Towson University: 3 TU Faculty Recognized With USM's Highest Honor, Most Of Any Member Institution

Press release from Towson University:

Rebecca Kirkman

March 8, 2022

Board of Regents awards recognize TU faculty in teaching, mentoring, research

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents announced its 2022 Regents’ Faculty Awards on Tuesday, and Towson University leads the system with three of the 17 recipients
of the USM’s highest faculty honor. 

TU’s honorees—Emily Bailey, associate professor of philosophy & religious studies;
Brian Fath, professor of biological sciences; and Petra Tsuji, associate professor
of biological sciences—were honored in three of the five categories and represent
the Fisher College of Science & Mathematics and the College of Liberal Arts.

"Towson University is deeply committed to academic excellence, and our outstanding
faculty are at the center of that commitment,” says President Kim Schatzel. "I congratulate
these most distinguished faculty, who represent the excellence of their colleagues,
as recipients of the University System of Maryland’s most prestigious faculty recognition.”

TU was one of just two system institutions with three honorees, joined by the University
of Maryland, Baltimore. 

“I’m very grateful for the effort and excellence of our faculty throughout the past
year,” says Melanie Perreault, provost and executive vice president of academic and
student affairs. “I’m proud that these faculty colleagues have been recognized for
how they and their peers have prioritized exceptional teaching, research, service
and innovation at TU.”

This system-wide recognition follows a campus-wide nomination process. USM staff awards
will be announced in the summer.

Institutional faculty nominating committees make recommendations to the institutional
presidents, who review nominations and supporting material and forward recommendations
to USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. The Regents Faculty Review Committee makes the final
recommendations.

“The bedrock of the university system’s quality, its prominence, its power to transform
lives and change the world is, quite simply, our faculty,” says Perman. “It’s a privilege
to honor them and celebrate what they make possible every day—possible for each student
and for the body of scholarship that advances our progress and deepens our humanity.”

Perman and Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden will recognize the winners as part
of the scheduled meeting of the full board on April 29 at Towson University.

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the USM Foundation. 

Learn more about this year's recipients from TU below.

One of TU’s first faculty members to be fully certified in online instruction–well
before the COVID-19 pandemic–Emily Bailey engages students creatively, often using
digital technology that is second nature to them while also taking her students beyond
their comfort zones. She is committed to continuously improving her teaching, recently
matriculating in a Doctor of Education program in instructional technology. Faculty
peers and students praise Bailey for her inclusion of a variety of teaching and learning
models, organization of material, presentation of multiple perspectives and ability
to nurture great discussions. She puts learning first, so her students can be better
informed, more empathetic members of society.

Fath is globally recognized in the fields of network analysis, ecosystem modelling
and sustainability. Over the past three years, he published extensively, including
two books and 29 peer-reviewed articles. His research papers were cited approximately
4,000 times, making him one of the most-cited faculty members at TU. He also gave
46 research presentations in 16 countries. In fall 2019, he held a prestigious Fulbright
Distinguished Chair position in sustainability in the Czech Republic. As a principal
investigator (PI), or co-PI, he has secured more than $1.5 million in funding from
the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and other agencies. Fath recently founded a new journal, “Current Research
in Environmental Sustainability” while maintaining significant public service and
teaching commitments.

Tsuji’s mentoring philosophy is marked by an inclusive and intentional approach, constructive
feedback and holding students accountable. With a focus on women in STEM, she is the
faculty adviser to the Women in Science Club and co-director of the annual Women in
Science Forum. She is also co-creator and leader of the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program,
a three-year mentoring program for 30 undergraduates designed to support and promote
the next generation of STEM leaders. As a mentor to all the department’s graduate
students, Tsuji provides opportunities for students to develop research proposals,
contemplate career trajectories and engage in discussions. Her accomplishments were
acknowledged with the Fisher College of Science & Math Mentoring Award in 2020.

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