The annual President’s and Provost’s Awards Ceremony was a grand event, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to excellence in their respective fields. The awards honored individuals for their significant contributions in teaching, institutional effectiveness, distinguished service, literary achievements, innovative pedagogy, research, professional engagement, community outreach, and creativity in design and the visual arts.
President’s Awards: presented by Dr. Lance de Masi, Interim President
Teaching Excellence
The first recipient of the President’s Award for Teaching Effectiveness goes to an AUD veteran of 14 years, Coordinator of the Writing Center and Associate Professor of English, Dr. Gail Hammill, who according to Dr. de Masi achieves her excellence in teaching through believing in her students and instilling within them a sense of empowerment. Her commitment to pedagogical excellence, high academic standards, and mentorship beyond the classroom has set a benchmark for teaching at AUD.
The second recipient is an AUD veteran of eight years and the Coordinator of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, Dr. Ioannis Antzus Ramos. His dedication to teaching and mentorship has significantly enriched the academic environment at AUD. According to Dr. de Masi “His outreach to embassies and consulates has resulted in opportunities for learning that generate excitement and curiosity”.
Institutional Effectiveness
The President’s Award for Institutional Effectiveness goes to the School of Business. Dr. Assaad Farah, Dean of the School of Business and Associate Professor of Management and Chairs Dr. Farah Arkadan, Dr. Wissam El Khoury, and Dr. Hassan Zeineddine were invited to the stage to receive the award. Their outstanding achievements in assessment, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and learning outcomes have made a significant organizational impact and fostered a culture of collaboration within the university. Dr. de Masi gave the award to the crowd that made it to the stage while attributing their achievement to mainly the fact that they are loud, visible, opiniated and sometimes confrontational.
Distinguished Service
“With quiet resolve, a lot of humility and common sense, a talent for connecting with faculty and students, and of course, a knowledge of fundamental administrative processes, our honoree proceeded to put one foot in front of the other to restore the “AUD way”, to the state of affairs within the department.” With these special words, Dr. de Masi presented the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Associate Professor of Sociology and Acting Chair of the Department of Psychology, Dr. Deniz Gokalp. Dr. Gokalp's significant ongoing contributions, excellence in job performance, embodiment of AUD’s values, and efforts in furthering the institutional agenda have made a formidable impact on the university.
Provost’s Awards: presented by Dr. Sabrina Joseph, Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Outstanding Literary Achievement
Dr. Mathew B. Ingalls, Chair of the Department of International and Middle Eastern Studies and Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, was honored for his prolific and high-quality publications over the past academic year. His notable works include the translation of al-Ghazālī’s eleventh-century Arabic text, published by the renowned Fons Vitae, and he is currently commissioned for a second translation project.
Innovation in Teaching (Pedagogy)
Dr. Muriel Tahtouh Zaatar, Chair of the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Associate Professor of Biology, was recognized for integrating virtual reality into an AUD science course, promoting undergraduate research, and expanding experiential learning opportunities. Her efforts have resulted in a transformative educational experience for biology students, including two co-authored Scopus-indexed publications.
Outstanding Research
Dr. Lama Blaique, Assistant Professor of Management, was awarded for her extensive research on organizational learning, social responsibility, and the underrepresentation of women in STEM industries. Her contributions include eight research projects, seven peer-reviewed journal articles, and a book chapter, providing valuable solutions and ideas for professionals in the field.
Professional Engagement and Community Outreach
Dr. Anna Cornaro, Chair of the Department of Architecture and Professor of Architecture and Dr. Hadeel El Naggar, Assistant Professor of Architecture, were recognized for their collaboration with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) in a student mosque design competition. This initiative showcased AUD’s impact on the UAE community and resulted in the winning students' projects being realized in Dubai, starting with the Pearl Jumeirah Mosque.
Creativity in Design and the Visual Arts
Prof. Michael Rice, Chair of the Department of Visual Communications and Professor of Studio Art, was celebrated for the originality and impact of his artistic work in ceramics. His accolades include being elected ‘Master Artisan’ by the Michelangelo Foundation, a finalist at the Taiwan Ceramic Award 2024, and commissions by the Abu Dhabi Executive Office and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. His work enhances AUD’s reputation in creativity and the arts both locally and internationally.
The President’s and Provost’s Awards Ceremony was a fitting tribute to the dedication and hard work of the university’s faculty members. Their contributions continue to inspire and shape the future of education, research, and community engagement at AUD.
