Purdue University Northwest honored several students, faculty and staff members, nominated by their peers, for their leadership and innovation during the college’s annual Founders Day celebration.
The Founders Day event celebrates the anniversary of the university's founding and reflects on the university’s role in transformational change for Northwest Indiana.
Three PNW faculty members were honored with outstanding faculty awards in the areas of scholarship, teaching and engagement:
Outstanding faculty awards
- David Detmer, professor of philosophy — scholarship
- Gokarna Aryal, professor of statistics — teaching
- Shontrai Irving, clinical associate professor of business law — engagement
PNW staff members honored include:
Outstanding administrative leadership award
- Rachel Clapp-Smith, interim dean of the college of business
- Nicoleta Tarfulea, chair of the department of mathematics and statistics
- Michael Bourgeois, assistant vice chancellor of institutional effectiveness and data strategy
Outstanding administrative professional award
- John Bachmann, grounds and landscape manager
- Allison Vickers, honors college academic advisor
Outstanding clerical award
- Maria Fuentes, library operations specialist
- Sandra Montalvo, counseling center secretary
Outstanding service award
- Victor Santiago, PNW police sergeant
- Beth Stone, custodian
Two PNW students received awards for their service:
- Outstanding undergraduate student; Aneri Patel, fourth-year mechanical engineering major
- Outstanding graduate student; Oriana White, Masters of Business Administration candidate
PNW faculty members Deepa Majumdar, professor of philosophy, and Karen Bishop Morris, associate professor of English, were honored with plaques and medals commemorating their Purdue system-wide Dreamer awards for their organization of PNW’s Race, Racism, Anti-racism social justice speaker series. Purdue’s Dreamer award annually recognizes individuals and organizations that further Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of service and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
PNW also posthumously honored Saul Lerner, professor of history, for his 55 years of service to the university. Lerner passed away in early February at age 85.
