Faculty, staff and students gathered on May 12 in Thurgood Marshall Hall for the eighth annual Celebration of Service. The event celebrates and recognizes the excellence and achievements of the School of Public Policy and our people who have gone above and beyond in the spirit of service.
School of Public Policy Dean Robert C. Orr welcomed attendees, followed by opening remarks from Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice.
“Our people in the School of Public Policy and beyond demonstrate every single day that our contributions matter, and that they’re really making a meaningful difference,” said Rice. “You’re working on grand challenges in ways that will define our collective well-being for generations to come, from climate change to global governance to ensuring a strong and stable working democracy, the work that you all do in and outside of the classrooms is significant and important.”
During the awards ceremony, a total of twelve awards were given out.
The Excellence in Teaching award recognizes a teaching assistant who has provided an exceptional instructional experience for master’s or undergraduate students, and outstanding support to the faculty instructor. The award was presented to Andrew Cullen (undergraduate student) and Nadia Hewchuck (graduate student).
The Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member who provides outstanding instruction, innovative teaching methods and course design, and conveys and instills a passion for lifelong learning. The award was presented to Associate Professor Claire Dunning.
The Beyond the Classroom award recognizes a student whose public-mindedness reflects the values of the School and has carried their learning in the classroom out into the community, making change at the local, national or global level. The award was given to Caroline Thorne.
The Research Excellence award recognizes a faculty member whose work explores new and innovative fields of inquiry, and contributes to a robust and active research agenda at the School. Assistant Professor Alec Worsnop was the recipient of the 2025 Research Excellence Award.
The Public Impact award recognizes an individual who has used their academic research and expertise in tangible service of a significant policy challenge at the local, national or international level. This year’s award was presented to Clinical Professor and Chief Access and Success Officer Alana Hackshaw.
The Outstanding Service award recognizes a staff member who has gone ‘above and beyond’ in serving the School, improving the lives and work of faculty, staff and students. The Outstanding Service Award was presented to Finance Coordinator Ed Donis.
The Community Builder Award honors an individual who has helped the School advance its commitment to valuing, celebrating and respecting the experiences, perspectives and contributions of all. This year, DGI Program Coordinator for Learning and Development Tyrese Fenty was honored with the award.
The Champion of Student Success award recognizes a staff member whose dedication has had a meaningful and lasting impact on students, making a real difference in students’ personal and professional lives. The award was presented to Patrick Trujillo, academic advisor, undergraduate studies.
The Dean’s Award recognizes a standout member of the community who, through their efforts and support, has allowed the School to achieve excellence in one or more areas, and has furthered the School’s mission to educate, discover and make an impact. Associate Professor Josh Shifrinson was honored with this year’s Dean’s Award.
This year, the School broke with tradition and awarded two Lifetime Service Awards. This award was designed to recognize contributions of an individual over a sustained period of time in service of the School, whose reputation of excellence and track-record of success have benefitted the School.
The first of this year’s Lifetime Achievement awards was given to Ambassador Susan Schwab, professor emerita and former dean of the School of Public Policy from 1995 to 2003. “Regardless of how you know Susan, you know that she is someone who has committed her life to supporting the people and institutions around her to achieve great things,” said Orr. “She is the consummate scholar-practitioner, a leader par excellence and an exemplar of serving the good from whatever position you find yourself in -- whether in the public, the private or the nonprofit sector.”
The second Lifetime Achievement award was presented posthumously to Barbara Cronin, assistant to the director of GoTech, whose nearly fifty-year career at UMD left a lasting legacy. Cronin was one of the first women accepted into the Business School. She began in engineering and central administration before joining the newly founded School of Public Affairs, now the School of Public Policy, where she dedicated decades to advancing public service research and education. “Barbara was a force of nature, with a rare combination of fierce determination and incredible warmth that made her a best friend, colleague, and mentor to all those around her,” said Orr. “She put her intellect, energy, and loyalty to work every day in service of others and achieved great things with quiet humility.”
Congratulations to our award winners.