frequent communication with campus administrators regarding safety policies. Czap received Faculty Senate Appreciation Awards for her service as vice chair in 2017 and chair in 2020-22.
The 2023 awardee information (above) was written and provided by the Office of University Development, as published in a 2023 University Record article.
Previous Distinguished Faculty Governance Award Recipients
2022 — Neil Marsh, LSA Chemistry, and Medical School
2022 — David Potter, LSA Classical Studies
2021 — Silke-Maria Weineck, LSA German Studies and Comparative Literature
2020 — Not Applicable – No Award Made
2019 — Deborah Goldberg, Literature, Science, and the Arts
2018 — Bruce Maxim, UM Dearborn, College of Engineering and Computer Science
2017 — Scott Masten, Ross School of Business
2016 — Rich Friedman, Law School
2015 — Karen Staller, School of Social Work
2014 — Keith Riles, LSA Physics
2013 — Bruno Giordani, LSA Psychology
2012 — Michael Thouless, Engineering
2011 — David Potter, Classical Studies, LSA
2011 — Robert Axelrod, Public Policy and LSA-Political Science
2010 — Bruce Frier, Law & LSA
2010 — Stanley Berent, Medicine
2008 — Semyon Meerkov, Engineering
2007 — Fred Askari, Medicine
2007 — George Brewer, Medicine
2006 — William D. Ensminger, Medicine
2005 — Cynthia Luz Marcelo, Medicine
2004 — Louis G. D’Alecy, Medicine
2004 — William W. Schultz, Engineering
2003 — Charles B. Smith, Medicine
2002 — Alphonse R. Burdi, Medicine
2001 — Jackie Lawson, UM-Dearborn
2000 — Thomas Dunn, Chemistry, LSA (Emeritus)
1999 — John T. Lehman, Biology, LSA
1999 — Sheila Feld, Social Work
1998 — Thomas E. Moore, Biology, LSA
1997 — Beth Glover Reed, Social Work
1996 — Theodore J. St. Antoine, Law
1995 — Gayle D. Ness, Sociology, LSA
1994 — Peggie J. Hollingsworth, Emeritus
1993 — Donald R. Brown, Psychology, LSA
1992 — Claude A. Eggertsen, Education (Emeritus)
1991 — Daniel E. Moerman, Anthropology, UM-Dearborn
1990 — Wilbert J. McKeachie, Psychology, LSA
1990 — William C. Stebbins, Medicine
1989 — Donald R. Deskins, Jr., Sociology, LSA
1988 — Cecil Nesbitt, Mathematics, LSA
1987 — Ralph A. Loomis, English, LSA
1986 — Janice B. Lindberg, Nursing
1986 — Wilfred Kaplan, Mathematics, LSA