Announcing the Provost’s 2024 Alumni Faculty Excellence Awards

The Office of the Provost is proud to announce the winners of the 2023-2024 Alumni Faculty Excellence Awards. This prestigious recognition honors faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in research, creativity, and teaching. This year, three distinguished faculty members have been selected for their outstanding contributions to the University’s academic and creative reputation.

The Provost’s Office is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2023-2024 Alumni Faculty Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards are designed to honor faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in research, creativity, and teaching.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Senjie Lin, awardee of the Faculty Excellence in Research and Creativity- Sciences, Professor Annamaria Csizmadia, awardee of the Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and to Professor Kari Adamsons, awardee of the Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching for their remarkable achievements and their unwavering dedication to the University of Connecticut. Their exemplary contributions to research, creativity, and teaching continue to inspire the entire UConn community. The Alumni Faculty Excellence Awards are among the highest honors bestowed by the University of Connecticut. Recipients of these awards must have a distinguished record of sustained excellence and must have been a part of the UConn faculty for at least 10 years.

Faculty Excellence in Research and Creativity- Sciences

Professor Senjie Lin

Professor Senjie Lin is a distinguished professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut, renowned for his pioneering research in marine phytoplankton physiology and molecular biology. Internationally recognized as a leader in the study of dinoflagellates, Professor Lin’s work has significantly advanced our understanding of these ecologically critical organisms, which are often implicated in harmful algal blooms and coral bleaching events. His expertise in dinoflagellate biology has established him as one of the foremost authorities in the world on this subject. Professor Lin’s outstanding research and scholarly contributions have earned him national and international acclaim. He has served on numerous national and international proposal panels, provided peer reviews, and evaluated faculty promotions at various institutions, both in the United States and abroad. His remarkable scholarly reputation has also led to various editorial board positions for prominent research journals. In recognition of his significant contributions to science, Professor Lin was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a Fellow of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography in 2020. Additionally, he has been a member of the Connecticut Academy of Sciences and Engineering since 2010. His work continues to shape the field of marine sciences and contributes to the global understanding of marine ecosystems.

Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Professor Annamaria Csizmadia

Professor Annamaria Csizmadia is an associate professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut, specializing in cultural diversity and the developmental processes of monoracial and Multiracial youth of color. Over the past two decades, she has focused on how culturally relevant factors shape the development of ethnic-racial identity and the pivotal role families play in helping youth navigate a racialized society. Professor Csizmadia’s research, informed by cultural ecological, critical race, and intersectional theories, highlights the importance of family ethnic-racial socialization in fostering social-emotional adjustment among youth. Her work emphasizes the dynamic interaction between family practices, youth social cognition, and their broader social environment. Professor Csizmadia’s research extends to understanding the impact of racial microaggressions on psychological well-being, as evidenced by her participation in the UConn Racial Microaggression Study, which surveyed over 1,200 students of color. Her findings have informed policy changes aimed at improving the campus climate. Professor Csizmadia has received numerous accolades for her teaching excellence, including the Honors Mentor of the Year Award, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, the 2020 CETL Teaching Fellow Award, and the 2023 UConn Stamford Faculty Recognition Award. She serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals and actively contributes to her professional community.

Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching

Professor Kari Adamsons

Professor Kari Adamsons is an associate professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she has been a faculty member since 2007. Professor Adamsons’s research focuses broadly on fathers and their impact on family dynamics and child development. Her studies encompass various topics, including fathering identities, fathers’ influence on child obesity, nonresident fathering, and the transmission of risk behaviors between fathers and children. Her interest in fatherhood stems from her college experiences with child abuse prevention and advocacy, which highlighted the crucial yet underexplored role of fathers in child outcomes. Her research has been highlighted by and used to guide the policies of federal agencies working with fathers. She also has published extensively on family theories and family processes, including two textbooks and the recent Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methodologies. A passionate educator, Professor Adamsons enjoys the multifaceted nature of her job, particularly the energy of teaching and mentoring students.