Students and faculty were cited for their academic achievements during Alfred University’s annual Honors Convocation, held Friday afternoon, April 24, in Miller Theater. Among the honorees were Maria Planansky, collection management librarian, who received the prestigious Abigail Allen Award, and students Lily Janik and Sofia Pizarro Lobos, winners of the 2026 Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award.
Juliana Gray, professor of English and director of the University’s Honors Program, served as master of ceremonies and addressed the gathering of honored students, faculty and staff, family, and friends.
“We are here to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students, faculty, and staff,” Gray commented. “What all our students have in common is they challenge themselves, push themselves beyond what is required of them. Our students continue to dazzle me.”
Among the honored students were Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award recipients Janik and Lobos. Winners of the Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award are chosen on the basis of scholarship, extracurricular achievement, personal character and conduct and nominated by faculty, students, and staff. The award was established to honor Alfred University alumnus Marlin Miller ’54, HD ’89, ’19, a Life Trustee and Board of Trustees Chair emeritus, and one of Alfred University’s most generous supporters.
Janik, from Angola, NY, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree with four majors—communication studies, political science, global studies, and history—with minors in economics, international business, and Chinese language and culture. Janik contributed to the founding of Chinese Language and Culture minor last spring.
She is an Alfred University Honors student and a Fulbright award semifinalist, awaiting a final acceptance decision. She is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta, and Phi Sigma Lota honor societies, and is a recipient of the Robert Myers Global Studies Award, Social Science.
An Army ROTC cadet since January 2024, Janik served as cadet battalion commander of Golden Griffen Battalion in the fall of 2025 and currently serves as cadet executive officer for the battalion. She graduated Air Assault School in 2025 and upon graduation from Alfred in May will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, specializing in military intelligence.
The 2026 Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award recipients—Sofia Lobos (left) and Lily Janik (right) both to the right of the podium—are introduced by Kim Harbey, vice president for Student Experience, during Alfred University’s 2026 Honors Convocation ceremony held in Miller Theatre on Friday, April 24.
Lobos, from Santiago, Chile, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and culture studies, with a minor in Political Science. She has been on the Dean’s List at Alfred University and is proficient in three languages—Spanish, English, and French—and is working on a fourth: Italian.
She has been deeply involved in Alfred University during her time as a student here. In addition to enrolling in the WLA, she has been active in numerous activities and organizations. Most significant, perhaps, is the UNICEF Club, which she founded at Alfred University last August—with the aim of raising awareness of children’s rights—and for which she serves as president. Under her leadership, the club has grown to more than 60 student volunteers, raised more than $1,200 for children’s initiatives, and coordinated donations of toys and essential items to hospitals in Rochester and Buffalo.
In her role as collections management librarian, a position she has held since 2021, Abigail Allen Award honoree Planansky is responsible for all information resources in Alfred University Libraries, as well as being the subject liaison for criminal justice, political science, sociology, and the College of Business.
Planansky serves on the department’s anti-racism and anti-oppression committee, working alongside colleagues to streamline checking library e-resources for accessibility, and for co-creating AU's Zine Collection. Outside the libraries, she serves AU on AI task forces, most recently co-chairing one on curriculum. She is especially proud to bring a critical lens and perspective to AI initiatives.
Maria Planansky (left), collection management librarian at Alfred University, received the Abigail Allen Award during the 2026 Honors Convocation ceremony held in Miller Theatre on Friday, April 24. At the podium introducing Plananksy is Meredith Field, assistant professor of sociology.
She was recommended for the Abigail Allen Award by several students, staff, faculty, and recent alumni due to her ongoing commitment to women and other marginalized groups, as well as her recent community education and activism work regarding ICE.
Several faculty members were also recognized during Honors Convocation.
Andrew Eklund, professor of chemistry, and Lynn O’Connell, professor of school psychology, were cited for 25 years of service to the university.
