Faculty Awards
Each year, Elizabethtown College honors its faculty members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to teaching, mentoring, and research through four prestigious awards: the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence, the Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship, the Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service, and the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence. These awards celebrate faculty members who inspire students, contribute to their academic and professional growth, and advance their respective fields through dedicated research.
Faculty Award Winners
2025-2026
Polanowski Prize
for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship
Dr. Oya Dursun-Özkanca
Learn More2025-26 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence
Dr. Kirsten Johnson
The 2025-2026 recipient of the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence is Dr. Kirsten Johnson, Professor of Communications.
Dr. Johnson's portfolio demonstrates a truly exceptional record of scholarly productivity and influence in the field of journalistic credibility. The committee was impressed by the depth and coherence of her research program, which includes three books, multiple book chapters, 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 14 peer-reviewed conference papers (four recognized with top paper awards). Additionally, Johnson's expertise is recognized well beyond academia, as evidenced by her role as an invited contributor to WGAL-TV News 8 and other professional outlets. Her 17 grant-funded projects and ongoing collaborations with organizations such as the Kettering Foundation demonstrate both the impact and reach of her work across academia, industry, and the public sphere. Together, these accomplishments showcase a distinguished body of scholarship that exemplifies the spirit of the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence.
About the Ranck Prize
The Ranck Prize for Research Excellence was established as a permanent endowment by Robert O. Kerr ’64 and Mary Ann Kerr ’64 to recognize and celebrate outstanding research by a full-time faculty member of Elizabethtown College. The award honors John P. Ranck ’58, faculty member emeritus and former chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for “his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.”
The recipient of the Ranck Prize is announced annually in December.
- 2024-25 - Cristina Ciocirlan
- 2023-24 - Michael Silberstein
- 2022-23 - James MacKay
- 2021-22 - Oya Dursun-Özkanca
- 2020-21 - Jeffery Long
- 2019-20 - Susan Mapp
- 2018-19 - E. Douglas Bomberger
- 2017-18 - April Kelly
2025-26 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship
Dr. Oya Dursun-Özkanca
The 2025-2026 recipient of the Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship is Dr. Oya Dursun-Özkanca, Professor of Political Science and College Professor of International Studies (Endowed Chair).
The selection committee highlighted Dr. Dursun-Özkanca’s exceptional dedication to student success through deeply engaged mentorship and tireless advocacy. Nominators described her as a highly responsive and committed mentor who consistently goes above and beyond, meeting with students outside regular hours, providing detailed and timely feedback on research, and offering timely support.
Her colleagues and students alike emphasized her genuine interest in each student’s goals and her ability to foster an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment. Many alumni credited her mentorship with helping them secure employment, gain admission to graduate programs, and earn prestigious post-graduate opportunities.
About the Polanowski Prize
Each year, an award is presented to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member to commend and celebrate excellence in advising and mentoring students toward successful graduate school placement and/or careers. The Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship, which has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Mary E. Schmidt ’79 and Dr. Russell Libby, is named in honor of Dr. Frank P. Polanowski, Associate Professor of Biology Emeritus, for his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.
The recipient of the Polanowski Prize is announced annually in February.
- 2024-25 - Conrad Kanagy
- 2023-24 - Debra Wohl
- 2022-23 - Jane Cavender
- 2021-22 - Jeff Rood
- 2020-21 - Hossein Varamini
- 2019-20 - Bryan Greenberg
- 2018-19 - Anya Goldina
2024-25 Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service
Dr. Kurt DeGoede
The 2024-25 recipient of the inaugural Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service is Dr. Kurt DeGoede, Professor of Engineering.
The selection committee commended DeGoede for embodying the College's Educate for Service motto by developing student-faculty experiences that create pathways and preparation for successful careers. His dedication to service, particularly through his impactful work in The Gambia, has not only fostered deep global connections but also provided students with transformative learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom, equipping them with cultural understanding, professional skills, and a commitment to meaningful engagement.
