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
2025-26 Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service
Wendy Bellew
The 2025-26 recipient of the Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service is Wendy Bellew, Education Program Chair and Assistant Teaching Professor in Education.
The selection committee commended Bellew for exemplifying the College’s Educate for Service motto through her dedication to field-based learning and personalized mentorship. By guiding students through progressively complex pre-service placements, she ensures their preparation is grounded in best practices, reflective learning, and professional standards. Her empathetic approach empowers future educators to navigate challenges while building confidence, emotional intelligence, and a strong professional identity.
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.
- 2024-25 - Dr. Kurt DeGoede
2025-26 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Leyla Batakci
The 2025-2026 recipient of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence is Dr. Leyla Batakci, Professor of Mathematical Sciences.
Students and colleagues who nominated Batakci describe her as an inspiring educator whose impact extends far beyond the classroom. Nomination letters highlighted her intellectually rigorous and creative teaching style, noting her ability to make complex material accessible while fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment.
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.
- 2024-25 - Suzanne Webster
- 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
