Award-Winning Faculty, Students and Staff

The National Average is 52.93, whereas Army ROTC students at the U score on average 56.59 which is a 1.5 point increase from last year and is the 3rd highest.

Ally Marringa was selected as a recipient of a 2020 Academics and Student Affairs District Staff Excellence Award!

Parisa was recently awarded an NIH NRSA for her project titled "Daily dynamics of suicide risk, dysregulation, and sleep disruption across the transition to parenthood.”

Frank Drews(psychology) was awarded the 2020 Franklin V. Taylor Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Applied Experimental/Engineering Psychology.

Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, two outstanding CSBS undergraduate students, Caitlin Silianoff and Rogelio Brambila, have succeeded in qualifying as recipients for the Fulbright Grant!

Trafton Drew has been selected as the recipient of this year's Altman award. His research record in terms of publications and grant support is very impressive and he has excelled as instructor, mentor, and honors advisor.

Sydney Boogard (ENVST) has won the Campus as a Living Lab Sustainability Leadership Award for her work making vog masks affordable and available and her work initiating the campus sustainability pledge program for graduation.

Shane Macfarlan (anthropology) has won the University’s Sustainability Integration Leadership Award that recognizes an instructor who successfully integrates sustainability education into their course(s).

Congratulations to Dr. Justin Baker(psychology), whose 1U4U grant project titled “A psychophysiological approach to the refinement of suicide risk management intervention” was selected for funding

Congratulations to Monisha Pasupathi(psychology) who was awarded a VPR seed grant. This grant is aimed at examining the efficacy of different modes of integrative general education programs.

The Office of Academic Affairs challenged the campus community members to come up with innovative ideas to push the degree completion rate higher. The CSBS ASCENT program is one of the challenge winners!

Congrats to Erica Medina, Cindy Diaz Rey, and Nidia Zavala Gonzalez! These students have demonstrated high academic performance, involvement, and we expect them to be leaders on campus.

Trafton Drew was awarded the prestigious Bergmann Memorial Research Award from the Binational Science Foundation.

Congratulations to Dr. Lina Svedin and Dr. Jesus Valero (political science) who received a grant from the Department of Workforce Services!

Congratulations to Katherine Baucom (psychology) and Akiko Kamimura (sociology), who both received a faculty recognition awards from the Career & Professional Development Center!

Congratulations to Lesley Garaycochea (Human Development and Social Policy) was one of five students in the country to be awarded the Diahann W. Lassus Scholarship from NAPFA.

Congratulations to Valerie D’Astous (family & consumer studies) was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Center for Person with Disabilities at Utah State University.

Congratulations to Jeanine Stefanucci (psychology) and John Faith (anthropology) for being named Celebrate U Research Honorees.

Congratulations to Tracey Farnsworth (advising) for winning a national award for her outstanding work as our Academic Advising Coordinator by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising

Six University of Utah students have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. Four of them were in the College of Social and Behavioral Science, and an additional student as an Alternate!

Congratulations to Professors Cecilia Wainryb (psychology) and Armando Solorzano (family & consumer studies) who have been honored with the 2019 University of Utah Distinguished Teaching Award.

Congratulations to Samantha Thorne (economics), who is double-majoring in Economics and International Relations. She is the recipient of a 2019 Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

Congratulations to Ally Marringa (advising) who has been selected as one of six 2019 University of Utah “Beacons Of Excellence” Award winners.

Congratulations to Andrew Linke (geography), winner of the Stanley D. Brunn Junior Scholar Award!

Congratulations to March’s Advisor of the Month Amy Kimball, academic advisor in the College of Social & Behavioral Science, and is the lead advisor for Health, Society & Policy Program.

Congratulations to Lisa Diamond (Psychology) for her receipt of the University of Utah’s Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award.

Aleta Tew has been selected as a recipient for the 2018-19 Excellence in Global Engagement Award!

Congratulations to Professor Peri Schwartz-Shea (political science) who has been selected to receive the CSBS Excellence in Mentoring Award.

