Academic excellence in all its forms recognized at new URI awards ceremony

KINGSTON, R.I. – May 4, 2026 – The full breadth of academic excellence was on display at the University of Rhode Island’s inaugural University Academic Excellence Awards on April 30 in the Edwards Hall auditorium.

The event combined awards that were presented to faculty, students, and staff at three separate ceremonies in previous years. Individuals were lauded for outstanding achievements in teaching, mentoring, and research.

Professor Theresa Deeney, professor of reading education in the Feinstein College of Education, received the URI Teaching Excellence Award from President Parlange and Vice Provost Sue Adams. (URI photo by Mike Salerno)

“We united these awards into one ceremony because academic excellence takes many forms, and they all deserve to be recognized visibly and collectively,” said Sue Adams, vice provost for academic and faculty initiatives. “Our hope is that this shared celebration strengthens connections across departments and colleges and allows us to better appreciate the extraordinary contributions made by faculty, staff, and students across our University.”

President Parlange looks on as Bethany Jenkins, vice president for research and economic development, presents Brennan Phillips, associate professor of ocean engineering, with the Innovation: Translational Impact Award. (URI photo by Catherine Scott)

URI President Marc Parlange touted the University’s R1 status, which designates URI as a top-tier research university in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and URI’s No. 1 ranking among public universities in New England for the second year in a row by The Wall Street Journal.

“These distinctions highlight the world-class education and opportunities available at URI–none of which would be possible without our exceptional faculty,” said Parlange. “And our students, who bring curiosity, passion, and persistence to their educational experiences, embody the excellence that defines our University.”

Some of the award winners expressed their gratitude and took pride in their accomplishments.

Emily Sperou, a postdoctoral fellow studying natural resources science, captured first place in the URI Research and Scholarship Photo Contest for her photo of a southern elephant seal pup resting on a rocky beach in South Bay, Antarctica.

“Seeing students become successful in education brings me such joy,” said Theresa Deeney, recipient of the URI Teaching Excellence Award. “I was amazed at the impact our Project SUSTAIN special education scholars made in teaching learners who struggle with literacy skills.”

Anita Jacobson, clinical professor and director of community health and engagement, won the Academic Impact Excellence Award.

“I’m most proud of building and sustaining community partnerships that not only expand access to naloxone and overdose prevention resources, but also create meaningful, real-world learning opportunities for our students,” said Jacobson.

Professors Jimmie Oxley and James Smith were recognized for the three U.S. patents they were issued. From left, President Parlange, Oxley, Smith, and Jenkins.

Professor Samantha Meenach was honored for her exceptional mentoring of students.

“My research path began with my own undergraduate research experience, and I have never forgotten how profoundly it shaped my trajectory,” said Meenach. “I mentor undergraduates because I know firsthand that access to research opportunities and a supportive mentor can change the entire direction of a student’s life.”

Ryan Poling-Skutvik, assistant professor of chemical, biomolecular, and materials engineering, and Laura Hamman-Ortiz, assistant professor of TESOL and bilingual education, were presented Research and Scholarship Awards for Early Career Faculty.

“My proudest accomplishment has really been seeing my undergraduate and graduate students develop and flourish as independent scientists and researchers,” said Poling-Skutvik. “Multiple students gave their first independent presentations at conferences this year.”

“I am grateful to the bilingual educators and their students who have welcomed me into their classrooms, shared their joys and frustrations, and worked tirelessly to improve their craft and to serve the students entrusted to their care,” said Hamman-Ortiz.

Kristin Johnson, vice provost for global initiatives, and Cheryl Foster, professor of political science, served as the masters of ceremonies. The award winners are listed below.

TEACHING AND SERVICE AWARDS

URI Teaching Excellence Award
Theresa Deeney, professor of reading education, Feinstein College of Education

Honors Teaching Excellence Award
Hanan Mogawer, associate teaching professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Michael Nedwidek, part-time faculty of health and physical education, Feinstein College of Education

General Education Teaching Excellence Award
Doug Reed, associate professor, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Student Writing Excellence Award
Brooke Gallant, The Theme of “Hope”

Graduate Student Writing Excellence Award
Ariel Leahy, The Theme of “Hope”

Academic Impact Excellence Award
Anita Jacobson, clinical professor, College of Pharmacy

Undergraduate Research Mentoring Excellence Award
Samantha Meenach, professor, Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering; and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Advanced Career Faculty – Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
William E. Van Nostrand, Herrmann Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Advanced Career Faculty – Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Maling Ebrahimpour, professor of supply chain management, College of Business

Early Career Faculty – Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
Ryan Poling-Skutvik, assistant professor and graduate director, Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering

