2025 School of Arts & Sciences Teaching Awards Announced

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Penn Arts & Sciences annually recognizes faculty, lecturers, and graduate students for their exemplary teaching. This year’s honorees include 19 people from 10 departments and two programs.

Ira H. Abrams Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching
David W. Christianson, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Brendan O’Leary, Lauder Professor of Political Science  

Dennis M. DeTurck Award for Innovation in Teaching
James F. English, John Welsh Centennial Professor of English  

Dean’s Award for Mentorship of Undergraduate Research
Arnold Mathijssen, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy  

Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by an Assistant Professor
Secil Yilmaz, Assistant Professor of History  

Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty
Alyssa Bohen, Department of Chemistry  
Melissa Jensen, Department of English  
 
Liberal & Professional Studies Award for Distinguished Teaching in Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Programs
Clayton Colmon, Director of Curriculum Design, Arts and Sciences Online Learning

Liberal & Professional Studies Award for Distinguished Teaching in Professional Graduate Programs
Nazli Bhatia, Associate Professor of Practice, Behavioral and Decision Sciences
 
Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Graduate Students
- Krishan M. Canzius, Mathematics
- Jordan Carrick, Classical Studies
- Christy Dickman, Political Science                  
- James Paul Mesiti, Spanish and Portuguese
- Jacob K. Nielsen, English
- Henry Wright Noe, Chemistry
- Tyler Colby Re, Philosophy
- Gwendalynn Carlene Roebke, Philosophy
- Julian Noah Tash, History
- Andres Villatoro, Sociology

Arts & Sciences News

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Mark Trodden named Dean of Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences

A distinguished physicist and accomplished academic leader, Trodden will assume the role on June 1.

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2025 School of Arts & Sciences Teaching Awards Announced

Penn Arts & Sciences annually recognizes faculty, lecturers, and graduate students for their exemplary teaching. This year’s honorees come from 10 departments and two programs.

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2025 College of Arts & Sciences Graduation Speakers

Michael Platt, James S. Riepe University Professor, will speak at this year’s College of Arts & Sciences graduation ceremony, along with student speaker Anthony Wong, C’25, Sunday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. on Franklin Field.

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Three from Penn Arts & Sciences Elected 2024 AAAS Fellows

They include Marlyse Baptista, President’s Distinguished Professor of Linguistics; M. Susan Lindee is the Janice and Julian Bers Professor of History and Sociology of Science; and Christopher Murray, Richard Perry University Professor.

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Penn Arts & Sciences Receives $8 Million Commitment from The Robert K. Johnson Foundation

The gift will name and endow the Integrated Studies Program, which offers an immersive, interdisciplinary learning experience for Benjamin Franklin Scholars students pursuing degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Kimberly Bowes Named BFC Presidential Professor of Classical Studies

Bowes' research interests include Roman archaeology and economic history, with a particular focus on the lived experiences of the ancient poor.

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