Dietrich School faculty members are frequently recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in research, teaching, and mentoring. Learn more about past honorees and the processes and criteria for nominating colleagues for future recognition.
Teaching and Service Awards
Tina & David Bellet Teaching Excellence Awards
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring
Provost's Diversity in the Curriculum Award
Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising
Chancellor's Distinguished Public Service Award
Research Award
Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award
Tina & David Bellet Teaching Excellence Awards
Established in 1998 with a gift from Dietrich School alumnus, David Bellet (A&S '67) and his wife Tina, and endowed in 2008 through the family's further generosity, this annual award recognizes outstanding and innovative teaching in undergraduate studies in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Each fall, students and faculty are encouraged to submit nominations to the associate dean for undergraduate studies. A committee reviews nominations and requests dossiers from eligible candidates. Honorees are announced in the spring, and award recipients each receive a one-time cash prize of $10,000.
In 2018, the Dietrich School celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Bellet Teaching Excellence Awards. Enjoy a brief commemorative video of that special anniversary event.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a Dietrich School faculty member with a regular full-time appointment who teaches undergraduate students
- Must have taught for three years on the Oakland campus
- Must receive three or more nominations
Bellet Dossier Evaluation Criteria
The following are the teaching excellence evaluation criteria for the candidates' dossiers.
- How the candidate communicates subject matter to undergraduate students of varied backgrounds and skill levels
- How the candidate encourages high standards of attainment for all undergraduate students
- How the candidate advises and mentors students, as well as expands undergraduate students' intellectual development beyond the classroom
- How the candidate has influenced undergraduate students, colleagues, or departmental instruction
- How the candidate has integrated scholarship with teaching
Teaching excellence implies:
- Overall excellence in teaching.
- Sustained commitment to teaching.
- Effectiveness in helping students achieve meaningful goals.
Nomination Information
Nominations are accepted October 1-31. For more information or to nominate a candidate, please contact Maryellen Gannon in the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
Bellet Award Recipients
1999 Harold B. Rollins, Geology and Planetary Sciences
1999 Philip Watts, French and Italian Languages and Literatures
2000 Iain Campbell, Biological Sciences
2000 Barbara McCloskey, History of Art and Architecture
2000 Gordon Mitchell, Communication
2000 Chandralekha Singh, Physics and Astronomy
2001 George C. Bandik, Chemistry
2001 Paul Kameen, English
2001 John Ramirez, Computer Science
2001 Edward M. Stricker, Neuroscience
2001 John W. Gareis, Communication
2002 Keiko I. McDonald, East Asian Languages and Literatures
2002 Francesca L. Savoia, French and Italian Languages and Literatures
2002 Aaron Sheon, History of Art and Architecture
2003 James Seitz, English
2003 Peter Siska, Chemistry
2004 Geeta Kothari, English
2004 Ericka Huston, Chemistry
2004 Marla Ripoll, Economics
2004 Peter Simonson, Communication
2005 H. David Brumble, English
2005 Sharon McDermott, English
2006 Anthony Bledsoe, Biological Sciences
2006 Daniel Mossé, Computer Science
2007 Bryan Hanks, Anthropology
2007 Carl Bodenschatz, Statistics
2008 Melanie Dreyer-Lude, Theatre Arts
2008 Jeffrey Oaks, English
2009 Gretchen Bender, History of Art and Architecture
2009 Joseph Grabowski, Chemistry
2010 Paul Gartside, Mathematics
2010 Adam Leibovich, Physics and Astronomy
2011 Drew Armstrong, History of Art and Architecture
2011 Nancy Pfenning, Statistics
2012 Sunil Saxena, Chemistry
2012 Cynthia Skrzycki, English
2013 Annmarie Duggan, Theatre Arts
2013 Liann E. Tsoukas, History
2014 Charles E. Jones, Geology and Planetary Science
2014 Rick A. Relyea, Biological Sciences
2015 Paul Floreancig, Chemistry
2015 Michael Glass, Urban Studies
2016 Lorraine Denman, French and Italian Languages and Literature
2016 Andrew Lotz, Political Science
2016 Alan Sved, Neuroscience
2017 Lillian Chong, Chemistry
