Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Awards

Quinnipiac University bestows highest honor to employees from Bethany, Cheshire, East Haven, Mystic, North Haven and South Glastonbury

Hamden, CT – Quinnipiac University has recognized three faculty members and three staff members as recipients of the 2020 Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Awards.

They were honored during a virtual ceremony on Oct. 21.

This year’s recipients of the Excellence in Teaching awards are Iddrisu Awudu, associate professor of management and Muslim chaplain; Jonathan Blake, professor and director of computer science and software engineering; and Michelle Geremia, professor of biology.

Awudu, a resident of North Haven, has been with Quinnipiac since 2014.

“This award means a lot to me because it emphasizes one of my life principles, which is giving your best in everything you do,” he said. “The award is dedicated to everyone who teaches at Quinnipiac and strives unceasingly to ensure the success of our students.”

Blake, of Cheshire, joined Quinnipiac in 2000.

“I am truly honored by the award,” he said. “It's funny, you see people say this about awards all the time, but you don't really understand what that means unless you are lucky enough to have it happen to you. To some extent, it is a validation of not just the work that you do, but your approach to the work and the decisions you make along the way. I am quite humbled by it all.”

Geremia (pictured above,) of Bethany and East Haven, began her career at Quinnipiac in 1989 and is in her 33rd year of teaching.

“I recognize and acknowledge the privilege and honor that this prestigious award bestows,” she said. “The validation from Quinnipiac University administrators, colleagues and students is a priceless distinction, especially at an institution where there are many talented educators. It is not only an honor, but an opportunity to continue to share the responsibility in the education and developmental growth of future students, ensuring their success as leaders and accomplished citizens in the 21st century.”

This year’s honorees for the Excellence in Service to Students awards are Jason Burke, director of veteran and military affairs; Joseph Podsiadlo, associate director of technology services; and Erin 0, director of campus life for student centers and student involvement.

Burke, of Mystic, was a naval aviator for more than 25 years until retiring as a U.S. Navy captain and joining Quinnipiac in 2013.

“I am honored to be recognized with the Center for Excellence Award for serving our warrior-scholars in support of their mission to navigate the rigors of their academic disciplines and to watch their exuberance as they cross the graduation stage,” he said.

Podsiadlo, who has worked at Quinnipiac since 1999, lives in North Haven.

“I suppose it is a common practice within the human condition to ponder from time to time where one may stand among their peers,” he said. “I am generally of a modest and unassuming nature. Receiving this award from the university community certainly elevates what I have always believed to be a standard approach to performing my job and applying the work ethic instilled by my parents. This award is an acknowledgment that time and efforts put forth by myself and my staff may have touched our community deeper than I perceived.”

Provistalis, who lives in South Glastonbury, began her second stint at Quinnipiac in 2010.

“I am incredibly humbled by this recognition,” she said. “There are numerous staff members at Quinnipiac who are deserving of this award, especially considering the heavy lifting that countless colleagues have been doing since the onset of the pandemic. Just to be nominated is an honor, let alone to be selected as a recipient. This award is truly a group effort.”

Recognizing its 18th year of honorees, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students bestows the highest level of employee recognition to members of the Quinnipiac community who provide extraordinary service to students. Award winners are nominated by students, alumni and colleagues within the university community.