2018 Plumeri Award recipients announced
A sociologist crusading to maintain the integrity of the democratic process through voter districting. An English professor introducing William & 玛丽 students to the infinite possibilities of digital journalism. A marine scientist investigating the impact of sea level rise on the wetlands. 在威廉玛丽学院庆祝普卢梅里杰出教师奖成立十周年之际，这些只是获得这一荣誉的杰出教授中的少数几位。 Today, the university is announcing the 2018 recipients.
Each year, the awards recognize 20 faculty members for outstanding achievements in teaching, research and service. All recipients receive $10,000, which can be used during the course of two years to fund summer salaries, research or other stipends associated with scholarly endeavors.
“For 10 years, the Plumeri Awards have rewarded many of our strongest faculty, who stand at the vanguard of academic inquiry, and recipients have invariably expressed their gratitude for this award that has made a huge difference in their teaching and research, “ said Provost Michael Halleran. “Whether professors are attending conferences, funding research for themselves and their students, or creating new initiatives with far-flung collaborators, the Plumeri Awards have made a lasting impact at William & 玛丽, in the commonwealth and in the world.”
Joseph J. Plumeri ’66, D.P.S. ’11, established the eponymous award in 2009 in order to encourage exceptional faculty members to pursue their research interests and further challenge their students. Over the last decade, 170 professors have benefited from this generosity, and it shows in their teaching and scholarship.
Plumeri, who served as the chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings before becoming vice chairman of the First Data Board of Directors in 2014, is also a dedicated philanthropist, giving millions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, among many other organizations. He has also long been a steadfast and generous supporter of William & 玛丽, creating scholarships, building the Plumeri Park baseball facilities and establishing the W&M/Plumeri Pro-Am Golf Tournament. He was also an honorary co-chair for last year’s W&M Weekend in New York City.
“When I was a William & 玛丽 student, my professors instilled in me the need to think creatively, ask difficult questions and above all, persist in the face of adversity,” said Plumeri. “I am thrilled to honor those professors whose creativity and passion inspire the entire William & 玛丽 community.”
For one 2016 Plumeri Award recipient, the impact of the award has been transformative. Professor of History Ronald Schechter was able to fund research that will potentially change our historical understanding of Marie Antoinette. The Plumeri Award allowed him to spend two months in the queen’s personal library at Versailles, where Schechter says he found evidence of a thoughtful and socially aware monarch.
“Historians have wrongly dismissed Marie Antoinette as an intellectual lightweight,” said Schechter. “My research shows that the French queen was quite intelligent, and read the works of Enlightenment philosophers such as Voltaire and Rousseau. Far from ignoring the calls for reform emanating from the French public, she was radical and actually embraced many Enlightenment ideals. This work has the potential to radically alter how we talk about Marie Antoinette, all thanks to Mr. Plumeri’s support.”
Schechter isn’t alone in seeing the broader implications of the Plumeri Awards.
“Joe’s generosity has benefited so many in the William & 玛丽 community over the years,” said Vice President for University Advancement Matthew T. Lambert ’99. “But Joe is always asking, ‘what’s next?’ and that fuels his desire to look forward, supporting those faculty who will create knowledge and transform the lives of our students. Among his many contributions is ensuring that, for the last decade, our faculty have received the proper recognition for all that they do for our students and scholarly community. This helps ensure that William & 玛丽 remains at the forefront of teaching and scholarship, and for that we are all deeply grateful to him.”
The 2018 Plumeri Award recipients are:
Jason ChenAssistant Professor of Education
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Philip DaileaderProfessor of History |
Cheryl DickterUniversity Associate Professor for Teaching Excellence of Psychological Sciences |
James G. DwyerArthur Briggs Hanson Professor of Law
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Catherine ForestellClass of 1953 Term Distinguished Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences  佛 |
Christopher HeinAssistant Professor of Marine Science
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Oliver KerscherAssociate Professor of Biology
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Matthew Kirwan ’02Assistant Professor of Marine Science  Ki |
Allison Orr Larsen ’99Professor of Law
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Michael LeruthAssociate Professor of French and Francophone Studies
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Robert Michael LewisAssociate Professor of Computer Science  Lewis joined the William & 玛丽 faculty in 2000 and is the quintessential computational scientist. His research contributions have made an enormous impact on a wide range of scientific and engineering areas. His research lies in the area of algorithms for nonlinear optimization and applications of optimization in scientific and engineering applications. He is currently working with researchers at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. investigating the optimal development and operation of oil reservoirs with the goal of maximizing net present value. The current industry practice is to maximize the profit from oil being produced at any given time; however, Lewis is investigating whether a different strategy will optimize the behavior of the reservoir over a long time horizon. In the teaching realm, he strives to prepare students to excel in the workspace that they will soon enter. Lewis received his doctorate in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University. |
Elizabeth LoshAssociate Professor of English and American Studies  如果 |
Thomas McSweeney ’02Associate Professor of Law  Mc |
John ParmanAssociate Professor of Economics  巴勒斯坦权力机构 |
Philip RoesslerAssociate Professor of Government  罗依 |
Salvatore SaporitoAssociate Professor of Sociology  Sa |
Hannes C. SchnieppAdina Allen Term Distinguished Associate Professor of Applied Science  Sc |
Leah ShawAssociate Professor of Mathematics  上海 |
Stephen SheehiSultan Qaboos bin Said Chair of Middle East Studies & Professor of Arabic Studies
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James Y. SternAssociate Professor of Law  圣 |
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Sheehi is an internationally recognized scholar and teacher of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. whose work intersects the cultural, visual, artistic and social history of the modern Arab world. His most recent book, “Arab Imago: A Social History of Photographic Portraiture” (Princeton University Press, 2016) is the first extended study to critically examine the indigenous production of photography in the Arab world. His two previous books are “Islamophobia: The Ideological Campaign Against Muslims” and “The Foundations of Arab Identity” (2006), a pioneer exploration of forgotten intellectual heritage of the 19th Century Arab world.