2017 Gianni Downs, Theatre Arts
2017 Alison Slinskey-Legg, Biological Sciences
2018 Geoffrey Hutchison, Chemistry
2018 Amy Murray Twyning, English
2019 Julie Beaulieu, GSWS
2019 Geoffrey Glover, English
2019 Jeffrey Wheeler, Mathematics
2020 Erica McGreevy, Biological Sciences
2020 Dana Moss, Sociology
2022 Jennifer Laaser, Chemistry
2022 Dana Och, Film and Media Studies
2022 Ellen Smith, English
2023 Olga Klimova, Slavic Languages and Literatures
2023 Giuseppina Mecchia, French and Italian
Recent Awardee Videos
Olga Klimova, Slavic Languages and Literatures (2023)
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Giuseppina Mecchia, French and Italian (2023)
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Jennifer Laaser, Chemistry (2022)
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Dana Och, Film and Media Studies (2022)
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Ellen Smith, English (2022)
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Erica McGreevy, Biological Sciences (2020)
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Dana Moss, Sociology (2020)
Julie Beaulieu, GSWS (2019)
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Geoffrey Glover, English (2019)
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Jeffrey Wheeler, Mathematics (2019)
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Geoffrey Hutchison, Chemistry (2018)
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Amy Murray Twyning, English (2018)
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Lillian Chong, Chemistry (2017)
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Gianni Downs, Theatre Arts (2017)
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Alison Slinskey-Legg, Biological Sciences (2017)
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Lorraine Denman, French and Italian Languages and Literatures (2016)
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Andrew Lotz, Political Science (2016)
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Alan Sved, Neuroscience (2016)
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Paul Floreancig, Chemistry (2015)
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Michael Glass, Urban Studies (2015)
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Charles E. Jones, Geology and Planetary Science (2014)
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Rick A. Relyea, Biological Sciences (2014)
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Annmarie Duggan, Theatre Arts (2013)
Video: Quicktime
Liann E. Tsoukas, History (2013)
Video: Quicktime
Sunil Saxena, Chemistry (2012)
Video: Quicktime | Windows Media Player
Cynthia Skrzycki, English (2012)
Video: Quicktime | Windows Media Player
Drew Armstrong, History of Art and Architecture (2011)
Video: QuickTime
Nancy Pfenning, Statistics (2011)
Video: QuickTime
Paul Gartside, Mathematics (2010)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Adam Leibovich, Physics and Astronomy (2010)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Gretchen Bender, History of Art and Architecture (2009)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Joseph Grabowski, Chemistry (2009)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Melanie Dreyer-Lude, Theatre Arts (2008)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Jeff Oaks, English (2008)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Carl Bodenschatz, Statistics (2007)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Bryan Hanks, Anthropology (2007)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Earlier awardee videos can be found in the Classic Clips section of our site.
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
The Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes teaching excellence by members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. Up to five awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member's teaching activities. All awardees are honored publicly.
Teaching is defined broadly and includes all activities that faculty members engage in to facilitate learning by undergraduate, professional, or graduate students: lecturing; clinical teaching; conducting seminars, tutorials, or recitations; etc.
Any faculty member who has served full-time at the University of Pittsburgh for at least five years is eligible, provided that he or she has been active as a teacher. Previous winners are not eligible. Refer to the nomination guidelines for complete details.
