Outstanding faculty and staff honored as Centre celebrates close of academic year

Days after celebrating new graduates, the Centre College community gathered to pay tribute to outstanding faculty and staff with awards highlighting their ongoing commitment to the College’s mission of preparing students for lives of learning, leadership and service.

Three professors won the Kirk Award, which was established in 1996 to honor faculty whose teaching was recognized as outstanding during their annual review. The 2026 Kirk Award winners are:

Division I

Eva Cadavid, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Cadavid earned her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Rochester after completing her undergraduate studies at Florida International University. She joined Centre’s faculty in 2008 and was named a Centre Scholar in 2024 and 2019.

Cadavid specializes in ancient Greek philosophy, including the works of Aristotle and Plato. She is fluent in Spanish and English and can read fluently in French and Ancient Greek.

Division II

Sami Sweis ’10, Assistant Professor of International Studies

Sweis earned his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago after completing his undergraduate studies at Centre. He joined Centre’s faculty in 2018.

Sweis is a historian specializing in the history of Arab nationalism and the transregional politics of the Arabian Peninsula during the 19th and 20th centuries. Sweis also studies and teaches on the history of Islamic civilization, the development of the Modern Middle East, and the history of non-Muslim communities in the Islamic world.

Division III

Mark Galatowitsch, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Biology

Galatowitsch earned his doctorate from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He completed his undergraduate studies at Allegheny College. He joined Centre’s faculty in 2015 and was named a Centre Scholar in 2019 and 2022.

Galatowitsch has worked extensively in entomology, freshwater ecology, and applied environmental science topics and led CentreTerm study abroad courses in New Zealand and Belize, and directed the Centre-in-Merida, Mexico program.

Earlier this month, the inaugural Dr. C. Eric Mount Jr. Faculty Leadership Award was awarded to Frank B. and Virginia B. Hower Professor of International Studies Lori Hartmann, who was selected for the honor by a vote of her peers on the Centre faculty.

The award was endowed by a gift from alumni Robert L. and Jane H. Elliott, both members of the class of 1971, and named in honor of beloved professor and administrator C. Eric Mount, who left an enduring mark on generations of Centre students before his retirement in 2002. The annual award will recognize a Centre faculty member for exceptional involvement and leadership on campus, in the Danville community and beyond.

Hartmann joined the Centre College faculty in 1999 and was recognized with the Rookie of the Year teaching award in 2000. She has held a number of leadership positions during her time at Centre, including a three-year term as faculty president beginning in 2019.

Staff Awards

The Presidential Award for Excellence was presented to Associate Director of Digital Transformation Candace Wentz for her work helping lead Centre’s migration to Workday, bringing together key administrative functions such as finance, human resources, student information, forecasting, and data analytics. The award was created in 1999 and is given to individuals who show exceptional dedication to the College through work and service. The award is not given annually, instead reserved for individuals who display outstanding commitment to positively transform campus.

The Values in Action Award was presented to Centre Chaplin Jason Crosby ’01. The award recognizes members of the community who truly live out one or more of Centre’s core values — shared purpose, access, growth mindset, belonging and global engagement — in their work every day.

The College recognized facilities employees for outstanding achievement in the department with the Horky Service Award, created in 1990 after a bequest by Lorette and John Horky ’32.

This year’s Horky Award winners were Carpenter Brian Crawford, Custodian Whitley Curtsinger and Grounds Maintenance Mechanic Allen Johnson.

Three staff members received Recognition Awards, honoring those who go above and beyond to make outstanding contributions to the College. They were: Human Resources Generalist Stephanie Franklin, Director of the Office of Fellowships Robert Schalkoff, and Director of Procurement and Capital Projects Ann Smith ’04.

Assistant Director of the Centre Learning Commons Karen Tubb earned the Partners in Student Life Award, presented to a faculty or staff member in appreciation of exceptional service to the Student Life Office.

Tenure and Promotions

At its spring meeting, the Centre College Board of Trustees recognized faculty for outstanding service to the College.
Seven associate professors were promoted the rank of full professor, to begin September 1. They are:

• Leonard Demoranville, Professor of Chemistry
• John Harney, Professor of History
• Christopher Paskewich, Professor of Politics
• Kerry Paumi, Professor of Chemistry
• Matthew Pierce, Professor of Religion
• Brett Werner, Professor of Environmental Studies
• Karin Young, Professor of Chemistry

One assistant professor was promoted to the rank of associate professor.

• Claire O’Quin, Associate Professor of Biology

Five faculty members were also distinguished as Centre Scholars, an award that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarly work and contributions to the college community.

• Tom Allen, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Data Science
• Katrin Bahr, Assistant Professor of German
• Danielle La Londe, Associate Professor of Classics
• Claire O’Quin, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Jeff Shenton, Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Seven professors were awarded endowed professorships:

• Kristen Fulfer, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. & Adele H. Stodghill Associate Professor of Chemistry
• John Harney, Ewing T. Boles Professor of History
• Ellen Prusinski, Ewing T. Boles Associate Professor of Education
• Kelly O’Quin, Marlene & David Grissom Associate Professor of Biology
• Jamie Shenton, Marlene & David Grissom Associate Professor of Anthropology
• Christian Wood, Marlene & David Grissom Associate Professor of French
• Azita Osanloo, NEH Associate Professor of English

Two retiring faculty were granted the title of Professor Emeritus by the Centre College Board of Trustees: Ewing T. Boles Professor of History Steve Beaudion and H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Classics James Morrison.