2025 Convocation Ceremony Honors Faculty and Staff, Awards Promotions
The St. Lawrence University community gathered under the canopy of the Herring-Cole Grove in the Enchanted Forest on Aug. 27 to celebrate the start of a new academic year and recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff.
The St. Lawrence University community gathered under the canopy of the Herring-Cole Grove in the Enchanted Forest on Aug. 27 to celebrate the start of a new academic year and recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff.
St. Lawrence University’s Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Del Rossi awarded the Louis and Frances Maslow Award to Professor of Geology Judith Nagel-Myers. She awarded the J. Calvin Keene Award to Rutherford Professor of Mathematics Dan Look.
President Morris presented the John P. “Jack” Tayler Distinguished Service award to Bill Short, director of the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). She presented the Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award to Kay Newman, a catering food service generalist with Dining and Conference Services.
Louis and Frances Maslow Award 2025 Recipient
Judith Nagel-Myers
The Maslow Award, established in 1980, honors faculty members who have demonstrated the most interest in and understanding of the education and welfare of the entire student body. This year’s recipient, Judith Nagel-Myers, exemplifies this through her work as an educator, mentor, and advocate over her remarkable career at St. Lawrence.
Student nominators described Nagel-Myers as a “strong, intelligent, and hardworking scientist and professor” as well as a “role model” who leads by example. She is seen by many to be an advocate for women geoscientists who has impacted the lives of many students through her work with them in and out of the classroom—from field trips to stimulating classroom experiences to connecting students with internships, graduate school, and professional opportunities.
She provides students with strong support, attention and kindness, and her door is always open. A student repeated the word “genuine” in her letter—genuine attention, genuine support, genuine listening. Another commented that she has an unmatched understanding of what it is like to be an international student, and that she has made St. Lawrence feel like a second home to them. They wrote about her “immense care” for students, saying she consistently checks on her students’ well-being, offers help to those falling behind, and makes changes so that all her students can thrive.
“Never have I seen a professor that will go out of her way to make sure each and every one of her students has everything they need to reach their full potential,” the student wrote.
Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award 2025 Recipient
Kay Newman
The Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award honors high standards of performance and dedication by a permanent hourly employee. This year’s award goes to Kay Newman, a superstar in the catering department with more than a decade of incredible service.
Newman joined St. Lawrence in 2012 as a temporary employee, and by 2013 she had joined the catering department full time. Over the years, she has become known across campus not just for her skill and professionalism, but for her extraordinary heart.
Newman has an uncanny ability to notice the small moments that matter—if she hears it’s your birthday, or knows you’ve had a rough day, you might find a card from her waiting for you.
She listens, she cares, and she goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels heard and valued.
Her work touches every corner of the University—from formal dinners and academic celebrations to student gatherings and athletic events.
Newman makes sure events are not just well-run, but memorable—ensuring that every bite, every drink, and even every napkin reflects the pride and quality of St. Lawrence. She arrives early, works tirelessly to make each event flawless, and stays late to see it through. Her colleagues marvel that she seems to be everywhere, always with the same commitment to excellence and the same warm spirit.
In other words, Kay helps make campus feel like home.
John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award 2025 Recipient
Bill Short
The John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award recognizes an administrator who has demonstrated distinguished service to the University and upheld the high standards of performance exemplified by Jack Taylor. This year’s award goes to Bill Short, who is a shining leader at St. Lawrence University.
For 27 years, Bill has led the Higher Education Opportunity Program, helping to build it into one of St. Lawrence’s most respected and successful programs. Through his leadership and stewardship, he has ensured that talented students have the tools and support to succeed here—and to go on to rewarding lives of service and impact.
Bill has been a tireless advocate whose influence has extended well beyond campus. He has consistently lobbied state representatives, showing the value of HEOP and securing vital support for students who might otherwise have been overlooked. His voice has helped preserve this lifechanging opportunity for generations of St. Lawrence students.