Recent Dietrich School Awardees
- Liann Tsoukas (2023)
- Michael Meyer, English (2023)
- Chris Bonneau, Political Science (2021)
- Jeff Aziz, English (2020)
- Jennifer Cousins, Psychology (2020)
- Daniel Lambrecht, Chemistry (2019)
- Jana Iverson, Psychology (2018)
- Alan Sved, Neuroscience (2018)
- Sean Garrett-Roe, Chemistry (2017)
- Cindy Skrzycki, English (2017)
- Nancy Pfenning, Statistics (2016)
- Gretchen Bender, History of Art and Architecture (2015)
- Marah Gubar, English (2013)
- Brett Wells, French and Italian Languages and Literatures (2013)
- John Ramirez, Computer Science (2012)
- Graham Hatfull, Biological Sciences (2011)
- Carl Bodenschatz, Statistics (2010)
- Shalini Puri, English (2010)
- Bill Yates, Neuroscience (2010)
- Chuck Kinder, English (2009)
- Marla Ripoll, Economics (2009)
- Jeffrey Brodsky, Biological Sciences (2008)
- William Klein, Psychology (2008)
- Kathleen Blee, Sociology (2007)
- Jeremy Levy, Physics and Astronomy (2007)
- Philip Smith, English (2007)
Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring
Part of the University's mission is training the next generation of professional scholars. Essential to this task are faculty who provide intellectual and personal leadership that helps to support, encourage, and promote the personal and professional development of students. The Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring recognizes as many as four University of Pittsburgh faculty members each year who demonstrate outstanding mentoring of graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. Winners receive a cash prize of $2,500 and are honored publicly. Refer to the nomination guidelines for complete details.
Recent Dietrich School Awardees
- Daniel Shaw, Psychology (2023)
- Jeremy Levy, Physics and Astronomy (2022)
- Charles Perfetti, Psychology (2022)
- Tia-Lynn Ashman, Biological Sciences (2021)
- Robert Batterman, Philosophy (2021)
- William Layton, Mathematics (2019)
- John Markoff, Sociology (2019)
- Michael Sayette, Psychology (2019)
- Jonathan Arac, English (2018)
- Lucy Fischer, English (2018)
- Robert Hayden, Anthropology (2018)
- Satish Iyengar, Statistics (2018)
- G. Reid Andrews, History (2016)
- Panos Chrysanthis, Computer Science (2015)
- Peter Wipf, Chemistry (2015)
- Marcia Landy, English (2014)
- Stephen Manuck, Psychology (2014)
- Allan Sampson, Statistics (2014)
- Alan Juffs, Linguistics (2013)
- Alberta Sbragia, Political Science (2013)
- Rami Melhem, Computer Science (2012)
- Guy Peters, Political Science (2012)
- Steve Weber, Chemistry (2012)
- Jean Ferguson Carr, English/Women's Studies (2010)
- John Lyne, Communication (2010)
- Richard Scaglion, Anthropology (2010)
- Susan Campbell, Psychology (2009)
- Dennis Curran, Chemistry (2009)
- Bell Yung, Music (2009)
- Leon Gleser, Statistics (2008)
- Kenneth Jordan, Chemistry (2008)
- Kathleen Blee, Sociology (2007)
- Robert Drennan, Anthropology (2007)
Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising
The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences annually recognizes outstanding faculty and staff academic advising of its undergraduate students with the Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising, a one-time $4,000 (taxable) cash award.
Any Dietrich School faculty or staff member with a regular, full-time appointment who has served as an advisor for at least three years on the Oakland campus is eligible. Faculty and staff who receive a nomination from their director or department chair and two or more undergraduate students whom they have advised will be considered.
A letter from the chair of the department, the director of the program, or the director of the Advising Center is required; it should explain the advising model used in the advisor’s department, program, or office, include a perspective on his or her advising appointment and case load, and describe how the advisor has demonstrated excellence in academic advising. Letters from at least two current or former undergraduate advisees are also required. These letters should describe when and how the advisor’s advice has impacted the advisee's academic and career goals.
Nomination Information
Nominations are accepted from October 1 through October 31, and should be sent to John Twyning, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, 140 Thackeray Hall.
