Faculty Awards

Read about the achievements of the outstanding faculty members of the College of Social Sciences.

• 2024

  • Austen D. Warbuton Award of Merit
    Matthew Spangler, Professor in Communication Studies

     Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with a significant impact on a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award
    Peggy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Justice Studies

     This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

     

     The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by the CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients selects the individuals for the award.

    Tenured Track Teaching Excellence Award
    
    Shawna Bolton, Assistant Professor in Justice Studies

     

     

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award 
    Jeremiah Garrido, Lecturer in Justice Studies

• 2023

  • Austen D. Warbuton Award of Merit

    Wendy Rouse, History

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    Coss Meritorious Service Award

    Carlos E. Garcia, Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

     

     

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award 

    Jennifer Morrison, Communication Studies

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    Tenured Track Teaching Excellence Award

    Yolanda Wiggins, Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

• 2022

  • Austen D. Warbuton Award of Merit

    Gregory Feist, Psychology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    Coss Meritorious Service Award

    Priya Raman, Communication Studies

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

     

     

    Coss Teaching Excellence Award 

    Susana Gallardo, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Chicana and Chicano Studies

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    Tenured/Tenure-Track Teaching Excellence Award

    

     

    Jonathan Gomez, Chicana and Chicano Studies

• 2021

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Urban & Regional Planning

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    Kathleen McConnell, Communication Studies

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

     

    Soma de Bourbon, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

     

     

    

    John Marlovits, Anthropology

• 2020

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    Marco Meniketti, Anthropology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    Mary Wilson, History

    This award recognizes outstanding professional attainment, civic engagement, and exceptional contribution to the welfare of the College of Social Sciences and SJSU.

     

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    
    Allison Katsev, History

    
    Oona Hatton, Communication Studies

    SJSU President's Scholar

    Lawrence Quill, Political Science

    Read about Lawrence Quill in Washington Square.

    SJSU Outstanding Professor

    Charlotte Sunseri, Anthropology

    Read about Charlotte Sunseri in Washington Square.

• 2019

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Elizabeth Weiss

    Anthropology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    

    Ninos Malek

    Lecturer, Economics

    
    

    Valerie Carr

    Assistant Professor, Psychology

• 2018

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Roberto González

    Anthropology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select faculty members who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, have provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    

    Magdalena Barrera

    Mexican American Studies

    

    Libra Hilde

    History

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    

    Stephanie Coopman

    Communication Studies

    

    Viviana Sanchez-Chopitea

    Lecturer, Anthropology

• 2017

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Lawrence Quill

    Political Science

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    

    Charlotte Sunseri

    Assistant Professor, Anthropology

     

    Sara Benson

    Lecturer, Political Science

     

    SJSU Outstanding Lecturer

    Chris Cox

    Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    Read about Chris Cox in Washington Square.

• 2016

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Frances L. Edwards

    Political Science

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Patricia Evridge Hill

    History

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    The College of Social Sciences award for teaching excellence honors one tenured/tenure track faculty member and one lecturer who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These individuals have been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. A committee of past award recipients select the individuals for the award.

    

    Marco Meniketti

    Professor, Anthropology

    

    Jennifer Anderson

    Lecturer, Anthropology

    SJSU Outstanding Professor

    

    Kenneth Peter

    Political Science

    Read about Kenneth Peter in Washington Square.

    SJSU Distinguished Service Award

    

    María Luisa Alaníz

    Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    Read about María Luisa Alaníz in Washington Square.

• 2015

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Andrew Wood

    Communication Studies

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Jonathan Roth

    History

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    

    Scott Myers-Lipton

    Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    The College of Social Sciences award for Teaching Excellence honors one faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. This individual has been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. The department chairs then elect the individual for the award.

• 2014

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Lynne Trulio

    Environmental Studies

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Wendy Ng

    Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    

    Sean Laraway

    Psychology

    The College of Social Sciences award for Teaching Excellence honors one faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. This individual has been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. The department chairs then elect the individual for the award.

• 2013

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Hien Duc Do

    Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Beth Von Till

    Communication Studies

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    Beth Von Till has been a lecturer in the Communication Studies Department since 1987. Selected as the Outstanding Lecturer in 2007, her many duties have included Director of the Comm Studies Lab, WASC assessment coordinator, WASC Steering Committee, Chair of the Senate Curriculum and Research Policy Committee and Chair of the Academic Senate. Beth was a founding member and chair of the Communication Centers Section of the National Communication Association and president of the National Association of Communication Centers. She was named a Salzburg Fellow in 2007, 2010, and 2011. Currently serving on the University Library Board, she was recently elected to the Tower Foundation Board and the Athletics Board. Research interests include intercultural communication and organizational communication.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    

    Anne Marie Todd

    Communication Studies

    The College of Social Sciences award for Teaching Excellence honors one faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. This individual has been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. The department chairs then elect the individual for the award.

