Occidental College Honors Faculty Excellence with 2025 Awards and Appointments

Michael Hill, Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor of Chemistry, and Sasha Sherman, associate professor of cognitive science, received the Award for Distinguished Creative Activity and Research Mentoring, established in 2023.

Andrew Jalil, associate professor of economics, and Kasia Marciniak, professor of Media Arts and Culture, were awarded the Linda and Tod White Teaching Prize, which is based on student nominations. It has been presented since 2008 thanks to the generosity of Linda and Tod White '59.

Lan Chu, professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs, received the Faculty Prize for Advising Excellence. The prize recognizes the essential role that faculty advisers play in upholding the College's mission to provide "a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality."

Brandon Lehr, associate professor of economics, was presented with the Janosik-Sterling Award for Service to the College, created in 1993 to honor the memory of Politics Professor Robert Janosik.

Kristi Upson-Saia, David B. and Mary H. Gamble Professor of Religious Studies, was presented with the prestigious Graham L. Sterling Memorial Award, established in 1972 to recognize a faculty member with a distinguished record of teaching, service, and professional achievement.

Three faculty members have also been appointed to named professorships this year. Mary Lopez has been named the Elbridge Amos Stuart Professor in Economics, Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub has been named the Carl F. Braun Professor in Chemistry, and Mary Beth Heffernan has been named the Robert W. Winter Fellow in Art and Art History.