Early Career Faculty – Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Laura Hamman-Ortiz, assistant professor, TESOL and Bilingual Education, Feinstein College of Education

Graduate Student – Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
Dalton L. Stein, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering

Graduate Student – Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Michelle A. Stage, behavioral science Ph.D. student, Department of Psychology, College of Health Sciences

Undergraduate Student – Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
Terran AlbergoMcGovern, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Student – Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Francesca Fontaine, Department of Nutrition, College of Health Sciences

Innovation: Translational Impact Award
Brennan T. Phillips, associate professor, Ocean Engineering, College of Engineering

URI RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP PHOTO CONTEST

First place: Emily Sperou, College of the Environment and Life Sciences
“Built-In Neck Pillow”

Second place: Alexia Lanagan, College of Arts and Sciences
“Predator and Pollinator”

Third place: Liam Corcoran, College of the Environment and Life Sciences
“Eastern Whip-poor-will In Hand”

Committee Choice: Dakota Hunter, College of Pharmacy
“Activation of Microglia in the Thalamus of a Preclinical Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy”

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: UNITED STATES ISSUED PATENTS

Photoswitchable Binary Nanopore Capable of Detecting Single Molecules
Associate Dean Jason R. Dwyer, James Hagan
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
Grace G. D. Han, Alejandra Gonzalez, Brandeis University

Apparatus and Methods for Preparation and Introduction of Trace Samples Into an Ionizing Detection System
Professor Jimmie C. Oxley, Professor James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Fragmentation Resilience Energy Mass Spectrometry (FREMS)
Professor Jimmie C. Oxley, Professor James L. Smith, Alexander Yevdokimov, and Kevin Colizza
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Polymer Immobilization Matrix for Containment of Hazardous Materials and Methods of Using the Same
Professor Jimmie C. Oxley, Professor James L. Smith, Gerald Kagan, and Robert Ichiyama
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

PNictogen-Containing Heterocyclic Compounds and Their Use
Assistant Professor Fang Wang, Bradley M. Lipka, Daniel S. Honeycutt
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
Jacob M, Goldberg, Colgate University

Fluorescent Compound Comprising a Fluorophore Conjugated to a pH-Triggered Polypeptide
Professor Yana K. Reshetnyak, Professor Oleg A. Andreev, Assistant Research Professor Anna Moshnikova
Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Donald M. Engelman, Yale University

pHLIP®-Mediated Intracellular Delivery of Immuno-Stimulatory Compounds
Professor Yana K. Reshetnyak, Professor Oleg A. Andreev, Assistant Research Professor Anna Moshnikova
Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Donald M. Engelman, John C. Deacon, Yale University

pH-Triggered Membrane Peptide-Mediated Epitope Tethering at Cell Surfaces
Professor Yana K. Reshetnyak, Professor Oleg A. Andreev, Assistant Research Professor Anna Moshnikova
Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Donald M. Engelman, Yale University

Radiolabeled Ligands for Targeted PET/SPECT Imaging and Methods of Their Use
Professor Yana K. Reshetnyak, Professor Oleg A. Andreev, Assistant Research Professor Anna Moshnikova
Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Jason S. Lewis, Dustin Wayne Demoin, Nerissa Viola-Villegas, Sloan-Kettering

Polymeric Compositions and Corrosion Resistant Systems
Associate Professor Sumanta Das, Sumeru Nayak
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Wearable Optical Microfibrous Material with Encapsulated Nanosensors for Wireless Monitoring of Chemical Analytes
Associate Professor Daniel E. Roxbury, Mohammad Moein Safaee, Mitchell Gravely
Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering

BUS Authentication and Anti-Probing Architecture
Professor Qing Q. Yang, Professor Tao Wei, Zhenyu Xu
Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

Method and Apparatus for Runtime Detection of BUS Probing/Tampering in Computer Systems
Professor Qing Q. Yang, Professor Tao Wei, Zhenyu Xu
Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

Glass-Ceramic Thermal Paint System and Method Using Uv:vis Spectroscopy
Professor Otto J. Gregory, Noah Alexander Burke, Panagiotis Panoutsopoulos, Zachary Ahlquist
Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering

High Temperature Heat Flux Sensors
Professor Otto J. Gregory, Noah Alexander Burke, Panagiotis Panoutsopoulos, Zachary Ahlquist
Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering

GRADUATE SCHOOL AWARDS

Outstanding Graduate Mentoring Award
Nicole Weiss, professor, Department of Psychology, College of Health Sciences

Outstanding Doctoral Research Award
Juliana Agudelo Areiza, postdoctoral researcher, field of toxicokinetics with Assistant Professor Fabian Fischer

Outstanding Master’s Thesis Research Award
Anna Cetera, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Major Professor – Reza Abiri