Pre-Awards – University Awards of Excellence

The University’s Awards of Excellence are designed to identify and reward individuals that make outstanding contributions to the success of Georgia Southern University.

Through this celebratory awards process and ceremony, Georgia Southern will promote employee engagement by recognizing individuals whose performance and contributions align to the University’s values.

Event Details

Date: Friday, April 16, 2027
Time: TBD
Location: Statesboro Campus
Ceremony & Luncheon: Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center

The Awards of Excellence

The University’s Awards of Excellence mirror the values of our institution: Innovation and Discovery, Mobility, People, Academic Excellence, Collaboration, Transparency and Integrity, and Sustainability. For each value, there is an award for a faculty member and an award for a staff member. In addition, two awards are dedicated to one small team and one large team. A total of 17 awards are open for application. Each award honors one (1) Faculty Award and one (1) Staff Award, with exceptions noted under Academic Excellence and the Team Awards.

Objectives of the University Awards of Excellence

To provide both faculty and staff initiated rewards;
To recognize and promote positive relationships and behavior patterns supportive of the individual, team, departmental, and/or institutional priorities and goals;
To provide timely recognition to employees through immediate or planned recognition;
To provide various types and levels of recognition based on the significance and impact of contribution;
To inform supervisors and faculty about the variety of monetary and non-monetary reward options available to recognize an outstanding employee; and
To distribute awards through a Spring ceremony.

University Strategic Engagement & Alignment Committee

The University Awards of Excellence are reviewed annually by the University Strategic Engagement and Alignment Committee and are supported by the Office of Institutional Engagement. The following individuals serve on the committee or provide support for the University Awards.

John Banter, Chair, Assistant Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement
Cat Hoopaugh, Director, Office of Institutional Engagement
MacKenzie Dow, Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Engagement
Kelsi Simpson, Coordinator, Office of Institutional Engagement
Sean Bear, Public Health Administrator, Staff Council
Robert Terry, Associate Professor, Faculty Senate
David Calamas, Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Allen E. Paulsen College of Engineering & Computing
Dominique Quarles, Associate Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement, Office of the President
Taylor Sherwin, Assistant Athletic Director- Administration, Athletics
Randall Simmons, Associate Vice President for Continuous Improvement and Service Excellence, Business and Finance
Norton Pease, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Arts & Humanities
Dina Walker-DeVose, Assistant Dean, College of Bahavioral & Social Sciences
Meca Willliams-Johnson, Associate Dean and Professor, College of Education
Brian Koehler, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor, College of Science & Mathematics
Lisa Bridges, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Operations, Enrollment, Marketing & Student Success
Theresa Duggar, Assistant Dean, Honors College
Jennifer Schroeder, Dean, Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies
BJ Newell, Assessment Specialist, Assistant Professor, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Rand Ressler, Associate Dean Academic & Professor, Parker College of Business
Brad Sturz, Assistant Provost Academic Strategy and Decision Support, Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs
Melissa Adams, Director of Research Operations, Research and Economic Development
Adrianne McCollar, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs
Tajae Francis, Director of Development, University Advancement
Will Olmstadt, Associate Dean of Libraries for Admin & Operations, University Libraries
Laurie Adams, Interim Associate Dean, Waters College of Health Professions
Chris Caplinger, Assistant Dean, University College

For questions, contact gsawards@georgiasouthern.edu.

Georgia Southern University’s Awards of Excellence recognize faculty, staff, and teams whose contributions exemplify our institutional values – I.M.P.A.C.T.S. – and advance the mission of the University.

A total of 17 awards are open for application. Each award honors one (1) Faculty Award and one (1) Staff Award, with exceptions noted under the Team Award and the John D. and Meryln J. Denitto Outstanding Endeavor Award.

Award Categories

Each award aligns with one of Georgia Southern’s values.

