Trinity College faculty members were recognized for their outstanding achievements in scholarship, teaching, service, and leadership at the 2026 Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony.
President Daniel G. Lugo and Provost and Dean of Faculty Sonia Cardenas welcomed the College community to the event, which was held on October 29 in Mather Hall’s Washington Room.
The program included a reading by Associate Professor of English Ethan Rutherford from his award-winning book, North Sun: or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. Rutherford was recognized by Trinity with the Outstanding Scholar Award.
The ceremony and reception were hosted by the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculty, which gave additional thanks to the members of the award selection committees and the Faculty Excellence Ceremony Planning Committees.
The list of awards and recipients are below, followed by a photo gallery.
2026 Trinity College Faculty Excellence Awards
Outstanding Scholar
Recognizes completion in the past year of significant scholarship impacting a field or public discourse, highlighting arts and humanities, social sciences, and STEM
- Ethan Rutherford, Associate Professor of English
For his book North Sun: or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther, named a finalist for the National Book Award, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award, and chosen by the Connecticut Center of the Book to represent the state at the 2026 National Book Festival among a long list of other awards and honors.
Teaching Innovation Prize
Recognizes a recent example of curricular or pedagogical innovation enhancing student engagement and learning
- Heather Bennett, Assistant Professor of Biology
For her course, “Advanced Approaches in Neurobiology,” which includes an immersive, semester-long independent research project along with professional development workshops for the students.
- Amanda J. Guzmán, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
For her course, “Anthropology of Museums,” in which students worked on a semester-long collaborative exhibition project to design five banners that anchor a series of public dialogue events.
- Tennyson L. O’Donnell, Director, Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric and Allan K. Smith
For integration into his course of critical and creative assignments that analyze how knowledge, writing, and communication are produced, including the use of AI.
Teacher Scholar
Recognizes research excellence and a promising project
- Mary J. Dudas, Senior Lecturer in Political Science
For her project detailing how the activist-right is reshaping the law and the conservative legal movement.
- Katsuya Izumi, Senior Lecturer in Language & Culture Studies
For his project using Japanese calligraphy to enhance student learning in Japanese culture and interest in the study of the language.
Mentoring Students Prize
Recognizes faculty who have successfully performed an exceptional number of mentoring-intensive activities
- Benjamin C. Carbonetti, Director of the Human Rights Studies Program and Senior Lecturer in Human Rights Studies
- Stefanie Chambers, Professor of Political Science
- Brianna Halladay, Assistant Professor of Economics
- Molly Helt, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
- Adam D. Hill, Associate Professor of Chemistry
- Laura J. Holt, Professor of Psychology
- Seth M. Markle, Associate Professor of History and International Studies
- Garth A. Myers, Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Urban International Studies and Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies
- Madalene Spezialetti, Associate Professor of Computer Science
- Charles C. Swart, Principal Lecturer and Laboratory Coordinator in Neuroscience and Electron Microscopy Manager and Instrumentation Specialist
Academic Leadership Award
Recognizes faculty whose recent efforts on campus advanced the College’s mission and built inclusive community
- Nicholas P. Marino, Senior Lecturer in the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric
For his work in the Trinity Plus Advising Center, specifically the incoming student advising initiative.
Professional Engagement Award
Recognized recent leadership in or contribution to one’s profession, elevating Trinity’s reputation
- Amber L. Pitt, Associate Professor of Environmental Science
For many accomplishments including being recognized by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group as the leading global expert on the northern map turtle and her partnership with the Rachel Carson Council.
- Ewa Syta, Charles A. Dana Research Associate Professor of Computer Science
For many accomplishments including serving as the first woman in STEM field to hold Fulbright U.S. Scholar award in Trinity’s history, her NSF funded research that includes student opportunities, and the translation of her research to public service with Cloudflare, and recognition as a Connecticut Technology Council Woman of Innovation Finalist.
Community Engagement Award
Recognizes a recent outstanding contribution that enhances the reciprocal and impactful exchange of knowledge with Hartford-area partners
- Aidali Aponte-Aviles, Senior Lecturer in Language & Culture Studies
For her “Voces de la Migración” (Voices of Migration / Vozes da Migração) oral history project that preserves the stories and experiences of Latinos living in Hartford, connected to her “Hispanic Hartford” course.
- Elise Castillo, Associate Professor of Educational Studies
For her many connections made between Trinity students and the Hartford community, including contributions to Hartford History Center’s Hartford Changemakers Project in her first-year gateway course.
Mid-Career Research Award
Recognizes faculty with a strong record and planned trajectory to promotion to full professor
- Reo Matsuzaki, Associate Professor of Political Science
For his book on statebuilding in Meiji Japan, tentatively titled “The Façade of Modernity: Veiled Facts and Open Fictions in the Making of Meiji Japan.”
Senior Faculty Mentoring Award
Recognizes exceptional contributions to mentoring faculty
- Mary Sandoval, Seabury Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
For over two decades of mentoring visiting assistant professors and Ann Plato Fellows, Dorwart Visiting Assistant Professors, and new tenure hires, both within her department and outside of her department.
Career Achievement Award
Recognizes recent leadership in or contributions to one’s profession, elevating Trinity’s reputation
- Erik Vogt, Gwendolyn Miles Smith Professor of Philosophy
For publication of more than 100 books, articles, and monographs in 20th century and contemporary philosophy, creation of 17 new courses, supervision of more than 50 senior theses, and establishing a cooperation with and teaching at Vienna University, in addition to service on College committees including Appointments and Promotions.
See photos below.