The prize winner will be selected by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Council and announced in the spring term. For more information, contact asundergrad@pitt.edu
Recent Awardees
- James Scott, Student Support Services (2023)
- Brett Wells, French and Italian (2023)
- Danielle Andrews-Brown, Geology and Environmental Science (2022)
- Emily Snyder, Academic Advisor, Advising Center (2022)
- Frayda Cohen, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program (2020)
- Barbara “Babs” Mowery, Academic Advisor, Advising Center (2020)
- Carolyn Carson, Urban Studies (2019)
- Russell Clark, Physics and Astronomy (2018)
- Mark Kemp, English (2017)
- Claude Mauk, Linguistics (2016)
- Mark Collins, Geology and Planetary Science (2015)
- Jane Wallace, Economics (2014)
- Katherine Wolfe, Economics (2014)
- Gretchen Bender, History of Art and Architecture (2013)
- Kathleen Allen, Anthropology (2012)
- Tony Novosel, History (2011)
- Barbara Kucinski, Psychology (2010)
- Fiore Pugliano, English (2009)
- George Bandik, Chemistry (2008)
- Daniel Romesberg, Sociology (2007)
Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award
The Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award annually recognizes outstanding scholarly accomplishments of members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. Up to five awardees are chosen in two categories:
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Senior Scholar Awardees include faculty members who have compiled a substantial and continuing record of outstanding research and scholarly activity. Nominees in this category must have achieved preeminence in their field and be so recognized in letters of support from national and international leaders in the field. Except in unusual circumstances, referees cannot be friends or colleagues of the nominees.
- Junior Scholar Awardees include faculty members who, by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions, have demonstrated great potential as scholars and have achieved some international standing. Candidates for this award must have received their highest degree no more than 12 years before the time of nomination.
Each Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award will consist of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member's teaching and research. All persons selected for this award will be honored publicly.
Any tenured or tenure-stream, full-time faculty member who has served at least three years at the University of Pittsburgh is eligible to be nominated. Refer to the nomination guidelines for complete details.
Recent Dietrich School Awardees
- Jean-Marie Laskas, English (2023)
- Jeffrey Brodsky, Biological Sciences (2022)
- Heath Cabot, Anthropology (2021)
- Michael Hatridge, Physics and Astronomy (2021)
- Lise Vesterlund, Economics (2021)
- Yan Dong, Neuroscience (2020)
- Jules Gill-Peterson, English (2020)
- Peng Liu, Chemistry (2020)
- Edouard Machery, History and Philosophy of Science (2018)
- Jill Millstone, Chemistry (2018)
- Haitao Liu, Chemistry (2017)
- Lucy Fischer, English/Film Studies (2016)
- Seth Horne, Chemistry (2016)
- Marlene Cohen, Neuroscience (2015)
- Kirk Erickson, Psychology (2015)
- Kenneth Schaffner, History and Philosophy of Science (2015)
- Jonathan Pruitt, Biological Sciences (2014)
- Marcus Rediker, History (2014)
- Nathaniel Rosi, Chemistry (2014)
- Tia-Lynn Ashman, Biological Sciences (2013)
- Kirk Savage, History of Art and Architecture (2013)
- Brent Doiron, Mathematics (2012)
- Eric Moe, Music (2012)
- Jeremy Levy, Physics and Astronomy (2011)
- Edouard Machery, History and Philosophy of Science (2011)
- John D. Norton, History and Philosophy of Science (2011)
- Alexander Star, Chemistry (2011)
- Thomas Hales, Mathematics (2010)
- Colin MacCabe, English (2010)
- Kazunori Koide, Chemistry (2009)
- G. Bard Ermentrout, Mathematics (2008)
- Peter Wipf, Chemistry (2008)
- Alejandro de la Fuente, History (2007)
- Graham Hatfull, Biological Sciences (2007)
- Jana Iverson, Psychology (2007)
- Michelene Chi, Psychology (2006)
- Robert Coalson, Chemistry (2006)
- Marcia Landy, English (2005)
- Hrvoje Petek, Physics and Astronomy (2005)
- Rick Relyea, Biological Sciences (2005)
- Kathleen Blee, Sociology (2004)