TU honors faculty, staff for service

Annual event recognizes employees with awards, for milestone years

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 45^th year at Towson University last year.

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