FACULTY MAKING A DIFFERENCE
2025 Faculty Convocation Awards Ceremony
Monday, October 6, 2025
Ernest R. Graham Center Ballrooms
PROGRAM
Welcome
Noël C. Barengo
Chairperson, Faculty Senate Member, FIU Board of Trustees
National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key
FIU Alma Mater
Belinda Gunn – Lyrics
Carl Strommen – Music
Performed by: Faculty
Herbert Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts
Provost’s Welcome
Elizabeth M. Béjar
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
President’s Message
Jeanette M. Nuñez
President
Convocation Address
Raul Moas
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Faculty Award Presentation
Presenter: Stephen Loynaz
Access Consultant Manager, Disability Resource Center
Distinguished University Professor Award
Presenter: Stephen Loynaz
Access Consultant Manager, Disability Resource Center
Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award
Presenter: Elizabeth M. Béjar
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
Fain Fellow Faculty Award
Presenter: Elizabeth M. Béjar
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
Presenter: Stephen M. Fain
Professor Emeritus, Founding University Professor
President’s Council Outstanding Faculty Award
Presenter: Elizabeth M. Bejar
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
Closing Remarks
Elizabeth M. Béjar
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
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FACULTY AWARDS
Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nana Aisha Garba
Associate Professor
Medical Education
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Ivan R. López
Associate Teaching Professor Theatre
College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Silvia Márquez Pease
Associate Teaching Professor Art and Art History College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Carmen Müller-Karger
Associate Teaching Professor
Mechanical and Materials Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
Emanuele Rizzi
Associate Teaching Professor Psychology College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Yi Chit Yuen
Associate Teaching Professor Psychology College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Faculty Award for Excellence in Gateway Teaching
Julia Parker
Associate Teaching Professor Psychology College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Faculty Award for Excellence in Service
Seung Jae Lee
Associate Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
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Faculty Award for Excellence in Research & Creative Activities
Amal Elawady Associate Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
Gregory A. Fabiano Professor Psychology College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Nicholas Gelpi Associate Professor Architecture
College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Sarah Mathews Associate Professor Teaching and Learning College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Mohammad Ashiqur Rahman Associate Professor Computing and Information Sciences College of Engineering & Computing
Rakesh Ravikumaran Nair Assistant Professor Medical Education
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Faculty Award for Excellence in Advising & Mentorship
Trudy Gaillard
Professor
Undergraduate Nursing
Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Anuradha Godavarty Professor Biomedical Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
Tracey Weiler Professor Medical Education
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
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Faculty Award for Excellence in Engagement
Berrin Tansel
Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
Faculty Award for Excellence in Librarianship
Sarah Jane Hammill Librarian
Information and Research Services University Libraries
ADJUNCT FACULTY AWARDS
Faculty Award for Adjunct Teaching
Albena Petrus Adjunct Lecturer Communication College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
Distinguished University Professors
Jonathan S. Comer
Professor Psychology College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Stavros Georgakopoulos Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
Zahra Hazari Professor Teaching and Learning College of Arts, Sciences & Education
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Assefa M. Melesse
Professor
Earth and Environment College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Arif Sarwat
Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
CONFERENCE USA FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award
Noël C. Barengo Professor Medical Education
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
FAIN FELLOW AWARD
Fain Fellow Faculty Award
Jose Faria
Teaching Professor
Moss School of Construction College of Engineering & Computing
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD
President’s Council Outstanding Faculty Award
Malek Adjouadi
Professor
Electrical & Computer Engineering College of Engineering & Computing
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