About the Schmidt Prize
The Schmidt Prize was created to honor an inspiring faculty member who demonstrates the importance of student-faculty experiences through the embodiment of our Educate for Service motto. This prize was made possible through the generosity of alumna Dr. Mary E. Schmidt ’79 and will celebrate a faculty member creating meaningful and purposeful student experiences through service (i.e. community-based learning, research-intensive courses, field/internship oversight, etc.) that create pathways and preparation for the real world. The recipient of the Schmidt Prize embraces the teacher-scholar model by engaging students as partners in advancing their scholarly research agendas and preparing students well for successful careers.
The recipient of the Schmidt Prize is announced annually in April.
2025-26 Schmidt Prize Nominations
Recognize an outstanding faculty member who goes above and beyond as an advisor and mentor by nominating them for the annual Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service.
Who Can Be Nominated
- Current, full-time faculty who have taught at the College for at least three years.
How to Nominate
Faculty nominations may be submitted by Elizabethtown students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Complete the nomination form by Tuesday, Feb. 17. The nomination form includes an opportunity to provide a brief (250–500 word) statement describing the reasons why the faculty member is deserving of the award. You may also include any additional nomination materials you wish to attach.
- A brief (250–500 word) statement describing the reasons the faculty member is deserving of the award.
- Any additional nomination materials you wish to include.
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) and a representative group of current students will select the recipient of the Schmidt Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three (3) of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff. Members of the PDC may be nominated, but they will not be eligible for the award until their service on the committee has ended. You are welcome to encourage members of other constituencies in the Elizabethtown College community to support the faculty member you have nominated.
Note: Should your nominee not receive the award in this cycle, your nomination will be included for two additional years (2026-27 and 2027-28).
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Dana Maulfair, Assistant to the Associate Provosts at 717-361-3734 or maulfaird@etown.edu.
2024-25 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Suzanne Webster
The 2024-2025 recipient of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence is Dr. Suzanne Webster, Professor of English (Ralph W. Schlosser Endowed Chair) and Director of the English Literature Program.
Students who nominated Webster noted her provision of extensive feedback on their written work, which built their confidence and improved their writing. Nomination letters emphasized Webster's ability to foster an engaging, intellectually rigorous classroom environment, where her infectious enthusiasm for literature, deep subject expertise, and dedication to student success inspired confidence, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for learning.
About the Kreider Prize
The generosity of an alumnus has made possible an annual award to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The award is named in honor of J. Kenneth Kreider, professor of history emeritus, and Carroll L. Kreider, professor of business emerita "for their inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College." The Kreiders were not only inspirational in the classroom, but were also powerful mentors and role models.
The recipient of the Kreider Prize is announced annually in May.
2025-26 Kreider Prize Nominations
Recognize a dedicated faculty member who has been an inspirational educator and mentor by nominating them for the annual Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence.
Who Can Be Nominated
- Current, full-time faculty who have taught at the College for at least three years.
How to Nominate
Faculty nominations may be submitted by Etown students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Complete the nomination form by Monday, March 16. The nomination form includes an opportunity to provide a brief (250–500 word) statement describing the reasons why the faculty member is deserving of the award. You may also include any additional nomination materials you wish to attach.
- A brief (250–500 word) statement describing the reasons the faculty member is deserving of the award.
- Any additional nomination materials you wish to include.
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) and a representative group of current students will select the recipient of the Kreider Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three (3) of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff. Members of the PDC may be nominated, but they will not be eligible for the award until their service on the committee has ended. You are encouraged to invite members of other constituencies in the Elizabethtown College community to support the faculty member you have nominated.
Note: Should your nominee not receive the award in this cycle, your nomination will be included for two additional years (2026-27 and 2027-28).
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Dana Maulfair, Assistant to the Associate Provosts at 717-361-3734 or maulfaird@etown.edu.
- 2023-24 - Elizabeth Dalton
- 2022-23 - Brenda Read-Daily
- 2021-22 - Michael Roy
- 2020-21 - Judy Beck Ericksen ’80
- 2019-20 - E. Fletcher McClellan
- 2018-19 - Michele Kozimor ’93
- 2017-18 - Kurt DeGoede
- 2016-17 - J. Robert Spence
- 2015-16 - Edward Chung
- 2014-15 - Oya Ozkanca