Congratulations to Sandy Hiskey (advising) for receiving of this year’s CSBS Staff Excellence Award. Sandy’s passion and commitment to the students she serves has been outstanding over many years.

The 2019 CSBS superior teaching award winners and finalists have been announced.

Steven Ott (International Affairs and Global Enterprise) has been awarded the 2019 Bennion Center Distinguished Faculty Service Award.

The CSBS Student Success Center is officially green office certified! Earlier this month the Sustainability Office awarded our advisors silver level certification for adopting sustainable choices in the workplace.

Lee Raby (psychology) has been named Association for Psychological Science Rising Stars for 2018. The Rising Star designation recognizes outstanding psychological scientists in the earliest stages of their research career post-PhD.

Congratulations to the 2018 Global Learning Across the Disciplines (GLAD) grant recipient - Claudia Geist (sociology)!

Mark Glick (Economics) was recently awarded a grant from the Institute for New Economic Thinking to write a paper “The Antitrust Case Against Facebook”. Congratulations Mark!

Congrats to Ivan Mendieta-Muñoz, Codrina Rada and Rudi von Arnim (Economics) were recently awarded a grant from the Institute for New Economic Thinking, or INET for their research “The decline of the US labor share across sectors and states: 1948-2017”.

Congratulations to Ally Marringa, academic advising coordinator, who won the Certificate of Merit of Region 10 Excellence in Advising Award from NACADA!

Congratulations to Günseli Berik (economics) who was awarded this year's Jean Shakelford Prize, which celebrates an individual whose initiative, imagination, and dedication advance the goals of the IAFFE!

Dennis Wei, professor of geography, was recently awarded a grant from the Ford Foundation on "Urban Housing and Land and Their Implications for Inequality under the Process of Urbanization in China".

Craig Bryan, associate professor of psychology, and Jonathan Butner, professor of psychology, were recently awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health!

Congratulations to Dennis Wei, professor of geography, for his receipt of a grant from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC)!

Congratulations to AnnaBelle Bryan, director of operations for the National Center for Veteran Studies! This prestigious award program recognizes superior service and ongoing contributions by full-time staff employees.

Congratulations to Tyler Faith of anthropology and Mitchell Power of geography! They and their team have been awarded one of the highly competitive NSF Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) grants.

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has named Sonia Salari, associate professor of family and consumer studies, as one of its 2018 fellows. Congratulations, Sonia!

Congratulations to Jennifer Yim, political science alumna, who received the American Political Science Association's 2018 Leonard D. White Award!

Congratulations to Lauren Williams, psychology graduate student, on her receipt of an NSF GROW (Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide) Fellowship!

Congratulations to Ansuk Jeong, assistant professor (lecturer) of psychology, who has been named Faculty Mentor of the Year at the University Asia Campus!

Congratulations to Robin Jenson, economics major, who has been named a Champion of Women by the Women's Enrollment Initiative!

Congratulations to Liz Conradt, assistant professor of psychology, for this recognition!

Congratulations to Dr. Chris Fagundes, psychology alumnus, for winning the 2018 Neil Miller New Investigator Award from the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research!

Congratulations to Su Myat Sin, Lilly Kanishka, Ghada Shehab and Sinndy Rios who were awarded scholarships at the 8th annual A. Ray Olpin Union Scholarship Celebration!

Congratulations to Emily Post, Angelina De Marco, Kurt Wilson, all anthropology majors, and Christopher Jensen, political science major, who will use the awards to further their research!

Each year, the University of Utah recognizes the achievements of members of its faculty. This year five CSBS faculty were honored!

Congratulations to Erin Feeley, human development and family studies major, who won the Ivory Prize for Undergraduate Studies Engagement for her work with the University of Utah Prison Education Project!

Congratulations to Lace Padilla, psychology graduate student, who was awarded the fellowship from the Perception, Action & Cognition (PAC) program and the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship’s Broadening Participation initiative!

Congratulations to Kent Hinkson, graduate student of clinical psychology, who received the award from the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association!