    Anne Marie Todd is Professor of Communication Studies. Her most recent book, Communicating Environmental Patriotism: A Rhetorical History of the American Environmental Movement (Routledge, 2013) responds to American apathy toward global environmental crises and suggests patriotism as a persuasive framework for sustainability. Get Green! (Heinemann Raintree, 2008) promotes sustainability literacy and teaches conservation skills to young audiences (9–11 years). Her research has been published in journals including Public Understanding of Science, Environmental Communication, Ethics & the Environment, and Critical Studies in Media Communication. Dr. Todd is a founding member of the International Environmental Communication Association and serves on the advisory board for the Green Ninja Project.

• 2012

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Chuck Darrah

    Anthropology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    Chuck Darrah is a cultural anthropologist and chair of the Department of Anthropology at San José State University. His research has focused on work and workplaces, families, and technology. He co-founded the Silicon Valley Cultures Project and the Human Aspiration and Design Laboratory (HADLab), both at San José State University. His book, Learning and Work: An Exploration in Industrial Ethnography, is based on fieldwork in two manufacturing plants and focuses on how people become incorporated into communities of practice through work. Busier Than Ever! (with J. M. Freeman and J. A. English-Lueck) discusses busyness in American life. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the John and James Knight Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente. He is a co-founder of Design Practices Collaborative and consults in both the public and private sectors.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Dayana Salazar

    Urban and Regional Planning

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    Dayana Salazar is a Professor at San José State University’s Urban Planning Department specializing in participatory community planning and development. She leads students out of the classroom to work with the community towards improving the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Under her leadership, teams of faculty and students have developed neighborhood improvement plans in close partnership with more than 12 diverse, low-income neighborhoods in the South San Francisco Bay area. The neighborhoods and local government agencies have used the neighborhood improvement plans to direct well over 30 million in public funds towards implementing community-identified priorities. Professor Salazar also serves as Executive Director for a multisector team of faculty, community residents, community benefit organizations, and city agencies that power CommUniverCity San José, a unique partnership between a neighborhood near the campus (community), San José State (university), and the City of San José (city) focusing collective resources, knowledge, and expertise on neighborhood-driven priorities. Read about Dayana Salazar at SJSU Today.

    CoSS Teaching Excellence Award

    

    Kenneth Peter

    Political Science

    The College of Social Sciences award for Teaching Excellence honors one faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels. This individual has been nominated by CoSS faculty in consultation with the department chair. The department chairs then elect the individual for the award.

    Kenneth Peter was raised in Idaho and educated at Stanford, Chicago, and Princeton. He was fortunate to have been influenced by several truly gifted teachers of political theory, including Nan Keohane, Brian Barry, Joe Cropsey, Sheldon Wolin, and Dennis Thompson. One could hardly pick a more diverse set of teachers, and Ken turned into a methodological eclectic. After finishing his Ph.D., Ken returned to his undergraduate roots and taught for two years in Stanford's program in Structured Liberal Education (SLE), a residential great books program. Following, he earned a permanent position at San José State, where he has taught all of our political theory courses as well as introductory American politics. Recently he has also taught for the Humanities Honors sequence, which has been one of the great intellectual challenges of his life. Ken agrees with Aristotle that “teaching is the highest form of scholarship.”

    SJSU Outstanding Lecturer 2012

    

    Genelle Austin-Lett

    Communications Studies

    Read about Genelle Austin-Lett at SJSU Today.

    $73.3 Million NASA Research Award

    Kevin Jordan

    Psychology

    Read about the NASA research award granted to Kevin Jordan at SJSU Today.

    CommUniverCity Receives National Award for Innovative Partnership That Reduced Crime

    Dayana Salazar

    Urban and Regional Planning

    Read about the national MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award for CommUniverCity at SJSU Today.

• 2011

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Peter Haas

    Political Science

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Jan English-Lueck

    Anthropology

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

    University Outstanding Scholar

    

    Mary Pickering

    History

    Read about Mary Pickering at SJSU Newsroom.

• 2010

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    Mary Pickering

    History

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    María Luisa Alaníz

    Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.

• 2009

  • Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit

    

    William Reckmeyer

    Anthropology

    Endowed by Austen D. Warburton, this award recognizes a faculty member within the College who has achieved the highest level of scholarship, as demonstrated by an outstanding record of publications and the delivery of scholarly papers before prestigious professional organizations. The person’s achievements should be worthy of international or national recognition, with significant impact upon a field of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

    CoSS Meritorious Service Award

    

    Mark Van Selst

    Psychology

    For this award, the Department Chairs of the College select a faculty member who, through distinguished service on Department, College and University elected bodies, has provided leadership in advancing the interests of faculty.