Two SC&I faculty members have been named recipients of the 2022-23 Chancellor-Provost Awards for Faculty Excellence. Assistant Professor of Communication Shawnika Hull received the Chancellor-Provost Award for Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship, and Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Steven Miller, received the Chancellor-Provost Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Hull and Miller will receive the awards at the Chancellor-Provost’s Celebration of Faculty Excellence, which will take place on Wednesday, April 26, from 5-7 pm at The Rutgers Club on the Rutgers University-New Brunswick Livingston campus.
In an email to the Rutgers University-New Brunswick community, Chancellor-Provost Francine Conway wrote these awards “recognize excellence in innovative teaching, scholarly inquiry, service, and impact. The individuals receiving these awards were nominated by their colleagues for their outstanding contributions. I present these awards with great pride in our entire Rutgers–New Brunswick faculty, and with admiration and gratitude for the outstanding work performed by all our faculty members. It is a privilege to honor these distinguished faculty members, who inspire the next generation of citizens and uphold our mission to serve the public good. Thank you for all that you do for Rutgers–New Brunswick.”
These awards “recognize excellence in innovative teaching, scholarly inquiry, service, and impact. The individuals receiving these awards were nominated by their colleagues for their outstanding contributions. — Chancellor-Provost Francine Conway
The Chancellor-Provost Award for Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship, awarded to Hull, “honors a faculty member (all ranks, tenure-track or non-tenure-track) whose scholarship integrates community engagement as a vital component of their research, inquiry, or artistic expression. This work centers on community collaboration, benefits the external community, has significant public and scholarly impact, is disseminated through both traditional and non-traditional outlets, and reflects the mission of Rutgers–New Brunswick, according to the awards website. This year Hull is the sole recipient of this award.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Hull said, “I’m especially proud to receive this particular award, which is focused on community engagement, which is so central to my scholarship. It’s a wonderful affirmation.”
The Chancellor-Provost Award for Excellence in Teaching, awarded to Miller, “honors a faculty member (Professor or Distinguished Professor, tenure-track or non-tenure-track) whose teaching contributions resulted in an extraordinary impact on the institution, students’ experiences, and public engagement.”
“Please join me in congratulating Shawnika and Steve for being selected for these prestigious, highly competitive awards, as a recognition of their immense impact on students and communities!” — SC&I Interim Dean Dafna Lemish
Miller said, “I am truly overwhelmed, flattered, and humbled to have been chosen to receive this prestigious honor. Everything my JMS colleagues and I have always done has been undertaken in the hopes that we can play a role in helping our students achieve their goals, dreams, and aspirations now and in the future. Our students, both past and present, are the lynchpin of this university and what teaching is all about. I have been so fortunate to have been able to work with the best students and colleagues in the world and there are no words that can adequately thank them for their support.”
SC&I Interim Dean and Distinguished Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Dafna Lemish wrote in an email to the SC&I community, “Please join me in congratulating Shawnika and Steve for being selected for these prestigious, highly competitive awards, as a recognition of their immense impact on students and communities!”
The Chair of the Communication Department, Professor Marya Doerfel, wrote of Hull, “Innovative methods, theoretically sound contributions derived from theoretically robust interventions, community engaged values, and making a difference … things that Shawnika Hull has made as hallmarks of her career. And something that she is being recognized for as this year’s awardee!”
The Acting Chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Professor Jack Bratich, wrote of Miller,“ For over three decades Steve has been an incredibly positive influence on thousands of students from around the university, on JMS majors, and alumni. It’s about time the spotlight falls on him, especially since he so often turns it on others.”
The list of this year’s and prior years’ awardees can be found here.
Learn more about the Communication and Journalism and Media Studies Departments on the Rutgers School of Communication and Information website.
Photo credit: The photos of Hull and Miller holding their awards were taken by SC&I Interim Dean Dafna Lemish at the awards ceremony held on April 26, 2023.