“When we look at all your achievements and all that you have done, we are extremely excited about the future,” Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern, told the audience Wednesday at Blackman Auditorium.
Northeastern University’s highest student and faculty achievers across its 13 global campuses were celebrated Wednesday at the 15th annual Academic Honors Convocation.
Excellence in scholarship, research, teaching and advancing the university’s mission earned members of the Northeastern community their place on the stage at Blackman Auditorium in Ell Hall on the Boston campus.
“When we look at all your achievements and all that you have done, we are extremely excited about the future of this university, the future of this nation and indeed the future of this world,” Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern, told the audience. “We cannot afford to be pessimistic when we see the enormous talent in this community. Our future is in your hands, and I want to thank you.”
Joining the honored undergraduate students, graduate students and professors in the lively hall were family, colleagues and friends. Music was provided from the stage by the Northeastern Wind Ensemble.
“Over the past year, you — our honorees — have achieved new heights in scholarship, research, teaching and innovation to embody Northeastern’s core values of interdisciplinary collaboration, infusing experience and entrepreneurial thinking into everything you do and developing solutions with global impact,” said David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “From research laboratories to art studios, from classrooms to field work across our global network and around the world, you have pushed the limits of what is possible, challenging yourselves, inspiring your peers and truly elevating our university community.”
Aoun led the audience in applauding the efforts of Madigan as provost for the past five years. Madigan will be stepping down in June while remaining at Northeastern as a professor in Khoury College of Computer Sciences.
Ranking among the top honorees Wednesday was Matthew Miller, a professor of health sciences and epidemiology who received the University Distinguished Professor Award — the highest honor the university can bestow upon a faculty member.
Miller is a leading expert in injury and violence prevention, with a focus on firearm violence and suicide. His research also encompasses pharmacoepidemiology and the ethical considerations within clinical trials. His contributions include teaching research methods at Northeastern.
Additionally, Miller was recognized for his election to the National Academy of Medicine.
Albert-László Barabási, Robert Gray Dodge Professor of Network Science and University Distinguished Professor, was honored for his election to the National Academy of Sciences. Barabási conducts research that challenges the traditional view of complex networks as random graphs. His current work explores network robustness, error tolerance and dynamics, with a focus on applying network theory to biological systems.
Elizabeth Mynatt, dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and Eduardo Sontag, University Distinguished Professor of bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Margarita DiVall, clinical professor of pharmacy, health systems sciences and senior associate dean for faculty affairs and belonging, was honored for her election as president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Three professors were inducted into the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship: Eugene Smotkin, professor of chemistry and chemical biology; Randall Hughes, professor of marine and environmental sciences; and Mansoor Amiji, University Distinguished Professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering.
The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers went to Eno Ebong, associate chair for graduate studies of chemical engineering and associate professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering; and Ambika Bajpayee, associate professor of bioengineering.
The Global Network Accelerator Award, celebrating faculty whose research and teaching span disciplines, colleges, campuses, countries and industry sectors while exhibiting the best of Northeastern’s mission, went to three professors: Oliver Ayers, associate professor of history; K.J. Rawson, professor of English, women’s, gender and sexuality studies and director of the Humanities Center; and Kirsten Saxton, professor of English, director of the Humanities Center Oakland, and the Lorry I. Lokey Endowed Chair in Ethics.
The University Excellence in Teaching Award is based on a professor’s depth of knowledge, their ability to provide effective links among course content, research, and experiential learning and the rigor of their coursework. The two winners were: Daniel Aldrich, professor of political science and public policy; and Lorna Hayward, associate professor of physical therapy, human movement and rehabilitation sciences.
Four professors received the Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award, honoring their outstanding research and creative activity of national and international significance as determined by the president and provost, following a faculty committee’s recommendation: Ellen Cushman, dean’s professor of civic sustainability, professor of English; David Lazer, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer Science; Tommaso Melodia, the William Lincoln Smith Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Emily Zimmerman, professor and chair of communication sciences and disorders.
Lori Gardinier, director and teaching professor of human services, received the Global Educator Award for contributions to students’ global learning through high-quality teaching that is engaging, supportive, inclusive, interculturally competent and appropriately challenging.
The prestigious Klein University Lecturer Award honored Daniel Adams, professor and director of architecture, for contributing to his field of study with great distinction. The lecture enables him to share scholarly work with the university community and the public.
Additionally, each college presented awards to high-achieving professors.
A faculty committee selected four Northeastern seniors to receive Harold D. Hodgkinson Awards on the basis of scholastic and experiential achievement. The winners were Sonel Cutler (journalism/political science), Shanthi Hegde (psychology), Keneya Onuaguluchi (history, culture and law) and Madeline Szoo (chemical engineering).
“It’s very meaningful,” Cutler said of her award. “It’s such an honor to be here with these other Hodgkinson Award winners who have just done such impressive work. Everyone here is just so accomplished and smart — they embody the Northeastern mission.”
Seven students received the Sears B. Condit Award, a scholarship for outstanding academic achievement endowed by a former member of the university’s corporation: Warda Ahmed (biochemistry), Dhwani Bhatt (chemical engineering), Marcella Hesser (architecture), Geneva Palmer (criminal justice/political science), Alexzander Sansiveri (computer science/cognitive psychology), Adriana Totten (health science) and Kyle Wilson (business administration).
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate science scholarship in the country, went to Rohan Chopra (data science and biochemistry).
