faculty staff award recipients

iSchool Outstanding Professor

Recipient 2023: Dr. Kristen Rebmann, Professor
Recipient 2021: Dr. Pat Franks, Professor
Recipient 2020: Dr. Pat Franks, Professor
Recipient 2019: Dr. Michelle Chen, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2018: Dr. Virginia Tucker, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2017: Dr. Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2016: Dr. Lili Luo, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2014: Dr. Debbie Hansen, Professor
Recipient 2013: Dr. Kristen Rebmann, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2012: Dr. Pat Franks, Associate Professor
Recipient 2011: Dr. Anthony Bernier, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2010: Dr. Ken Haycock, Professor
Recipient 2009: Dr. James Schmidt, Professor
Recipient 2008: Dr. Debbie Hansen, Professor
Recipient 2007: Dr. Judy Weedman, Professor
Recipient 2006: Dr. Linda Main, Professor
The purpose of this award is to recognize a faculty member for overall excellence in her or his academic assignment. Consideration is given to teaching excellence as demonstrated through SOTE scores, other student evaluations, peer evaluations, teaching a variety of courses, participating in professional and scholarly activities and currency in the discipline and serving as a mentor to colleagues, and commitment to students as demonstrated by advising students through student organizations, theses and other projects, participating in student orientation and advisement activities, mentoring students and engaging in service to the campus and profession.

iSchool Distinguished Scholar

Recipient 2025: Souvick Ghosh
Recipient 2023: Dr. Darra Hofman, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2021: Dr. Virginia Tucker, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2020: Dr. Michael Stephens, Associate Professor
Recipient 2019: Dr. Sue Alman, Lecturer
Recipient 2018: Dr. Kristen Rebmann, Associate Professor
Recipient 2017: Dr. Michelle Chen, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2016: Dr. Chris Hagar, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2014: (2 awards) Dr Anthony Bernier, Associate Professor; and Dr. Susan Maret, Lecturer
Recipient 2013: Dr. Pat Franks, Associate Professor
Recipient 2012: Dr. Lili Luo, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2010: Dr. Mary Somerville, Lecturer
Recipient 2008: Joe Matthews
Recipient 2006: Dr. Ziming Liu, Associate Professor
The purpose of the iSchool Distinguished Scholar Award is to recognize a faculty member who has achieved widespread recognition based on the quality of scholarship or creative activities. Consideration is given to the nominee’s history of scholarship and creative activities, recognition of outstanding achievements by peers, and importance of the work to the discipline and beyond.

iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Faculty)

Recipient 2025: Beth Wrenn-Estes
Recipient 2023: Dr. Sue Alman, Lecturer
Recipient 2021: Debbie Faires, Lecturer
Recipient 2020: Dr. Michele Villagran, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2019: (2 awards) Dr. Tonia San Nicolas-Rocca, Assistant Professor; and Dr. Lisa Daulby, Lecturer
Recipient 2018: Dr. Cheryl Dee, Lecturer
Recipient 2017: Dr. Mary Ann Harlan, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2016: Dr. Cheryl Stenstrom, Lecturer
Recipient 2014: Beth Wrenn-Estes, Lecturer
Recipient 2013: Dr. Debra Hansen, Professor
Recipient 2012: Dr. Kristen Rebmann, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2011: Dr. Judy Weedman, Professor
Recipient 2010: Debbie Faires, Lecturer
Recipient 2009: Jane Fisher, Lecturer
Recipient 2008: Dr. Anthony Bernier, Professor
Recipient 2007: Dr. Linda Main, Professor
Recipient 2006: Dr. Jim Schmidt, Professor
The purpose of the iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Faculty) is to recognize a faculty member for exemplary service in a leadership capacity to the University or the community or profession, that brings credit to the School and San José State University or to recognize a faculty member for extraordinary dedication to achieving the aims of the School and to enriching the lives of those associated with the School. The faculty member must have a consistent record of service and have had a significant effect on the campus, professional or broader communities. The faculty member’s service demonstrates leadership and initiative.

iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Staff)

