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Governor Kaine Announces 2006 Outstanding Faculty Award Recipients

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today recognized 15 outstanding faculty members from Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities who have been selected for their excellence in teaching, research, knowledge integration and public service. The recipients, who were selected from a pool of 87 candidates nominated by their peers, were honored during a ceremony at the Library of Virginia.

The Outstanding Faculty Awards (OFA) are administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and funded by a grant from the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards program, which is considered the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty members.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia benefits from the scholarly research and academic expertise of these dedicated instructors,” said Governor Kaine. “Their accomplishments in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the field have helped place Virginia’s colleges and universities among the finest in the nation.”

“This year’s recipients come from many regions of the state and represent many different disciplines,” said SCHEV Executive Director Daniel J. LaVista. “Yet all 15 have given of themselves to improve the lives of their students, their campus communities, and the citizens of the Commonwealth who benefit from their academic work and knowledge.”

Dominion also funded the OFA program in 2005 and, as part of a three-year commitment, will also fund the program in 2007.

“We value the opportunity to recognize these distinguished faculty members at Virginia colleges and universities for their unparalleled contributions to the Commonwealth’s educational, economic, health and cultural resources,” said Thomas F. Farrell II, Dominion president and CEO.

Through Dominion’s corporate sponsorship, each of this year’s OFA recipients will receive $5,000 and a commemorative engraved award.

2006 Outstanding Faculty Awards Winners

• John D. Arras, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, University of Virginia
• Joann N. Bodurtha, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Donna C. Boyd, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology, Radford University
• Patricia R. Daron, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Northern Virginia Community College
• Melvin P. Ely, Ph.D., Professor of History, College of William and Mary
• Alpha A. Fowler, III, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University
• José D. Fuentes, Ph.D.,Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
• David J. Lutzer, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics, College of William and Mary
• Melanie B. Marks, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Longwood University
• James T. McLeskey, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Thomas M. Murray, Ph.D., Professor of Structural Steel Design, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Sharon Raver-Lampman, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, Old Dominion University
• Margaret S. Saha, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, College of William and Mary
• Paul Sorrentino, Ph.D., Professor of English, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Donald J. Zeigler, Ph.D., Professor of Geography, Old Dominion University

The Virginia General Assembly and Governor created the OFA program in 1986 to recognize the finest among Virginia’s faculty. Since the first awards ceremony in 1987, a total of 232 Virginia faculty members – including the 2006 recipients – have been bestowed this high honor.

SCHEV is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for Virginia’s system of higher education. The agency provides policy guidance and budget recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly, and is a resource for information on Virginia colleges and universities on higher education issues. For bios of each of this year's recipients check the SCHEV's Web site.

The Dominion Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Dominion, one of the nation's largest producers of energy. Headquartered in Richmond, the company also serves retail energy customers in nine states. The Dominion Foundation donates more than $10 million annually to non-profit organizations in states where the company does business. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s Web site at www.dom.com.

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