Eklund’s robust committee efforts, including but not limited to Faculty Senate, for which he served most recently as president, and the Curriculum and Teaching Committee, along with his service as division chair, demonstrate his commitment to and the mark he leaves on Alfred. Arguably most indicative of his contribution is his recognition as the first Dr. Frank Goetz ’71 Professor of Chemistry.
O’Connell, who serves as director of the university’s Child and Family Services Center, earned a doctoral degree in school psychology from Alfred University in 2002. The central theme of her career at Alfred University focuses on training the next generation of psychologists to meet the needs of children, families, and their communities.
Susan Mayberry, Jane Peterson Professor of Humanities, was presented the Joseph Kruson Award for Distinguished Service to Alfred University. This award is presented in recognition of long and dedicated service, commitment to academic quality, and the strong sense of humanity shown to students. The recipient has been venerated by Alfred alumni and professionals beyond the Alfred community. Mayberry, a Kruson Distinguished Professor, is widely respected by the campus community, which includes students who have judged her to be an outstanding teacher, faculty colleagues, and members of the administration.
Caio Bragatto, assistant professor of ceramic engineering in the Inamori School of Engineering, was presented with the John F. McMahon Excellence in Ceramic Teaching Award. 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.
Four members of the faculty in the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University were presented SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. S.K. Sundaram, Imamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, was honored with a 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Professorship. Angus Powers, professor of glass, was given the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching Professorship. Samantha Dannick, engineering and scholarly communication librarian was recognized as a recipient of the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship, while Patrick Brennan, assistant professor of painting, was honored with the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Sixteen faculty members received the Joseph Kruson Trust Fund Awards for Excellence in Teaching, with recipients chosen based on a student vote. Following are the 2026 winners: Rebecca Arday, assistant professor of glass; Bragatto; Paul Butterfield, assistant professor of philosophy; Zihao Chen, clinical assistant professor of Foundations; Melissa Dudley, assistant professor of school psychology; Garegin Gregoryan, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science; Julia Langdal-Sittu, assistant professor of psychology; Matthew Limb, assistant professor of art history; Garrett McGowan, professor of chemistry; Joseph Petrillo, professor of mathematics; Robert Reginio, professor of English; Luis Rodriguez, associate professor of law and taxation; Jennifer Snow, assistant professor of education; Kelsey Sucena, assistant professor of photography; Xingwu Wang, professor of electrical engineering; and Chloe Wasendorf, assistant professor of biology.
Seven faculty members—one from each academic unit—were presented with Faculty Scholar Awards in recognition of excellence in research and scholarship. The 2026 awardees are: Marketa Fantova, associate professor or performance design and technology, Performing Arts Division; Maria Planansky, collection management librarian, University Libraries; Deborah Owens, associate professor of education, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies and AUNY; Robert Reginio, professor of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Myungkoo Kang, assistant professor of ceramic engineering, Inamori School of Engineering; Paul Briggs, assistant professor of ceramics, School of Art and Design; and Halil Zaim, associate professor of management, College of Business.
Two students—Summer Aquino and Matthew Bittel—were honored as recipients of the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. The award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may include the arts (creative and performing), athletics, career achievement, community service or leadership.
Twenty-eight students were honored as Alfred University Scholars, an award recognizing them for completing the requirements of the Alfred University Honors Program. The 2026 recipients are: Kiani Barnard-Pratt, Rasheed Bashiru, Isabel Benfield, Allyson Campbell, Aidan DeClemente, Nkanyiso Dlamini, Tristan Duhan, Amelia Gebhardt, Jane Heffernan, Alexis Izyk-Treece, Lily Janik, Willa Kulynych-Griffith, Rose LaBarbera, Morgan Leibham, Andrii Maltsev, Jaclyn Massey, Piper Moore, Shansanique Pollack, Caleb Raughley, Yelyzaveta Shevchuk, Alexandra Simmons, Samantha Smit, Bozhena Snizhko, Tristan St. James, Sydnie Tutmaher, Megan Wilson, Morgan Wise, and Alina Zabihailo.