Innovation & Discovery

University Award of Excellence in Innovation & Discovery

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member who advance knowledge and foster transformative outcomes through creativity, collaboration, and strategic investment. Nominees may demonstrate excellence through academic research, applied inquiry, data-informed improvements, or creative initiatives that strengthen institutional processes, enrich scholarship, and positively impact stakeholders within and beyond the university.

Mobility

University Award of Excellence in Economic & Social Mobility

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member whose work significantly strengthens economic, professional, or social mobility for individuals within or beyond Georgia Southern. Nominees create opportunities, provide mentorship, or implement programs that prepare individuals for workforce success, career advancement, and meaningful participation in a rapidly changing world.

People

University Award of Excellence in People & Community Development

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member who demonstrate initiative, compassion, and dedication to improving the well-being of others. Nominees help build healthier, more collaborative environments by strengthening their teams, departments, or the broader university community and fostering a welcoming, supportive culture.

Academic Excellence

University Award of Excellence in Teaching

One (1) Faculty Award

This award honors a faculty member whose innovative teaching practices, scholarly engagement, and commitment to student success enhance the academic experience. Nominees demonstrate mastery of their discipline and employ evidence-based, high-impact strategies that inspire students and support the university’s mission of transformative education.

University Award of Excellence in Learning & Development

One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a staff member who develops and implements innovative learning strategies and impactful professional development opportunities. Nominees cultivate a culture of continuous growth that strengthens institutional capacity, advances co-curricular learning, and enriches the university community.

Collaboration

University Award of Excellence in Collaboration & Partnership

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member who strengthens connections through shared governance and community or campus partnerships. Nominees bring people together to achieve shared goals, build bridges across departments or disciplines, and expand Georgia Southern’s reach through meaningful engagement.

Transparency & Integrity

University Award of Excellence in Leadership

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member in an administrative role who demonstrate ethical leadership, transparent decision-making, and consistent accountability. Nominees foster trust, enable informed decision-making, and model integrity in ways that contribute measurable impact on the university community.

Sustainability

University Award of Excellence in Sustainable Stewardship

One (1) Faculty Award & One (1) Staff Award

This award honors a faculty and staff member who demonstrate responsible resource management and long-term thinking that promotes resilience and supports the continued success of the university and surrounding communities. Nominees integrate sustainability into teaching, research, operations, or planning to support thoughtful use of environmental, financial, and human resources.

Team Award

University Award of Excellence in Collective Impact

Two (2) Team Awards

This award honors two teams, units, departments, or any collaborative groups whose collective efforts exemplify Georgia Southern University’s I.M.P.A.C.T.S. values. This distinguished recognition celebrates groups that foster a positive and supportive campus environment, cultivate professional growth, enhance student success, and model a culture of respect, engagement, and shared purpose. Teams nominated for this award create meaningful, measurable impact on campus culture, student and employee experience, and institutional success, setting a benchmark for innovation, collaboration, and excellence across the university. One large team (10+ group members) and one small team (less than 10 group members) may be selected for this award.

John D. and Meryln J. Denitto Outstanding Endeavor Award

One (1) Award

This award recognizes a Georgia Southern employee whose ideas and/or actions have made a significant aesthetic contribution to the University.

Eligibility

An employee must have been employed by Georgia Southern University for a minimum of three years as of December 1, 2026.
An employee must have received a rating of “meets expectations” or higher on the previous two performance evaluations.
All personnel, up to Associate Vice Presidents and Associate Deans, are eligible for nomination for a University Award of Excellence.
An employee who has won a particular award in the past three years is not eligible to compete for that same award.
If nominated for more than one award, a faculty/staff member must select one preferred award to move forward in the process. Each faculty/staff member may submit only one application package per academic year for an Award of Excellence.

The Nomination Process

Any employee may nominate another employee regardless of division, faculty/staff status, and supervisory or peer relationships. Nominators can nominate as many faculty and staff as they wish. Employees are allowed to self-nominate, but will need to obtain a letter of recommendation from another employee or supervisor. If nominated for more than one award, a faculty/staff member must select one preferred award in order to move forward in this process. As such a faculty/staff member will only submit one application package per academic year for an Award of Excellence. Consequently, a faculty/staff member cannot receive multiple awards in the same year. All submitted nominations will be reviewed by the University Strategic Engagement and Alignment Committee using award-specific rubrics.