National Science Foundation Research Fellowships went to 12 undergraduate and graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who will pursue research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions: Matthew Coughlin (mechanical engineering), Maya De Los Santos (electrical and computer engineering), Marco Franco (mathematics), Jacob Ginesin (computer science/mathematics), Stephanie Krueger (marine biology), Elisabeth Leung (data science/ecology and evolutionary biology), Dominic Pizzarella (chemical engineering/biochemistry), Madeline JoAnna Szoo (chemical engineering/biochemistry), Dario Tagliaferri (cell and molecular biology), Ffion Titmuss (biology/English), Diana Turrieta Vejar (biochemistry) and Conrad Zimmerman (Ph.D. computer science).
Fatuma Mohamed (international affairs) received the Luce Scholarship, which offers opportunities to deepen ties and understanding of the countries, cultures and people of Asia, aiming to forge stronger and more compassionate global relations.
Two students earned Critical Language Scholarships supported by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, enabling the pursuit of intensive overseas summer study in critically needed foreign languages. The scholarships went to Matthew Chen (data science/economics) and Lily Hyun (international affairs/economics).
The highly competitive Gates Cambridge Scholarship, emphasizing intellectual ability, leadership and civic-mindedness, went to Nicole Occidental (Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience with a minor in health, humanities and society). The scholarship enables Occidental to pursue a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, enabling U.S. citizens to pursue academic studies abroad as preparation for significant roles in the global economy, were awarded to seven students: Portia Aning (pharmaceutical sciences/ethics), Abigail Binkley (biology/global health), Jonathan Alexander Bush (business administration/marketing), Jasmeen Jahneya Chambers (business administration/human communication), Rebecca Chen (economics/business administration/data science), Elizabeth Niemiec (chemical engineering/biochemistry/data science) and Rayan Uddin (behavioral neuroscience/interdisciplinary studies-science).
The Schwarzman Scholarship, created for the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, helps students to develop leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year master’s degree at one of China’s most distinguished universities, Tsinghua University in Beijing. Scholarships were awarded to: Albee Mote (business administration and management, and social innovation and entrepreneurship); Leon Jones III (media advocacy); and Joseph Schmitt (business administration and economics).
There were 24 Northeastern semifinalists for Fulbright Scholarships, to be awarded to students to research, study or teach English abroad in pursuit of fostering diplomacy and mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries.
The semifinalists were: Bella Albano (health science), Emily Aliotta (psychology), Kiran Bajaj (marine biology), Zoe Balkan (political science/international affairs), Kavya Bansal (behavioral neuroscience/design), Julia Baron (history), Amelia Burnett (international business), Sofia Churkin (international business), Merysa Drapeau (international affairs/international business), Jasper Duval (cultural anthropology), Husna Ellis (bioengineering), Grace Erlenwein (international affairs), Shannen Dawn Louie Espinosa (data science/biology), Rupsa Jana (biochemistry), Jocelyn Ju (data science/environmental and sustainability sciences), Amil Khattar (business administration), Yueting Lu (behavioral neuroscience), Victoria Lypka (psychology), Maame Obeng (behavioral neuroscience), Sowon Park (health science), Joshua Piatok (bioengineering), Awa Sane-Darboe (public policy), Diana Turrieta (biochemistry) and Jillian Zerkowski (biochemistry).
The Graduate Education For Minorities (GEM) Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship went to Nazira Cisse (environmental engineering). The fellowship promotes opportunities to enter industry in high-level technical careers at the nation’s top engineering and science firms and universities.
Toshiaki Yoshida (political science) received the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award In Experiential Learning, which recognizes an extraordinary capacity to integrate academics and professional work among emerging leaders in their fields.
The Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Humanics recognized Skye Morét (Ph.D. interdisciplinary design and media) for having seamlessly integrated human literacies with data and technology in their learning or research.
The Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Leadership recognized two students who have demonstrated significant leadership and a deep commitment to giving back to members of Northeastern’s community or surrounding neighborhoods: Deng Li (Ph.D. bioengineering) and Andresa Lima (Ph.D. chemistry).
There were three winners of the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award For Research for their high-level contributions to the scholarly literature in their field: Arabiye Artola Bonanno (Ph.D. school psychology), Ruyi Ding (Ph.D. computer engineering), Dian Wang (Ph.D. computer science).
Brecia Despard (Ph.D. marine and environmental sciences) received the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Teaching, based on an exceptional ability to communicate ideas and concepts in the classroom while inspiring students.
The Outstanding Master’s Student Award in Teaching, recognizing those who have inspired and supported the learning of others while positively impacting their academic success, went to: Bridget Dwyer (communication sciences and disorders), Vaibhav Kejriwal (electrical and computer engineering) and Jonathan Tarun Rajasekaran (computer science).
The Outstanding Master’s Student Award in Leadership for students who have showcased exceptional leadership skills while affecting the academic community, projects or extracurricular activities, was awarded to: Rujavi Ghelani (biotechnology), Simran Pandey (chemical engineering) and Annie Ward (criminology and criminal justice).
The Outstanding Master’s Student Award in Community Impact, celebrating contributions to Northeastern’s community while displaying a commitment to instigating positive change within and beyond the academic sphere, recognized three students: Liang Chen (commerce and economic development), Muhammad Elarbi (electrical and computer engineering) and Manushi Sharma (public policy).
The Outstanding Professional Doctorate Student Award in Community Impact went to Emilia Nirmala (physical therapy, movement and rehabilitation sciences), for showing remarkable dedication to creating positive change within Northeastern’s community and beyond.
The Outstanding Professional Doctorate Student Award in Leadership honored Merissa Spaulding (law) for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities within the academic and professional communities.
Ali Tarokh (law and policy) received the Outstanding Professional Doctorate Student Award in Practicum and Clinical Performance for exceptional engagement and excellence in clinical or practicum experiences.
The Outstanding Global Network Student Awards recognized a student demonstrating excellence in academics, research, leadership, teaching and/or impact while pursuing master’s or professional doctorate degrees at one of Northeastern’s network campuses.