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University Faculty Awards

Department of English faculty members are frequently recognized by the University of Pittsburgh and the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences for their outstanding accomplishments in research, teaching, and mentoring. Learn more about past honorees from English and the criteria for each recognition.

Tina & David Bellet Teaching Excellence Awards

Established in 1998 with a gift from Dietrich School alumnus, David Bellet (A&S '67) and his wife Tina, and endowed in 2008 through the family's further generosity, this annual award recognizes outstanding and innovative teaching in undergraduate studies in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Each fall, students and faculty are encouraged to submit nominations to the associate dean for undergraduate studies. A committee reviews nominations and requests dossiers from eligible candidates. Honorees are announced in the spring, and award recipients each receive a one-time cash prize of $10,000.

David and Tina Bellet

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award

The Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes teaching excellence by members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. Up to five awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member's teaching activities. All awardees are honored publicly. Teaching is defined broadly and includes all activities that faculty members engage in to facilitate learning by undergraduate, professional, or graduate students: lecturing; clinical teaching; conducting seminars, tutorials, or recitations; etc. Any faculty member who has served full-time at the University of Pittsburgh for at least five years is eligible, provided that he or she has been active as a teacher.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 2007       Philip Smith
  • 2009       Chuck Kinder
  • 2010       Shalini Puri
  • 2013       Marah Gubar
  • 2017       Cynthia Skrzycki
  • 2020       Jeff Aziz
  • 2023       Michael Meyer

Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Part of the University's mission is training the next generation of professional scholars. Essential to this task are faculty who provide intellectual and personal leadership that helps to support, encourage, and promote the personal and professional development of students. The Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring recognizes as many as four University of Pittsburgh faculty members each year who demonstrate outstanding mentoring of graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. Winners receive a cash prize of $2,500 and are honored publicly.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 2010       Jean Ferguson Carr
  • 2014       Marcia Landy
  • 2018       Lucy Fischer
  • 2018       Jonathan Arac

Provost’s Diversity in the Curriculum Award

The Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum recognizes a faculty member’s efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) concepts into courses and curricula at the University of Pittsburgh. Up to five award recipients may be chosen annually. Each recipient receives a $2,500 cash award and a recognition plaque. All recipients are recognized at the annual diversity awards ceremony.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 2022       Megan Kappel

Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising

The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences annually recognizes outstanding faculty and staff academic advising of its undergraduate students with the Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising, a one-time $4,000 (taxable) cash award.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 2009       Fiore Pugliano
  • 2017       Mark Kemp

Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award 

The Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award annually recognizes outstanding scholarly accomplishments of members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. Up to five awardees are chosen in two categories:

  • Senior Scholar Awardees include faculty members who have compiled a substantial and continuing record of outstanding research and scholarly activity. Nominees in this category must have achieved preeminence in their field and be so recognized in letters of support from national and international leaders in the field. Except in unusual circumstances, referees cannot be friends or colleagues of the nominees.
  • Junior Scholar Awardees include faculty members who, by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions, have demonstrated great potential as scholars and have achieved some international standing. Candidates for this award must have received their highest degree no more than 12 years before the time of nomination.

Each Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award will consist of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member's teaching and research. All persons selected for this award will be honored publicly. Any tenured or tenure-stream, full-time faculty member who has served at least three years at the University of Pittsburgh is eligible to be nominated.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 2005       Marcia Landy
  • 2010       Colin MacCabe
  • 2016       Lucy Fischer
  • 2020       Jules Gill-Peterson
  • 2023       Jeanne Marie Laskas

Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award Winners

The Chancellor's Distinguished Public Service Award annually recognizes outstanding public service contributions by members of the University of Pittsburgh’s faculty. Up to five awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant* of $3,000 to support the faculty member’s public service activities.

Recent Award Recipients – English Faculty

  • 1999 Philip E. Smith
  • 2009 Toi Derricotte
  • 2019 Mark Kramer
  • 2024 Leonora Anyango Kivuva