Faculty, staff, leader and team nominations will be submitted via the online portal. See the “Nominate” buttons at the top of this page to submit any form of nomination. If you have any questions, please email gsawards@georgiasouthern.edu.

What to Expect During the Process

Meet all eligibility requirements.
Submit the required list of application materials.
Follow the schedule of deadlines for nominations and committees’ selection decisions.
Answer open-ended questions, both the nominees and supporters will answer.
Individual winners will receive a professional development stipend award along with a medallion, excluding team awards. A plaque is presented for the team award.
All current and previous award winners will be listed on the University Awards of Excellence website (pictures, bios).
Attend the University Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Friday, April 16, 2027 in Statesboro, GA at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center. The dress code is business casual.

Nomination Period & Application Submission Schedule

Nominations are now open through December 4, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Those nominated by a peer will have until January 8, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. to accept and complete their application

Application Submission

Application Packets & Components

After receiving notice from the University Awards committee, the nominee will accept and complete the nomination. Nominees may only submit one application per academic year. If nominated for more than one Award of Excellence, the nominee chooses which award to pursue. Ideally, all documents should use 12-point Times New Roman or similar font with 1” margins to ensure readability. Application packets should not exceed 10 pages. The nominee should submit an application package comprising the following elements:

For Those Nominated by a Colleague

Nominator & Nominee Narrative should include answers to the following statements (2 pages maximum):
- How does the nominee…
  - Achieve excellence in the award area?
  - Develop, utilize, and share innovative skill sets related to the award area?
  - Continually develop and broaden expertise in the award area?
  - Please provide additional relevant information about contributions to the award area.
Resume/Condensed Curriculum Vitae (6 pages maximum). *Submitted by nominee.
Please provide additional supporting evidence (examples: photos, thank you notes, news articles, certificates, brochures, etc.). (5 pages maximum). *Submitted by nominee.

For Those Self-Nominating

Nominee or Nominator Narrative should include answers to the following statements (2 pages maximum):
- How does the nominee…
  - Achieve excellence in the award area?
  - Develop, utilize, and share innovative skill sets related to the award area?
  - Continually develop and broaden expertise in the award area?
  - Please provide additional relevant information about contributions to the award area.
Resume/Condensed Curriculum Vitae (1 – 6 pages maximum).
One to two reference letters that speak to the particular award selected for nomination. It is the responsibility of the nominee to provide these guidelines to those who write their letters. It is the responsibility of the nominee to collect and upload letters as part of the application packet. These letters are open format, limited to two pages. Letters of recommendation may want to address how the nominee achieves some of the following points:
- How does the nominee…
  - Achieve excellence in the award area?
  - Develop, utilize, and share innovative skill sets related to the award area?
  - Continually develop and broaden expertise in the award area?
Please provide additional supporting evidence (examples: photos, thank you notes, news articles, certificates, brochures, etc.)

*If additional information is needed to help review a nominee’s application, the nominee will be contacted or emailed directly by the committee chair.

Awards Committee Review Structure

The University Strategic Engagement and Alignment Committee (USEAC) will conduct all reviews for the Faculty, Staff, and Team awards. The USEAC is composed of 21 divisional representatives selected by their dean or executive leadership. All 11 colleges, including the University Libraries, and 10 divisions are represented on the USEAC. The 21 representatives will be separated to form the Faculty Award and Staff Award subcommittees. The Team Award and Endeavor Award will be reviewed by the full USEAC representative committee.

Rubrics

Faculty Award Rubrics

Staff Award Rubrics

Team Award Rubric

Outstanding Endeavor Award Rubric

John D. and Meryln J. Denitto Outstanding Endeavor Award

Feedback

Please provide any feedback you may have regarding the awards, processes, or other aspects of the awards program for the committee.