TU Honors Faculty, Staff For Service

Press release from Towson University:

By Kyle Hobstetter on Tuesday, March 23

When George Hahn started teaching in Towson University’s English department, he was
23 years old and just one of 171 faculty members teaching about 5,000 students.

Fifty-five years later, Hahn is still proud to be at TU, watching as the number of
faculty has grown to more than 1,600 members and enrollment now numbers more than
21,000 students.

Hahn was recognized for his service during the annual Faculty & Staff Recognition
Event, held virtually on Tuesday, March 23. The former department chair was the longest-tenured
faculty or staff member recognized.

While so much has changed during Hahn’s tenure, the type of student that TU attracts
hasn’t. In fact, that’s why he’s still here more than half a century later.

“The students at Towson all can be tagged by one adjective: earnest,” Hahn said in
a recorded message. “And that’s fuel that I found takes them a long way. One of my
favorite things is that it is an intellectual fair teaching here and, of course, that
spreads out like [ripples on] a still pond to the students.

“Towson has been wonderful to me and has been wonderful for me. My 55 years, I wouldn’t
have it any other way.”

Marion Cockey, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology &
Criminal Justice, and John Murungi, professor in the Department of Philosophy & Religious
Studies, were each honored for 50 years of service.

Christine Eifert and Adela Lombardi, administrative assistants for the Department
of Economics and the Division of Administration & Finance, respectively, were recognized
for 45 years of service each.

The event also had video messages honoring six staff members with 40 years, three
for 35 years and eight more for 30 years of service to the university. Dozens more
were recognized for five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years of service.

Along with honoring those who reached service milestones in 2020, TU also recognized
the more than 350 service award recipients from 2019, including Richard Vatz, who
celebrated his 45th year at Towson University last year.

READ MORE: More information about those honored during the event

Towson University President Kim Schatzel praised the work being done at Towson University
in her opening remarks. She also knows what sets TU apart from other universities—remarkable
people.

“Our colleagues, have responded to so many challenges in the past year with extraordinary
effort and resolve in the face of the pandemic,” said Schatzel.

“This morning, we’ll celebrate the collective work of our remarkable colleagues and
how it impacts Towson University’s position as a first-choice institution for our
students and their families, a top 100 public university and a national leader in
inclusive excellence.”

Marilyn Dannenfelser Staff Award

Introduced this year, the Marilyn Dannenfelser Staff Award was presented to Monica
Pasko, an executive administrative assistant in the College of Education.

This new award is for a member of the TU administrative staff who personifies the
outstanding personal and professional qualities of the late Marilyn Dannenfelser.

During Dannenfelser’s 46-year career, she served as an executive assistant to six
presidents. She was well regarded and is remembered for her tact, diplomacy and patient
demeanor.

“The intent of this award, from my perspective, was for my heavenly hero to help an
unsung hero of TU,” said her daughter Kim Dannenfelser in a prerecorded video. “Towson’s
administrative staff are the frontline and backbone of every office on campus, and
I really hope this award goes to show the nominees how much their talents and dedication
are truly appreciated.”

USM Board of Regents Awards

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Faculty and Staff Awards
represent the highest honors presented by the board.

The USM announces staff award recipients in July and faculty award recipients in March.

Eight TU faculty winners were forwarded to the USM Board of Regents for consideration,
and five received awards in 2021:

• Elizabeth P. Crusse, Excellence in Mentoring
• Karen Day, Excellence in Teaching
• Katherine Holman, Excellence in Teaching
• Joel Moore, Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity
• Natalie Scala, Excellence in Public Service

Six TU staff winners have been forwarded to the USM Board of Regents for consideration:

• Julie Leary, Effectiveness and Efficiency
• Elizabeth Shearer, Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment
• Jennifer Stano, Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
• Kelly Ward, Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person
  Belongs
• Patricia A. Watson, Extraordinary Public Service to the University or Greater Community
• Robert Zengel Jr., Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which
  the Person Belongs

This event also honored four Towson University faculty members that were named as recipients, among the 17 honored across the USM's institutions. The provost's office shares
information on faculty award finalists and winners.

• Josh Dehlinger, Excellence in Mentoring
• Lisa Martinelli, Excellence in Mentoring
• Dana Kollmann, Excellence in Public Service
• Christopher Salice, Excellence in Scholarship, Research, or Creative Activity

Two members of TU’s staff were part of a group of nine individuals honored by the USM Board of Regents as 2020 award recipients.

• Debra Phillips, lab assistant at the Center for STEM Excellence
• Antwaine Smith, senior assistant athletic director for the Total Tiger Program

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.