Stony Brook University

01/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 13:04

CEAS Launches First Annual Awards Ceremony, Honoring Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Andrew Singer addresses the first CEAS Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn. Photos by John Griffin.

Stony Brook's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences(CEAS) hosted its inaugural awards ceremony on January 21, celebrating research achievementsas well as outstanding contributions to teaching and service for facultyand staff. The awards ceremony embodied CEAS Dean Andrew Singer's vision of a holistic approach to recognizing excellence.

"Today, we honor those in our college who have excelled in research, teaching, and service," Singer said, addressing the crowd of nearly 80 attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn. "This is a newly reimagined event, and I hope you are as enthusiastic about it as I am."

The ceremony upheld the tradition of recognizing researchers through the Millionaires Club and the Millionaires Elite Club, highlighting faculty who lead exceptional externally sponsored research projects, with the Millionaires Club requiring a new grant exceeding $1 million within a fiscal year, and the Millionaires Elite Club requiring externally sponsored research expenditures in the fiscal yearexceeding $1 million.

"We celebrate faculty who exemplify our research mission and align with our vision of advancing the human condition through impactful research," said Singer.

A highlight of the award ceremony was the introduction of the TREES Awards (Teachers Rated Excellent Educators by their Students), recognizing faculty who excel in student course evaluations, reflecting inclusive and innovative teaching practices. "Our TREES awardees are planting seeds of excellence in our students' future," Singer noted.

Mei Lin (Ete) Chan-Lo, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and recipient of TREES awards for 2022-23 and 2023-24 and the Excellence in Faculty Service Award, shared her thoughts on the recognition: "It's very nice to know that people within CEAS recognize us for the work we've been doing. Recognition in a formal way is always appreciated, and it helps us to continue growing professionally. This doesn't stop here - it's just the beginning."

The ceremony also spotlighted service contributions, recognizing faculty and staff who demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to ensuring the college's smooth operation.

"Service often goes unnoticed because it happens when everything runs smoothly," Singer said. "Today, we recognize those who continually give of themselves without asking for much in return. We could not CEAS the day without you."

Additional awards celebrated excellence in mentorship, diversity leadership, professional service, and overall excellence in research, teaching and service. Two new awards included the Dean's Excellence Professorship for Research and the Dean's Excellence Professorship for Teaching.

"This event underscores our shared commitments to research, teaching, and service," Singer concluded. "It promises to be an annual celebration of excellence."

- Beth Squire