Congratulations to the Department of Sociology! College Factual ranked their undergraduate degree 45 out of 524 programs nationwide and number 1 in Utah.

Congratulations to Jennifer Watt, associate director and assistant professor lecturer of environmental and sustainability studies, who received this award from Student Leadership & Involvement!

Congratulations to Sarah Creem-Regehr and Elizabeth Conradt for their receipt of the Superior Research Awards in CSBS!

Congratulations to Craig Bryan and his team at the National Center for Veterans Studies on a major new grant from the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

Congratulations to psychology graduate students Parisa Kaliush and Robby Vlisides-Henry, who are both winners of APS Student Grants from the Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus!

Congratulations to Andrew Linke, assistant professor of geography! He was recently awarded a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK.

Congratulations to Angie Midgley, Administrative Officer in the Department of Sociology! This award recognizes Angie’s exceptional contributions in efficiency, wide ranging departmental support, and problem solving all with grace and professionalism.

Congratulations to Tracey Farnsworth who received the 2018 UAAC Outstanding Academic Advisor Award!

Congratulations to Marissa Diener, associate professor of family and consumer studies!

Congratulations to Bert Uchino, professor of psychology!

Congratulations to Tracey Farnsworth who has been named a Champion of Women by the Women's Enrollment Initiative!

Congratulations to Dr. Armando Solorzano of family and consumer studies, Dr. Claudia Geist of sociology and Dr. Jennifer Watt of environmental and sustainability studies!

Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Kerig, recipient of the University of Utah’s Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award for 2018!

Congratulations to Hannah Samowitz, psychology major, and Valeria Jimenez, political science major, who were awarded Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Awards.

Congrats to Brent Steele, Sharon Mastracci and James Curry, all from political science, who won Faculty Recognition Awards from the Career & Professional Development Center!

Congratulations to Analeigh Marie Sanderson who has been selected as a semi-finalist for a 2018-2019 Fulbright award.

Psychology Ph.D. students Kelsi Rugo and Julia Harris have both been selected by the Military Suicide Research Consortium for travel awards to attend their research training day at the American Association of Suicidology conference.

Congratulations to Jennifer Watt, Rick Forster and Emily Nicolosi who each received a 2018 Alta Sustainability Leadership Research Award!

Congratulations to Chimedlkham Zorigtbaatar, economics PhD student, who has been awarded the William R. Waters research grant from the Association for Social Economics!

Congratulations to Samantha Joel and Brennan Payne, both assistant professors of psychology, who were named 2017 Rising Stars by the Association for Psychological Science!

In partnership with Sun Kyun Kwan University, they will conduct training and implement research on key immigration policy themes.

Congratulations to Ian Adams, political science PhD student, for being named a 2017 American Society for Public Administration Founders Fellow!

Congratulations to Lori Kowaleski-Jones and Adrienne Cachelin for winning the U’s Distinguished Teaching Award!

Alexis May (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Center for Veterans Studies) was recently awarded a grant to conduct a randomized clinical trial testing a couples adaptation of the crisis response plan to prevent suicidal behaviors among military personnel and veterans.

Dr. Sjöberg, assistant professor of economics and a team of interdisciplinary researchers have been awarded a grant by the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development.

Congratulations to Taryn Horner, academic advising coordinator, who won the Region 10 Excellence in Advising Award from NACADA!

Steven E. Lobell, political science professor received a $1,179,073 Minerva Research Initiative grant to study near-crises.

Congratulations to psychology professor Ansuk Jeong from the University Asia Campus for her receipt of a research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea for her project entitled, "A psycho-oncological study to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and their family caregivers."

Congratulations to psychology professor Don Strassberg whose article, "Sexting by High School Students: An Exploratory and Descriptive Study," was ranked 242 out of 31743 articles published between 2010 to 2014 on the Web of Science.

Congratulations to psychology graduate student Madison Niermeyer on her receipt of the Edith Kaplan Scholarship from the Women in Leadership committee of the National Academy of Neuropsychology!