Yet, it is his daily presence with students that speaks the loudest. Short treats students with deep respect, building relationships rooted in accountability and trust. He challenges students to take ownership of their success while encouraging them every step of the way. Short also shares his authentic self with everyone he meets. An outdoorsman at heart, he is known to bring students or colleagues paddling and hiking, engaging them in his interests so that they may discover their own. He is known across campus for his honesty, collaboration, and generosity of spirit.
As HEOP celebrates its 55th anniversary and Short nears retirement, his legacy is unmistakable: lives changed, opportunities created, and a community strengthened.
J. Calvin Keene Award 2025 Recipient
Dan Look
The J. Calvin Keene Award is given annually to a faculty member who upholds the high standards of personal scholarship, effective teaching, and moral concern demonstrated by Dr. Keene throughout his career. This year, the award honors Dan Look, a highly productive scholar, engaged campus leader, and beloved teacher.
His courses are innovative and challenging, connecting with students through pop culture, music, and discussions on topics like racism, economic inequality, and climate change. Students describe Look as "passionate," "engaging," "kind," and "enthusiastic," noting his classroom is "positive," "comfortable," and "inclusive.” One student said he is the "very definition of what a professor should be."
Look is a prolific publisher, and he actively presents at conferences and gives invited talks on math pedagogy and outreach. His latest book, Math Cats: Scratching the Surface of Mathematical Concepts, will be published in October 2025, combining two of his loves—mathematics and cats.
Look actively works to welcome students into mathematics, establishing the annual Pi-athalon event and organizing trips to the Hudson River Undergraduate Mathematics Conference. He was integral to the highly successful "Math and Everything" event, welcoming over 200 girls from area high schools to campus last fall and again this fall to explore the joys of math and data.
Look demonstrates a deep commitment and moral responsibility to our community and provides extraordinary support for colleagues. He generously gives his time and energy, taking on challenging roles many avoid, including serving as a member of the Professional Standards Committee and Faculty Presider at Faculty Meetings.
One nominator captured it perfectly: "Dan Look is the kind of faculty member who makes a campus better in every way. He is deeply committed to his students, to his colleagues, and to the broader community."
Faculty Receiving Tenure and Promotions
Faculty Receiving Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor
Sandhya Ganapathy, Associate Professor of Global Studies
Precious Hall, Associate Professor of Political Science
Matthew Higham, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Comp Sci, Statistics
Aaron Iverson, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Sookyoung Lee, Associate Professor of English
Amanda Oldacre, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Faculty Promoted to Professor
Sarah Barber, Professor of English
Eloise Brezault, Professor of World Languages, Culture, and Media and African Studies
Alessandro Giardino, Professor of World Languages, Culture, and Media
Juraj Kittler, Professor of English and Performance and Communication Arts
Jeff Maynes, Professor of Philosophy
Judith Nagel-Myers, Professor of Geology
Pedro Ponce, Professor of English
Faculty Awarded Endowed Professorships
Chandreyi Basu, Associate Professor of Art & Art History, L.M. and G.L. Flint Professorship in Fine Arts
Jennifer Hansen, Professor of Philosophy, William L. Fox Professorship in Public Health
Aswini Pai, Associate Professor of Biology, J. Ansil Ramsay Professorship in Public Health
Lisa Torrey, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Comp Sci, and Statistics Rutherford Professorship
Cheryl Stuntz, Professor of Psychology, James R. Wallace Professorship
A. Kendra Greene, Alfred C. Viebranz Endowment for Creative Writing
Brian Chezum, A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics
Munir Pirbhai, Hayward Chair of Physics
Ana Estevez, Charles A. Dana Professorship in Biology & Psychology
Grace Huang, Charles A. Dana Professorship in Political Science
Dan Look, Charles A. Dana Professorship in Mathematics, Comp Sci, Statistics
Melissa Schulenburg, Charles A. Dana Professorship in Fine Arts
