Faculty Awards and Honors

Siena College’s commitment to Academic Excellence begins with our faculty.  At the heart of our faculty members’ professional lives is the daily challenge to engage, enlighten, and educate our students.  In addition, faculty also make important contributions to academic excellence through research, critical analysis of what they learn, and writing about their findings in academic journals and scholarly books.

> Jerome Walton Award for Excellence in Teaching
> Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award 
> Matthew T. Conlin, O.F.M., Distinguished Service Award

Jerome Walton Award for Excellence in Teaching

Siena College is proud to name its award for teaching excellence in honor of Professor Jerome Walton, one of the College's first lay faculty. Before his untimely death in 1959, Professor Walton served Siena for 21 years as a Professor of Commerce, Economics, Statistics, and Business Mathematics.

Award Recipients

Scott L. Vandenberg, Ph.D., 2011-12
Professor of Computer Science

Meg Woolbright, D.A., 2010-11
Professor of English

Cheryl L. Buff '82, Ph.D., 2009-10
Associate Professor of Marketing and Management

Charles R. Trainor, Ph.D., 2008-09
Professor of English

Timoth Lederman, 2007-08
Professor of Computer Science

Raj Devasagayam, 2006-07
Associate Professor of Marketing and Management

Thomas Bulger, 2005-06
Professor of English

Fr. Daniel Dwyer, OFM 2004-05
Professor of History

Paul Murray, 2003-04
Professor of Sociology

James Harrison, 2002-03
Professor of History

Edward LaRow, 2001-02
Professor of Biology

Leonard Cutler, 2000-01
Professor of Political Science

Robert Rivas, 1999-00
Professor of Social Work

Jennifer Gillies, 1998-99
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Fareed Munir, 1997-98
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

Linda Richardson, 1996-97
Associate Professor of Finance

James Matthews, 1995-96
Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics

Elaine Ognibene, 1994-95
Professor of English

Paul Santilli, 1993-94
Professor of Philosophy

Edmund Padvaiskas, 1992-93
Professor of History

Patricia Brown, 1991-92
Professor of Biology

Thomas Kelly 1990-91
Professor of History

George Bazinet, 1989-90
Professor of Biology


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Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award 

Each year, we honor the faculty member who best represents the excellence in research that each is challenged to achieve, with the Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award. The award recipient is selected based upon evidence of a significant contribution to the discipline.  The award is named in honor of Raymond C. Kennedy H’88, who was the second lay chair of the Siena College Board of Trustees, and for more than 25 years, publisher of the Hudson Register - Star.  Known for his service to non-profit organizations throughout Columbia County, Ray Kennedy graduated from Georgetown University and was an inaugural recipient (posthumously) of the Bernardine of Siena Medal in 1999 for his service to Siena. His business partner and close friend, Mr. Paul Zindell, of La Jolla, CA established the award to recognize the “many contributions that Ray Kennedy made to ensure that Siena built its reputation as a college committed to excellence in teaching and scholarship.” 

Fr. Matthew Conlin, OFM, who served as Siena’s President during Ray Kennedy’s tenure as board chairman, commented, “it is most fitting that this award recognizing research and scholarship be named for Ray Kennedy. He was a truly remarkable man whose breadth of knowledge spanned business, the arts, science and the humanities.”

Award Recipients

Duane A. Matcha, Ph.D., 2011-12
Professor of Sociology

Naton D. Leslie, Ph.D., 2010-11
Professor of English

Leonard M. Cutler, Ph.D., 2009-10
Professor of Political Science

Rachel E. Sterne-Marr, 2008-09
Professor of Biology

Raymond D. Boisvert, 2007-08
Professor of Philosophy

Munir Beken, 2006-07 
Assistant Professor of Creative Arts

Douglas Fraser,  2005-06
Professor of Biology

Mahmood Karimi-Hakak, 2004-05
Associate Professor of Creative Arts

Patricia Trutty-Coohill, 2003-04
Professor of Art History
 

Michael B. Dick, 2002-03
Professor of Religious Studies

Margaret P. Hannay, 2001-02
Professor of English
 

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Matthew T.  Conlin, O.F.M., Distinguished Service Award

In recognition of the contribution that service activities provide toward the attainment of institutional excellence, Siena College created this award in honor of Father Matthew T. Conlin, O.F.M., who served as a faculty member in the English Department and as the sixth President of Siena College, 1970-1976.  The award is given annually to the faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in service beyond what is normally expected of faculty at Siena College.

Award Recipients

Leonard M. Cutler, Ph.D., 2011-12
Professor of Political Science

Vera Eccarius-Kelly, Ph.D., 2010-11
Associate Professor of Political Science

Edward J. LaRow '59, Ph.D., 2009-10
Professor of Biology

Joshua B. Diamond, 2008-09
Professor of Physics

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