Laney Graduate School Hosts Dean’s Address, Inaugural Awards Reception

Laney Graduate School (LGS) celebrated an impactful year with the annual Dean’s address and inaugural LGS Awards Ceremony.

Laney Graduate School (LGS) celebrated an impactful year with the annual Dean’s address and inaugural LGS Awards Ceremony. Integrating these two events enabled LGS to celebrate the achievements of the past year, define the strategic vision for the future, and recognize the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who embody the School’s mission.

In her address, Dean Kimberly Jacob Arriola reflected on her first year as Dean – one spent listening, learning, and talking with others (at Emory and beyond) about the important role of graduate education. She shared LGS’ strategic goals, addressed challenges and concerns, and presented a framework for moving graduate education at Emory forward.

Dean Arriola Speaking

“Emory is truly a special place. I have spent my entire career here at Emory, having arrived on this campus as a student in August of 1998,” said Arriola. “LGS is thriving, precisely because of the students, faculty, and staff who are passionate about delivering, expanding, and improving graduate education.”

After the Dean’s address, the evening transitioned to an awards ceremony to honor exemplary students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Recipients of important University awards were honored, including:

  • Lilly D’Angelo, a PhD graduate in Organic Chemistry, who received the Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award​.
  • Jeffrey Lesser, PhD, Director of the Halle Institute for Global Research and Learning and Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of History, who received the Eleanor Main Faculty Mentor Award.
  • Frederica Lamar, a PhD student in Environmental Health Services, Rollins School of Public Health, who received the ​ Eleanor Main Student Mentor Award.
  • Regine Haardörfer, PhD, a research Associate Professor at Rollins School of Public Health, who received the Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
  • Gabrielle Delima, a 5th-year PhD student in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, who won this year’s Three-Minute Thesis – or 3MT® – competition.
Winners

LGS staff then presented the inaugural set of awards that celebrate the accomplishments of Laney students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Recipients were nominated by Directors of Graduate Studies or Program Directors who detailed their inspiring work. Winners were selected by interdisciplinary committees made up of faculty members, staff, and students. The winners included:

  • Jing Zhang, Computer Science and Informatics, and Timothy McNinch, Religion, who received the COVID Innovation for Teaching and Research Awards.
  • Hugo Bujon, French, and Rae Hunter, Cancer Biology, who received the Student Awards for Inclusive Excellence.
  • Curtis Henry, Cancer Biology, who received the Faculty Award for Inclusive Excellence.
  • Darnesha Tabor, Master’s in Development Practice, who received the Laney Outstanding Master’s Student Award.
  • Donald Grasse, Political Science; Jithin Varghese, Nutrition and Health Sciences; and Silas Allard, Religion, who received the Outstanding Scholarly Research Awards.
  • Juan Estrada, Economics; Natalia Poveda-Rey, Nutrition and Health Sciences; and Isaac Foster, Islamic Civilizations Studies, who received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate Award.
  • Anita Corbett, Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology, and Alexander Mendes, French, who received Professional Development Advocacy Award.
  • Joanna Young, Bioethics; Renee Sevy-Hasterok, Economics; Roberta Lynn, Cancer Biology; and Katie Wilson, Humanities, who received the Outstanding Program Administrator Award.
  • Hilary King, Master’s in Development Practice, who received the Exemplary Master's Mentoring Award.
  • Gerard Vong, Bioethics; Ellen L. Idler, Sociology; Lisa M. Thompson, Nursing; and Subha Xavier, French, who received Outstanding Director of Graduate Studies or Program Director Award.
  • Kim S. Miller, Sociology; Sharon Milgram, Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology; Carlton Waterhouse, Religion; and Joel Zivot, Bioethics, who received the Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Winners of Awards

Congratulations to all the winners and distinguished guests!