ATLANTA— The College of Arts & Sciences is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 faculty and staff awards, recognizing outstanding achievements across the college. The awards honor excellence in teaching, research, mentorship, leadership, and community engagement among the college's diverse and talented community.

"These exceptional members of Arts & Sciences exemplify the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit that are the hallmark of our college," said interim dean Lindsey Cohen. "Their contributions to student success, groundbreaking research, community engagement, and administration reflect our core mission and values. The collaborative efforts of both faculty and staff are what truly drive our success."

2025 Staff Awards

Fred T. Mote, III Senior Staff Leadership Award

Nika Daryooni

Associate Director

Office of Academic Assistance

Outstanding Junior Staff Award

Raven Schley

Digital Storyteller

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

Rising to the Challenge Award

Keneé Stephens

Project Coordinator

Center for Research on the Challenges of Acquiring Language and Literacy (RCALL)

 

Sam Mayberry

Instrument Shop Manager

Department of Physics & Astronomy

 

Ashley Jayne Little

Laboratory Supervisor

Department of Biology

 

Ethan Trinh

Associate Director

Atlanta Global Studies Center

2025 Faculty Awards

Outstanding Faculty Award (Tenure Track)

Gangli Wang

Professor

Department of Chemistry

Outstanding Faculty Award (Non-Tenure Track)

Laura Hastings

Principal Lecturer

Department of Political Science

Dean’s Early Career Award

Esra Akbas

Assistant Professor

Department of Computer Science

Read about Akabs' work turning complex data into real-world solutions here 

Outstanding Teaching Award

Holloway Sparks

Lecturer

Department of Political Science

Outstanding Undergraduate Mentoring Award

Rashid Naim

Principal Lecturer

Department of Political Science

Outstanding Graduate Mentoring Award

Beth Gylys

Distinguished University Professor

Department of English

Community-Engaged Scholarship Award

This year’s Community-Engaged Scholarship Award is presented to a team of faculty in the Department of History for their collaborative work on a Mellon Foundation–funded project that supports the preservation and protection of sacred lands and cultural heritage in Gullah Geechee communities across Georgia and South Carolina. Their efforts combine research, teaching, and community partnerships to advance historical justice and cultural resilience. Learn more about the project

Ras Michael Brown

Associate Professor

Department of History

 

Tiffany Player

Assistant Professor

Department of History

 

Chad Keller

Senior Lecturer

Department of History