Recipients 2025: Abigail Laufer and Roffna Principe
Recipient 2023: Kristina Luna, Administrative Services Manager
Recipient 2021: (2 awards) Kristina Luna, Administrative Services Manager; and Gina Lee, Student Services Coordinator
Recipient 2020: (2 awards) Rhonda Dahlgren, Events Associate; and the Technology Team
Recipient 2019: (2 awards) Nicole Purviance, Director of Marketing and Communications; and Derek Christiansen, Web Technologist
Recipient 2018: (2 awards) Sheila Gurtu, Student Outreach Specialist; and Alfredo Alcantar, LMS Services Coordinator
Recipient 2017: (2 awards) Nicole Purviance, Director of Marketing and Communications; and Sheila Gurtu, Student Outreach Specialist
Recipient 2016: (3 awards) Alfredo Alcantar, LMS Services Coordinator; Sheila Gurtu, Student Outreach Specialist; and Roffna Principe, Administrative Support Coordinator
Recipient 2014: (2 awards) Kristina Luna, Administrative Services Manager; and Vicki Robison, Student Services Coordinator
Recipient 2013: (2 awards) Derek Christiansen, Web Technologist; and Nicole Purviance, Marketing and Outreach Specialist
Recipient 2012: (2 awards) Vicki Robison, Student Services Team; and Kristina Luna, Administrative Services Manager
Recipient 2011: (2 awards) Lisa Valdez, Communication and Grant Development Coordinator; and Dale David, Instructional Media Developer
Recipient 2010: Rhonda Dahlgren, Recruitment and Events Coordinator
Recipient 2009: Gina Lee, Lecturer, Programmer/Analyst
Recipient 2008: Dale David, Instructional/Multimedia Developer
Recipient 2008: Suzanne Harris, Administrative Coordinator
Recipient 2007: Scharlee Phillips, Coordinator of Student Services
Recipient 2006: Stan Laufer, Network Administrator
The purpose of the iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Staff) is to recognize a staff member for exemplary service in a leadership capacity that brings credit to the School and San José State University or to recognize a staff member for extraordinary dedication to achieving the aims of the School and to enriching the lives of those associated with the School. The staff member must have a consistent record of service and have had a significant effect on the School or broader communities. The staff member’s service demonstrates leadership and initiative.

iSchool Outstanding Lecturer Award

Recipient 2025: Alyce Scott
Recipient 2023: Alison Johnson, Lecturer
Recipient 2021: Jason Kaltenbacher, Lecturer
​Recipient 2020: Jason Kaltenbacher, Lecturer
Recipient 2019: Dr. Mary Bolin, Lecturer
Recipient 2018: Beth Wrenn-Estes, Lecturer
Recipient 2017: Dr. Sue Alman, Lecturer
Recipient 2016: Dr. Lisa Daulby, Lecturer
Recipient 2014: Dr. Mary Ann Harlan, Lecturer
Recipient 2013: Cheryl Stenstrom, Lecturer
Recipient 2012: Patty Wong, Lecturer
Recipient 2011: Virginia Tucker, Lecturer
Recipient 2010: Dr. Ann Riedling, Lecturer
Recipient 2009: Robert Boyd, Lecturer
Recipient 2008: Brooke Sheldon, Lecturer
Recipient 2007: Debbie Faires, Lecturer
Recipient 2006: Lori Lindberg, Lecturer
The purpose of the iSchool Outstanding Lecturer Award is to recognize a lecturer a (part-time or full-time) faculty member who has achieved widespread recognition based on the quality of excellence in teaching, scholarship or creative activities and/or service to the School. The recipient will have accomplishments in more than one of these four categories Teaching Excellence, Commitment to Students, Scholarship, Contribution to the iSchool Mission.

