At the Alfred University Board of Trustees dinner Friday evening, May 16, the university honored several faculty members for awards they received for the 2024-25 academic year. A pair of outstanding students and two honorary degree recipients were also recognized.
At the Alfred University Board of Trustees dinner Friday evening, May 16, the university honored several faculty members for awards they received for the 2024-25 academic year. A pair of outstanding students and two honorary degree recipients were also recognized.
Marcella Peccorini, a biomaterials engineering major (chemistry minor) from San Salvador, El Salvador, and Elijah Hammarlund, a biomaterials engineering and chemistry major from Florence, MA, were recognized as recipients of the 2025 Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Awards. Peccorini and Hammarlund were awarded their bachelor’s degrees at Commencement on Saturday.
Other finalists for the awards were recognized at the dinner. They include Raina Brown, Benjamin Buess, Alyssa DiMillo, Yuliia Koreiba, and Emily Woo.
Winners of the Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award are chosen based on scholarship, extracurricular achievement, personal character and conduct, and nominations by faculty, students, staff, or alumni. The award was established to honor Alfred University alumnus Marlin Miller ’54, H ’89, H ’19 one of Alfred University’s most generous supporters. Miller has been a member of Alfred University’s Board of Trustees since 1972.
Leo Lambert, president emeritus of Elon University, and Alfred University alumnus Nick Ferreri ’64, were recognized as recipients of honorary degrees from the university. Lambert, who led Elon to national prominence during his 18-year tenure as president from 1999-2018, was awarded the degree Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, at Saturday’s Commencement, for which he was keynote speaker. Ferreri, a successful serial entrepreneur, was awarded the degree Doctor of Commercial Science degree, honoris causa. He is past president and CEO of Tanglewood Group, which comprises five senior living communities in western New York. He currently owns Field of Dreams, an innovative assisted living and memory care facility in Allegany, NY.
Honorary degree recipients Leo Lambert (left) and Nick Ferreri ’64 (center) are pictured above with Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, at the Friday, May 16 Board of Trustees dinner. Alfred University conferred the honorary degrees during Commencement on Saturday.
The following faculty were recognized Friday:
Joseph Kruson Awards for Excellence in Teaching: Frederic Beaudry, professor of environmental studies; Paul Briggs, assistant professor of ceramics; Cat Clarke, assistant professor of genetics, plant biology, and biostatistics; Andrew Eklund, professor of chemistry; Danielle Gagne, professor of psychology; Julianna Gray, professor of English; Theresa Gunn, associate professor of accountancy; Zachary Hamm, clinical associate professor of theatre design and technical director; Roger Loucks, professor of physics; Doris Möncke, associate professor of glass science and engineering; Anthony Nguyen, assistant professor of design; and Lynn O’Connell, professor of school psychology. Winners of the Joseph Kruson Trust Fund Awards for Excellence in Teaching are chosen based on a vote among students.
John F. McMahon Excellence in Ceramic Teaching Award: Darren Stohr, scanning electron microscopist in the Inamori School of Engineering. The award is presented annually in honor of John F. McMahon for his many years of dedicated service to the university as both a professor and dean.
Faculty Scholar Awards (one recipient each from the university’s academic units): Jonathan Ziese, assistant professor or theatre, Performing Arts Division; John Hosford, art librarian, Scholes Library, University Libraries; Geremy Grant, assistant professor of school psychology, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies; Joseph Petrillo, professor of mathematics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Collin Wilkinson, assistant professor of glass science and engineering, Inamori School of Engineering; Meg Bernstein, assistant professor of art history, School of Art and Design; and Ali Coskun, associate professor of accounting, College of Business.
The following were recognized for being named emeriti faculty: Alix Clare, professor of glass science; Kevin Curtin, professor of counseling; Theresa Gunn, associate professor of accountancy, associate dean of the College of Business; Wayne Higby, professor of ceramic art and director of the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum; Tim Nichols, associate professor of education and chair of the Division of Education; and Emrys Westacott, professor of philosophy.