Congratulations to psychology graduate student Lace Padilla on her receipt of a Visionary Grand Award for her proposal submitted to the 2017 Gordon Research Conference on Visualization in Science and Education.

Congratulations to Valeria Jimenez, Political Science HBS, who received the Undergraduate Diversity Scholars Award from the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA).

Congratulations to psychology associate professor Mike Himle on his receipt of an award from NIH's Small Business Innovation Research Program for his project.

Congratulations to Tabitha Benney, assistant professor of political science, for her reciept of an International Studies Association Catalytic Research Workshop Grant!

Congratulations to political science assistant professor Jesus Valero and team who were awarded a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Congratulations to Brian Codding, associate professor of anthropology; Philip Dennison, professor of geography, and their team, who received one of nine 2017 NSF CNH Awards.

Congratulations to psychology assistant professor Liz Conradt, who has just received the Kucharski Young Investigator Award from the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Congratulations to psychology assistant professor lecturer Kristina Rand and psychology assistant professor Brennan Payne, each of whom won Early Career Awards from APA Division 3.

Congratulations to Jennifer Robinson, political science alum and Associate Director at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, who was selected as one of Utah's 30 Women to Watch in 2017.

Congratulations to political science professor James Curry, who received a grant from the Hewlett Foundation's Madison Initiative for his current research project.

Congratulations to political science assistant professor Jesus Valero for being awarded the UNP Community Scholar in Residence Award!

Congratulations to psychology professor emeritus Irwin Altman, who was recently honored at the Ninth Annual Tribute Dinner of the Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations to U of U Economics PhD (and Dickinson College Associate Professor) Ebru Kongar, recipient of the Jean Shackelford Award for Outstanding Service to the International Association for Feminist Economics.

Congratulations to Emily Bennett for her receipt of the University of Utah’s Staff Excellence Award for our district.

Congratulations to Brian Codding, who has just received a 2017 Presidential Scholar Award at the University of Utah!

Jennifer Watt was awarded the John Topham and Susan Redd Butler Off-Campus Faculty Research Award, through the REDD Center, to continue her research studying mountain pine beetle outbreaks in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The Redd Center promotes the study of the Intermountain West by offering grants to faculty and students at colleges and universities across the country to assist in their research.

Kim Gabbitas, ’17 (Political Science), recently presented research on ‘Trade Union Trade-Offs: Unions, Voters, and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism’ at the 15th Claremont-University of California Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union, April 6-7, 2017.

Congratulations to the 2017 CLAS Research Travel Award recepients, Cecilia Wainryb, Leslie Kanpp, Douglas Jones, and Shane Macfarlan!

Congratulations to Barbara Brown, Professor of FCS for her receipt of the University of Utah’s Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award for 2017!

Congratulations to Armando Solórzano for being selected as the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Faculty Service Award!

Six Utah veterans will have the opportunity to participate in the R&R Program offered by the U’s National Center for Veterans Studies thanks to a grassroots charitable organization, Women Who Care.

Congratulations to Becky Utz, Associate Professor in Sociology, for her receipt of the University of Utah's Distinguished Teaching Award!

Congratulations to Bobbi Davis for winning the NACADA Region 10's Excellence in Advising for Advising Administrator!

Congratulations to Liz Conradt, winner of the 2017 Society for Researching Child Development Early Career Research Contributions Award!

Congratulations to assistant professor David Carter, who just received the American Society for Public Administrations Founders' Fellowship for 2017.

Erin Kaufman is the winner of this year's American Psychological Foundation (APF) 2016 Lizette Peterson‐Homer Memorial Injury Research Grant. This grant focuses on psychosocial research on injuries to children and young adults through accidents, violence, abuse, or suicide.

Congratulations to psych graduate student Jeremy Grove on his receipt of a National Research Service Award!

Congratulations to psych graduate student Erika Roberge, and her advisor, Craig Bryan, for winning the university's Distinguished Master's Thesis Competition!