iSchool Outstanding Teacher Award

Recipient 2023: Dr. Norm Mooradian, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2021: Wayne T. Disher, Lecturer
Recipient 2020: Vicki Steiner, Lecturer
Recipient 2019: Debbie Faires, Director of Online Learning
Recipient 2018: Raymond Dean, Lecturer
Recipient 2017: Alyce Scott, Lecturer
Recipient 2016: Dr. Michelle Chen, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2014: Melba Tomeo, Lecturer
Recipient 2013: Dr. Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2012: Beth Wrenn Estes, Lecturer
Recipient 2011: Dr. Michelle Holschuh Simmons, Lecturer
Recipient 2010: Dr. Lili Luo, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2009: Dr. Arglenda Friday, Lecturer
Recipient 2008: Wayne Disher, Lecturer
Recipient 2007: Dr. Charlotte Ford, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2006: Robin Dale, Lecturer
The purpose of the iSchool Outstanding Teacher Award is to recognize a full-time or part-time faculty member who consistently receives high recognition from students based on the quality of excellence in teaching. Consideration is given to excellent teaching as demonstrated through Student Opinion of Teaching Effectiveness (SOTE) scores, other student evaluations, peer evaluations and external reviews over time, and mentoring students regarding career and academic pursuits.

iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Other/Special)

​Recipient 2019: Dr. Debra Hansen, Professor
Recipient 2017: (2 awards) Rob Boyd and Vicki Robison
Recipient 2014: Suzanne Harris, Administrative Coordinator
Recipient 2013: Marcia Laughrey, Receptionist
Recipient 2011: Heather Ebey, Lecturer and Web Technologist
Recipient 2007: Jane Fisher, Lecturer, iSchool Coordinator of Accreditation Reports
Recipient 2006: Lorene Sisson, University Library iSchool Liaison
The purpose of the iSchool Distinguished Service Award (Other) is to recognize individuals for exemplary service to the School or to recognize an individual for extraordinary dedication to achieving the aims of the School and to enriching the lives of those associated with the School. The individual must have a consistent record of service and have had a significant effect beyond his or her normal responsibilities.

iSchool Special Recognition Award

​Recipient 2021: Jeff Frank (Senior Customer Service Coordinator for Access at King Library)
Recipient 2019: Cynthia Nanquil (Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations)
Recipient 2017: Ann Agee (Library Liaison)
Recipient 2016: Jennifer Redd (Director of eCampus)
Recipient 2014: (2 awards) Marci Hunsaker (Library) and Dora Ozawa (Registrar’s Office)
Recipient 2013: Christie Wright (GAPE)
Recipient 2012: Ramon Perez (CASA)
Recipient 2011: (2 awards) Brenda Lamb (posthumously) and Dr. Ruth Huard & James Anderson (D2L eCampus team)
Recipient 2009: Randy Anderson, SJSU Martin Luther King Jr. Library
Recipient 2008: Laurie Morgan, SJSU Career Center

iSchool Outreach and Collaboration

Recipient 2025: Darra Hofman
Recipient 2023: Dr. Ulia Gosart, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2020: Dr. Virginia Tucker, Assistant Professor
​Recipient 2019: Dr. Mary Ann Harlan, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2018: Dr. Chris Hagar, Associate Professor
Recipient 2017: Dr. Pat Franks, Professor
Recipient 2016: Dr. Sue Alman, Lecturer
Recipient 2014: Dr. Lili Luo, Associate Professor
Recipient 2013: Dr. Christine Hagar, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2012: Dr. Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor
Recipient 2011: Debbie Faires, Lecturer
The purpose of the iSchool Outreach and Collaboration award is to recognize a faculty member for outstanding contributions to developing external relationships that benefit the School’s teaching, learning, and research community.

iSchool Research Excellence Award

Recipient 2025: James Hodges
Recipient 2023: Dr. Souvick Ghosh, Assistant Professor

iSchool Teaching Excellence Award – voted on by students

Recipient 2025: Lisa Houde
Recipient 2023: Dr. Michael Stephens, Professor

iSchool Staff Excellence Award – voted on by students

Recipients 2025: Alfredo Alcantar, Sheila Gurtu, Gina Lee, Taryn Reiner, Bethany Winslow, Vivian Zuo
Recipient 2023: Taryn Reiner, Student Support Specialist

College of Applied Sciences & Arts (CASA) Outstanding Faculty

Recipient 2010: Dr. Ken Haycock, Professor
Recipient 2009: Dr. Debra Hansen, Professor
Recipient 2008: Debbie Faires, Lecturer

College of Applied Sciences & Arts (CASA) Distinguished Alumni

Recipient 2012: Elizabeth Housewright
Recipient 2011: Jean Deken
Recipient 2010: Liano Juliano
Recipient 2009: Lisa Rosenblum